WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards selected Anicet Francois "AJ" Dybantsa Jr. with the first overall pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday, signaling a hopeful new chapter for a franchise that has not been a serious championship contender in nearly 50 years.

The 6-foot-9 forward, who played one season at BYU after attending Utah Prep in high school, averaged an impressive 25.5 points per game last season. Born in Boston, Dybantsa honors his heritage publicly; during the draft, he wore flag pins representing Jamaica and the Republic of Congo, the birthplaces of his mother and father, respectively. He also requested to be announced by his full first name, Anicet, in tribute to his father.

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins emphasized the team's excitement about acquiring Dybantsa, describing him as a "special person" with a strong work ethic and a passion for basketball. Dawkins highlighted the player’s off-court character, noting Dybantsa’s efforts to give back through his own foundation focused on communities in Massachusetts, Jamaica, and Africa. "There’s no doubt about that" he said, "we’re getting a difference-maker on the basketball court."

Dybantsa expressed confidence in his draft status, noting that he has been anticipating a top pick since ninth grade. He named Kevin Durant—another tall, versatile scorer from the D.C. area—as his favorite player and a point of comparison.

The Wizards have struggled to regain prominence since winning an NBA title in 1978, when the franchise was known as the Bullets. Their last significant playoff success came in 1979, and since then, they have rarely fielded a true superstar capable of leading them to a championship. Previous high draft picks, such as Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010, produced mixed results. Wall helped the team advance past the first playoff round but ultimately, that era faded. Attempts to revive fortunes with players like Russell Westbrook have also fallen short.

The franchise has been in a rebuilding phase, compiling a combined record of 50-196 over the past three seasons. Along with Dybantsa, the Wizards hold the second overall pick from 2024 in Alex Sarr and have an emerging young core including Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, and Cam Whitmore.

Despite setbacks, recent moves suggest the Wizards are positioning themselves for renewed competitiveness. They acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season, though Davis did not play due to injury and Young’s appearances were limited. Dybantsa joins a roster blending promising youth and veteran presence, and he expressed optimism about the team’s potential. “Them adding me, I think I can help them a little bit,” he said. “Them re-signing Trae Young, them having A.D. and having good vets along with our young core. I think we can do big things.”