AJ Dybantsa rattles off list of NBA stars he models his game after

All season long, it seems as though only three players have stood out as realistic options to get selected first in the 2026 NBA Draft. One of those players is AJ Dybantsa, the highflying, do-it-all forward from BYU. Dybantsa had been battling for draft positioning with the likes of Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer. But with the Washington Wizards having won the lottery, Dybantsa has emerged as the most likely player to hear his name first on the draft podium.

Only 19 years of age, Dybantsa grew up watching the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and a litany of other talented forwards to model his game after. In fact, the potential Wizards draft pick has taken inspiration from an impressive group of players — all of whom are either already in the Hall of Fame or are guaranteed to make it.

“My favorite player is Kevin Durant, but the comp I got is Tracy McGrady… I love Paul George, Kawhi, (Brandon Ingram), (Jayson) Tatum, (Jaylen) Brown, Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Luka (Doncic) and (Anthony) Edwards,” Dybantsa said, via WizardsMuse on X (formerly Twitter).

AJ Dybantsa on who he models his game after:

"My favorite player is Kevin Durant, but the comp I got is Tracy McGrady… I love Paul George, Kawhi, BI, Tatum, Brown, Shai, Luka and Edwards" pic.twitter.com/imXrdALPnL

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) May 28, 2026

That is an insanely talented group of players, and it will take a lot of hard work for Dybantsa, as highly-touted as he may be, to even come close to reaching the level any of those players are, or were, on. But the BYU alum did not get this far in his career without working his backside off, and it’s not like he’s going to stop working once he reaches the NBA.

As for the Wizards, Dybantsa is clearly a good fit in the starting lineup they’re building, as a star-level wing, which the 19-year-old has all the potential in the world to turn into, is exactly the team’s missing piece. Dybantsa would slot in nicely alongside Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George — turning Washington into a dark horse contender in the East.

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