NBA Draft: Dybantsa to Wizards

Morning Edition

June 24, 2026

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The Wizards’ long rebuild reached a major milestone Tuesday night. Washington selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, giving the franchise its most anticipated young star since John Wall.

—Alex Schiffer

First Up

First at FOS: The Hawks are in advanced talks to hire ESPN NBA reporter Tim Bontemps for a front office position. Read the story.
FIFA’s official prediction market is struggling to gain traction against rival platforms Kalshi and Polymarket. Read the story.
First at FOS: The CFTC is suing Kentucky over sports-event contracts as it battles states targeting prediction markets. Read the story.
UFC is replacing its media-voted rankings with an AI model developed by Meta. Read the story.

Wizards Land AJ Dybantsa Ahead of NBA Lottery Overhaul

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NEW YORK — The Wizards have been rewarded for their tanking crimes.

On Tuesday, Washington selected BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft after amassing a league-worst 17–65 record. It marks the team’s highest draft selection since taking John Wall with the top pick in the 2010 draft.

As Adam Silver ceremonially shook hands with the 6-foot-9 forward, he simultaneously marked the end of an era; the commissioner’s new “3-2-1 lottery” system will debut next year to help combat the tanking practices the Wizards emphasized en route to landing the No. 1 selection.

Dybantsa joins a young team led by two star veterans in Trae Young and Anthony Davis. At 25.5 points per game, the Massachusetts native was the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since Young did so at Oklahoma in 2019.

“I think I bring versatility. Obviously, them re-signing Trae, having AD, I think I can fit in as an off-ball guy that can just score in different ways. Score in transition. Score off the catch. Score off the dribble,” Dybantsa said shortly after he was selected. “They challenged me when they talked to me, saying, ‘If we pick you, we want you to play defense 94 feet and pick up.’ So I definitely bring that too.”

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has been criticized in recent years for threatening to move the team to Virginia in addition to the franchise’s poor on-court product. The Wizards have been irrelevant since the Wall/Bradley Beal era ended in 2019 and they now insert the young star to a team that should be an immediate factor in a lighter Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Capital One Arena is currently undergoing millions of dollars in renovations.

On Monday, Young agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal with the Wizards, which will pay an average of more than $50 million annually. Many analysts have panned the deal as an overpay, but the Wizards’ young roster gave the team the flexibility to make such a move.

Dybantsa’s selection at No. 1 led to a predictable domino effect with the draft’s top-four picks. The Jazz selected Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the second pick, despite a bizarre season in Lawrence, while the Grizzlies followed with Duke’s Cameron Boozer, whose dad, Carlos, was a two-time All-Star. The Bulls selected North Carolina star Caleb Wilson at No. 4.

This year’s draft is considered historically deep, and speculation as to who would go No. 1 ran rampant going into Tuesday night, with debates focusing on Dybantsa’s talent and Peterson’s handling of multiple soft tissue injuries at KU. Boozer was deemed a safe pick as the son of a former star, while Wilson was considered a great prize for a fourth pick.

May, Mavericks, and More Michigan

Dusty May wasted no time making his mark on the Mavericks roster. A day after being named the team’s new head coach, May was present at Barclays Center to support multiple Michigan players who were invited to the green room.

That included Morez Johnson Jr., who Dallas selected with the No. 9 overall pick. With the pick, May reunites with one of his key players from the Wolverines’ title run, as the 6-foot-9 big man averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 40 games at Michigan last season.

“It’s insane,” Johnson Jr. said to ESPN shortly after getting taken. “The Michigan Mavs now.”

It’s a mixed track record for college coaches who made the jump to the NBA and having Johnson might provide a boost to May. Celtics general manager Brad Stevens famously signed Gordon Hayward, his star player at Butler, when he was the head coach in Boston, while John Beilein had no Michigan players on the roster in his failed season with the Cavaliers.

Johnson gives May an ally in the locker room who can vouch for him as a coach, while the rookie has a familiar face to help him adjust to life in the NBA.

Championing Your Legacy

The greatest athletes don’t just play the game. They build something that outlasts the final whistle. But the boldest builders don’t go alone.

At TST, RBC Wealth Management brought together some of the boldest minds in business and sport to explore exactly that. Chris Paul, Spencer Carmichael-Brown, and Hope Kemp-Hanson joined Sean Kellenberger, SVP of UHNW Initiatives at RBC Wealth Management, for a real conversation on legacy, reinvention, and growing wealth on your own terms.

The message was clear: equity, sponsorships, rising valuations, and the continued rise of women’s sports. The complexity of modern wealth demands world-class partners.

Your legacy starts with the right people in your corner.

LOUD AND CLEAR

Vegas Ambitions

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“We built the Golden Knights into a championship organization from the ground up, and we are prepared to do it again.”

—Golden Knights owner Bill Foley on formally entering the race for an NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas, touting both his local roots and a track record that includes a Stanley Cup title and eight playoff appearances in nine seasons.

Foley’s group plans to base an NBA team at T-Mobile Arena, but it’ll face stiff competition from other prospective ownership groups as the league continues to explore expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle. Read the story.

DAILY SPORTS TRIVIA

Can you rank the top five goal scorers in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs?

ONE BIG FIG

Red-Carded Drones

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300

That’s the minimum number of drones federal authorities say they have seized near FIFA World Cup sites since the tournament began June 11, highlighting the massive security operation surrounding the event. Federal agencies have confiscated the drones near stadiums and other World Cup venues as officials enforce temporary flight restrictions and deploy a $250 million counter-drone security effort.

The seizures span multiple host cities and come amid warnings that even recreational drones can threaten fans, players, and nearby aircraft operations. Pilots who violate restricted airspace can face fines of up to $100,000, aircraft confiscation, and possible prison time. Read the story.

The New Business of Ballpark Screens

For decades, the main video board was the centerpiece of the ballpark experience. Today, every display, from the outfield wall to the concourse and team store, plays a role in driving fan engagement, sponsorship value, and revenue.

Daktronics is helping MLB teams rethink how digital displays fit into the modern venue. From upgraded boards at Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field to immersive retail and premium club experiences, teams are using connected LED and audio systems to create more dynamic environments for fans while creating new opportunities for partners.

Read more about how ballparks are evolving beyond the scoreboard.