AJ Dybantsa came back to Brockton this week not just as a hometown kid, but as the NBA's No. 1 pick, and he sat down with 7NEWS to unpack the moment that flipped his life overnight. The 19-year-old told the station that hearing his name called triggered a rush of memories, from early-morning workouts to grind-it-out games and the sacrifices along the way. He said he wants to put Brockton on the national radar and is already mapping out how he will give back while gearing up for his pro debut.
Draft Night And A State First
On June 23, 2026, the Washington Wizards made it official, taking Dybantsa with the first pick in the NBA Draft, according to NBA Communications. That selection turned him into BYU's first-ever No. 1 overall pick and capped a season in which he led Division I in scoring. The night also rewrote a bit of Massachusetts sports history. He became the first player born in the state to be chosen No. 1 overall, The Boston Globe reported.
Back In Brockton, Family And A Pledge
Back home, the spotlight has not shaken his priorities. In an exclusive sit-down with 7NEWS, Dybantsa pointed to his parents and Brockton's tight-knit basketball scene as the anchors that kept him grounded on his way up, according to WHDH. "I want to kind of put Brockton on the map," he said, describing the flood of flashbacks that hit when his name was called on draft night.
WHDH also reports that Dybantsa has launched the AJ Dybantsa Foundation and is set to meet Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Governor Maura Healey to pledge annual support for youth across Massachusetts. For a kid who used to dream about the league from Brockton gyms, he is now positioning himself to help the next wave do the same.
Name, Roots And The Route To The Top
Dybantsa's climb to the top pick was fast and unforgiving. In his lone season at BYU, he averaged 25.5 points per game and racked up 894 total points, numbers the league spotlighted in its draft materials, according to NBA Communications. His decision to leave college early and declare for the 2026 draft was chronicled in Hoodline's feature Brockton Scoring Machine, which traced how quickly he turned from campus standout into must-watch prospect.
On draft night, he added a personal twist, asking Commissioner Adam Silver to announce his full name, Anicet Dybantsa Jr., in honor of his father. That choice, and the disciplined upbringing behind it, was explored in a Deseret News profile detailing the family's sacrifices and strict routines that framed his journey.
What's Next
Dybantsa will now shift his base to Washington, D.C., to join the Wizards, but he admits one of the strangest and most emotional chapters ahead will be his first game back at TD Garden, likely against the Celtics, WHDH reported. Two of Boston's biggest current stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have already reached out with advice and encouragement as he steps into the league.
Dybantsa told national TV outlets that his focus is locked on the work still to come, NBC Boston noted. For Brockton, the draft turned one of its own into a living symbol of what is possible, and Dybantsa says he intends to use that platform to pry open more doors for the kids coming up behind him.
