If you created a prospect in a lab, they would probably look a lot like AJ Dybantsa. So...how come he isn't the run-away #1 prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft Class? Stephen Gillaspie dives in.
He loves the fakes, pivots, and the gather over in the mid post to the middle. He does that thing a lot where he takes a dribble and covers extra ground for a mid range by walking in sync with his dribble
It's an interesting situation where we have a guy with as much hype as AJ does yet he isn't the runaway top guy (vice versa for DP). I think the narrative would be a lot different if there was only 1 of these guys (Boozer included too). We're going a lot of comparing and who's better than solely focusing on one guy.
Great point! I think the depth of this class certainly feeds into the narrative. I think his play-type is somewhat unattractive to a lot of people. I just think the narrative is that he is simply a "baller", but his game is so advanced to some of the more malleable prospects who have found success in the NBA who have come before him.
Is he a generational talent? Or more so a perennial All-Star? The tanking for him seems a bit excessive from what I have seen. He is good, but not like a LeBron.
Hard to know right now. Just because he isn't coming into this class as a PREMIER generational prospect doesn't rule out that outcome. We as a basketball community speak retroactively once an outcome has been reached. Is there a possibility that AJ is one of the best players in the NBA?
I genuinely believe that outcome exists. And I think that the film and the numbers show that he is above average for his age compared to Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, OG Anunoby, etc. That's a real thing that is happening. And he is doing it at crazy size.
I also don't think the tanking is just for him. There just so happens to be about 3-4 more players that many NBA teams feel are operating at the same level for him. And that level is special. There are also about 4-7 more names who are just a step-to-half-a-step behind--which is still very good. So, it's the volume of talent available in addition to a very talented AJ Dybantsa likely being a Top 2/Top 3 talent.
Thank you for reaching out and I hope this answers your question.
He loves the fakes, pivots, and the gather over in the mid post to the middle. He does that thing a lot where he takes a dribble and covers extra ground for a mid range by walking in sync with his dribble
It's an interesting situation where we have a guy with as much hype as AJ does yet he isn't the runaway top guy (vice versa for DP). I think the narrative would be a lot different if there was only 1 of these guys (Boozer included too). We're going a lot of comparing and who's better than solely focusing on one guy.
Great point! I think the depth of this class certainly feeds into the narrative. I think his play-type is somewhat unattractive to a lot of people. I just think the narrative is that he is simply a "baller", but his game is so advanced to some of the more malleable prospects who have found success in the NBA who have come before him.
Is he a generational talent? Or more so a perennial All-Star? The tanking for him seems a bit excessive from what I have seen. He is good, but not like a LeBron.
Hard to know right now. Just because he isn't coming into this class as a PREMIER generational prospect doesn't rule out that outcome. We as a basketball community speak retroactively once an outcome has been reached. Is there a possibility that AJ is one of the best players in the NBA?
I genuinely believe that outcome exists. And I think that the film and the numbers show that he is above average for his age compared to Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, OG Anunoby, etc. That's a real thing that is happening. And he is doing it at crazy size.
I also don't think the tanking is just for him. There just so happens to be about 3-4 more players that many NBA teams feel are operating at the same level for him. And that level is special. There are also about 4-7 more names who are just a step-to-half-a-step behind--which is still very good. So, it's the volume of talent available in addition to a very talented AJ Dybantsa likely being a Top 2/Top 3 talent.
Thank you for reaching out and I hope this answers your question.