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Wizards Introduce No. 1 Pick AJ Dybantsa in No. 4 Jersey Ahead of Rebuild

ESPN NBA •
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AJ Dybantsa stepped into the District on Thursday wearing his new No. 4 jersey, officially beginning his Wizards career two days after Washington made him the No. 1 overall pick. The 6-foot-9 forward from BYU arrives with massive expectations, averaging 25.5 points per game in college while becoming the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since his new teammate Trae Young accomplished the feat in 2017-18.

Dybantsa's path to basketball started with a Spider-Man hoop his father bought him at age five, launching a journey that brought him to the Wizards' introductory press conference overlooking the Potomac River. The franchise hasn't won 50 games in a season since 1979 and managed just 50 total victories across the last three years, making this rebuild a priority for everyone involved.

Wearing No. 3 in college, Dybantsa switched numbers because Washington's star guard already claims that jersey. He explained the change simply: "Previously wore No. 3, but I was the No. 1 pick. Wanted to add those up, and we got four." The 19-year-old's maturity impressed general manager Will Dawkins during pre-draft interviews.

Beyond basketball, Dybantsa plans to graduate online while running a foundation that will send 20 kids from Jamaica and Congo to universities worldwide. His confidence and curiosity suggest the Wizards found more than just a scorer in their franchise-altering draft selection.