Why does Wizards’ AJ Dybantsa love basketball? Blame Spider-Man

Washington Wizards’ first overall pick AJ Dybantsa revealed how his father pushed him toward picking up a basketball, and how the Spider-Man part of his origin story, is just a coincidence. After being selected first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, this week, Wizards’ Dybantsa addressed the media in his new home.

Ahead of his Wizards debut, Dybantsa told reporters how he first started playing basketball, thanks to his dad, in a very unique way.

“My dad always said that he forced me to play basketball. I was about five years old, so I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life,” Dybantsa said. “But he bought me a Spider-Man hoop that went on the back of my door. He went to K-Mart and bought it. It was by accident that he bought it, which he always tells me. I loved Spider-Man growing up.

“So, I just started shooting from my bed with this miniture ball. Then, I started playing in a YMCA league. Then, ended up falling in love with the game. So, Spider-Man is the reason I love basketball.”

"Spider-Man is the reason I love basketball."

AJ Dybantsa reveals his earliest memories of falling in love with the game were when he used to shoot on a Spider-Man hoop his dad put on the back of his door from his bed, and the rest is history! pic.twitter.com/jM7OLuEzud

— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2026

After growing up in Brockton, MA, which is roughly 35 minutes south of Boston, Dybantsa committed to BYU before becoming the top NBA prospect ahead of the 2026-27 season.

When Wizards’ AJ Dybantsa began to take basketball seriously

Wizards’ AJ Dybantsa looked back at the COVID pandemic as a time in his life when he realized he had the skills to grow into an NBA player. Now, as he enters his first season as the top prospect in the country, Wizards’ Dybantsa is excited about his rookie campaign.

“I was five when I got introduced to it, but had a real basketball, probably at like six years old,” Dybantsa said. “I was just playing like the mini hoop when I was five. But I wasn’t like really in love with the game, and that’s why I started to enjoy it. I didn’t really start loving the game probably till like COVID.”

Wizards fans will get their first look at Dybantsa in summer league in July.

The post Why does Wizards’ AJ Dybantsa love basketball? Blame Spider-Man appeared first on ClutchPoints.