Trae Young Already Getting the AJ Dybantsa Treatment Before Their First Game Together

The Washington Wizards went into the 2026 NBA Draft with the first overall pick and a plan. They came out of it with AJ Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing who spent a year at BYU and projects as the kind of two-way star you build a franchise around. But before he plays a single NBA minute, Dybantsa already has a jersey problem on his hands.

He wants No. 3. Trae Young currently wears No. 3 for the Wizards. And on draft night, the two future teammates had a brief, public conversation about it.

During the broadcast, Young called Dybantsa and the exchange was caught on camera. Young didn’t give up the number on the spot. But he didn’t shut it down either. He basically said, let’s talk about it later. Which, in NBA language, means he’s probably open to handing it over. Just not live on ESPN.

The whole thing started when Young got traded to Washington earlier this year. He had worn No. 11 his entire career — high school, Oklahoma, seven and a half seasons in Atlanta. But the Wizards have that number retired for Elvin Hayes, who led the franchise to its only title back in 1978. So Young picked No. 3, which he wore as a freshman in high school. It was a practical choice, not a sentimental one.

Dybantsa wore No. 3 at BYU and throughout his high school career. For a rookie who’s being positioned as the franchise’s next cornerstone, there’s some weight to keeping that number. It’s his identity.

And Young seems to get that. He didn’t hang up the phone and grumble. He didn’t dodge the question. He just kicked the can down the road a little, which is probably the smart play. Let the draft night buzz settle. Maybe have a conversation in person when Dybantsa gets to D.C.

There’s also a power dynamic here worth noting. Dybantsa is the No. 1 pick. The Wizards just traded for Young and Anthony Davis to build a competitive roster around him. Whether or not Young admits it publicly, he knows the rookie is the long-term priority. Giving up a jersey number is a small gesture, but it sends a message: this is your team eventually.

For now, Young looks like the kind of veteran who’s willing to be flexible. That’s a good sign for a Wizards locker room that’s about to blend established stars with a young, hungry core. They’ll have bigger problems than who wears what number once the season starts. But jersey negotiations in June? That’s the kind of drama every team can handle.