2026 NBA Draft: Wizards Take Dybantsa No. 1 Overall

The 2026 NBA Draft opened Tuesday with no chaos at the top. The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa first overall. The Utah Jazz answered with Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2.

Probabilities shown are market-implied and not predictions or recommendations. This content is for informational purposes only.

Chalk Holds As Wizards Bet On Dybantsa

The Washington Wizards drafted AJ Dybantsa first overall on Tuesday night. Dybantsa played one season at BYU. The Utah Jazz took Darryn Peterson at No. 2. The Memphis Grizzlies grabbed Duke forward Cameron Boozer at No. 3. The Chicago Bulls added North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson at No. 4.

The next tier scattered talent across rebuilding rosters. The LA Clippers took Illinois guard Keaton Wagler at No. 5. The Brooklyn Nets drafted Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6. The Sacramento Kings selected Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 7. The Atlanta Hawks took Houston guard Kingston Flemings at No. 8.

AJ Dybantsa led all of college basketball in scoring at 25.5 points per game. Dybantsa entered college as the No. 2 recruit in the 2025 class. Betting markets opened Darryn Peterson as the No. 1 favorite at -135. AJ Dybantsa sat second on those boards at +120. Cameron Boozer trailed at +1000 to go first.

The Washington Wizards earned the top pick at the May 10 draft lottery. The Wizards used that selection on AJ Dybantsa over Darryn Peterson. Karim Lopez made history later in Round 1. Lopez became the first Mexico-born player drafted in the first round. ESPN insiders called the 2026 class loaded with franchise talent.

The pick reshapes Washington’s rebuild around AJ Dybantsa and his scoring upside. The Wizards finished near the bottom of the standings last season. The Utah Jazz now pair Darryn Peterson with a young core. The Memphis Grizzlies added Cameron Boozer to accelerate a roster reset. The Chicago Bulls landed Caleb Wilson to bolster their frontcourt.

Round 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft runs Wednesday. Teams will fill rotation depth after Tuesday’s 30 first-round picks. The Dallas Mavericks reunited Morez Johnson Jr. with coach Dusty May at No. 9. The Milwaukee Bucks closed the top 10 with Arizona guard Brayden Burries. Free agency opens next, with several lottery teams holding cap space.