AJ Dybantsa Already Has a Plan for His First NBA Paycheck: His Sister’s Car

The 2026 NBA Draft is less than 48 hours away and AJ Dybantsa is basically a lock to hear his name called first. The BYU freshman has been the projected No. 1 pick for months now. But during a pre-draft interview with ESPN, he revealed something that had nothing to do with his jump shot or his wingspan.

When former NBA champion Iman Shumpert asked Dybantsa what he’d buy with his first professional paycheck, the 19-year-old didn’t name a mansion, a chain or a luxury car for himself. He talked about his little sister instead.

“My little sister just got her permit. So if she get her license sometime, she might get a car… maybe,” Dybantsa said, laughing.

The moment went viral almost immediately. A clip posted on X picked up thousands of likes within hours. It’s the kind of answer that feels genuine and unscripted, which is rare in the pre-draft media circuit where most guys give polished, agent-approved answers.

The Washington Wizards hold the No. 1 pick and everyone around the league expects them to take Dybantsa. He averaged 19.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in his lone season at BYU. His blend of size and shot creation at 6-foot-9 has scouts comparing him to elite NBA wings. The rookie scale contract for the first overall pick is projected to be around $12 million per year.

A different kind of draft story

Dybantsa has been a known commodity since high school. He reclassified to graduate early, then picked BYU over an entire list of bluebloods. But moments like this are why fans tune into draft coverage beyond just the picks. It’s easy to forget these guys are still teenagers with siblings and weirdly mundane concerns.

“Maybe” did a lot of work in that sentence. You could hear the smile. He’s not promising anything. He’s just saying the thought crossed his mind. That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

The draft airs Tuesday night on ESPN. Dybantsa is expected to be the first member of the 2026 class to shake Adam Silver’s hand. His sister might get a car at some point after that. No firm timeline. No pressure. Just a maybe.