SALT LAKE CITY \u2014 Following the conclusion of the Jazz game at Delta Center on Thursday, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa and Lakers star LeBron James exchanged some words and a hug.<\/p>\n
Right after the final horn, James approached Dybantsa on the sideline.<\/p>\n
game recognizes game \ud83e\udd1d pic.twitter.com\/iXrfGscOkU<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BYU Men\u2019s Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The Cougars\u2019 star has been to multiple Utah Jazz games this season as the NCAA season winds up.<\/p>\n Dybantsa saw a Lakers win in which James posted 28 points and 10 assists, and Luka Doncic posted an insane stat line of 45 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists.<\/p>\n Jazz guard Keyonte George led the way for the home squad with 34 points and eight assists.<\/p>\n Los Angeles pulled away in the final frame, outscoring Utah 41-29 to secure the 143-135 victory.<\/p>\n two GOATs https:\/\/t.co\/xH0f3yasQW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ja1EqrNdGt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BYU Men\u2019s Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n A Quick Comparison<\/p>\n At first glance, similarities between a freshman hooper at BYU and a 41-year-old NBA great would seem few and far between.<\/p>\n Looking a bit closer, there is something there. Dybantsa is almost 19 years old. When James was that age, he was starting his first NBA season.<\/p>\n Both are garnering national attention for their talent, and both are starting the next stage of their careers after high school. If there wasn\u2019t a rule against it, Dybantsa could\u2019ve absolutely gone straight to the pros out of high school.<\/p>\n Even their games have some striking similarities. Both stand at around 6-foot-8. Both can score at all three levels but thrive inside the arc.<\/p>\n So far at BYU, Dybantsa is averaging 21.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 55.6\/32.1\/74.3 shooting splits. In his rookie season with Cleveland, James averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 41.7\/29\/75.4 shooting splits.<\/p>\n Now I\u2019m not saying Dybantsa is the next LeBron James. But, there is enough there to warrant a post-game interaction when the King is in town.<\/p>\n Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast<\/a>, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com<\/a>. Follow Chandler on X<\/a> for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.
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