AJ Dybantsa believes his quick NBA adjustment mirrors the Spurs' fast success with top draft picks.
AJ Dybantsa, the standout freshman from Brigham Young University, is widely expected to be selected first overall by the Washington Wizards in the upcoming NBA Draft.
It won’t take that long, especially with my adaptability and my work ethic, Dybantsa remarked Monday.
I think that will be, I’m not going to say easy, but pretty similar to what these guys do in terms of the forecast.
The San Antonio Spurs accelerated their climb quickly after selecting Victor Wembanyama from France with the top pick in 2023.
The following year, they chose Stephon Castle from the University of Connecticut at fourth overall, and both players were named NBA Rookie of the Year.
Last season, guard Dylan Harper was taken second overall from Rutgers and earned the same rookie honor.
Dybantsa experienced the Spurs up close when they played in Paris last year and now has another opportunity as one of the league’s player correspondents during the NBA Finals.
Now he has the chance to watch games from a unique vantage point while also working behind the scenes at practices and gaining insights from current and former players, including Shaquille O’Neal, whom he spoke with on Monday.
It feels good, Dybantsa shared about the opportunity, especially tomorrow and on Wednesday, me working the Finals.
Caleb Wilson from North Carolina, another projected high draft choice, handled the player correspondent role during Game 1.
Dybantsa, who hails from the Boston area, attended Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals when the Celtics defeated Dallas.
Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen from the New Orleans Pelicans followed in Game 2, having just completed their rookie seasons.
If the series extends to Game 5, Kon Knueppel from Charlotte, the Rookie of the Year runner-up, would take on the assignment.
Standing at 6-foot-9, Dybantsa led the nation in scoring last season with 25.5 points per game and added 3.7 assists per contest in his only collegiate year.
He noted he has not held discussions with the Wizards or any other teams since the draft combine.
Since then, he has been training rigorously three times daily, describing how the college season seemed to pass rapidly while the weeks since have felt much longer.
The NBA draft is scheduled to begin on June 23 in New York.
If the Wizards select Dybantsa with the first pick, he anticipates they will gain a player whose abilities translate smoothly to the professional game.
There's a lot of it. I think my ability to get in the paint and dish out to my teammates, as well as creating for myself, Dybantsa explained.
So I think I’m just a natural playmaker, meshing myself with others.