The Washington Wizards have a clear cut pick with the number one over all pick on the 2026 NBA draft

The Washington Wizards finally have what every rebuilding franchise dreams about: a true chance to change the direction of the organization with the No. 1 overall pick. After years of inconsistency, failed roster experiments, and watching other Eastern Conference teams pass them by, Washington now sits in position to draft the next face of the franchise.

And while there are several elite prospects at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft, the decision should be clear.

The Wizards should select AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.

That is not a knock on the rest of this loaded class. Darryn Peterson looks like a future All-Star guard. Cameron Boozer might be the safest prospect in the draft. But when you are drafting first overall, you are not looking for safe. You are looking for greatness. You are looking for the player that can become one of the five best players in basketball someday.

That player is Dybantsa.

The 6-foot-9 BYU freshman has spent the last year proving why scouts have viewed him as a potential franchise-altering talent since high school. Dybantsa finished the season averaging 25.5 points per game while breaking Danny Ainge’s long-standing freshman scoring record at BYU. He erupted for 43 points in one of the biggest performances by any freshman in college basketball this season and showcased the type of offensive skillset that translates immediately to the NBA.

What separates Dybantsa from everyone else is the combination of size, explosiveness, and shot creation.

The NBA today revolves around wings who can create offense at all three levels. Teams win championships because of players like Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Luka Doncic controlling games with the ball in their hands. Dybantsa has that mold.

At the NBA Draft Combine, he posted a 42-inch vertical leap, the best mark among the top prospects, further cementing the elite athletic profile scouts have raved about for years.

The Wizards desperately need that kind of superstar upside.

Washington already has intriguing young pieces, but what the roster lacks is a true offensive engine — someone defenses fear every possession. Dybantsa changes that immediately. He can attack downhill, score in isolation, finish through contact, and create offense late in games. At 6-foot-9, he sees over defenders and has shown flashes of becoming a high-level playmaker as well.

There are still areas that need polishing. His perimeter shooting consistency comes and goes, and like most young stars, decision-making can improve. But the upside is enormous.

Most mock drafts and scouting services now view Dybantsa as the consensus No. 1 prospect in the class.

Still, there is a real argument for Peterson.

The Kansas guard might honestly be the best pure scorer in the draft. Peterson averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while posting a 57.8 true shooting percentage according to Tankathon’s draft database.

At 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, Peterson has ideal size for a modern NBA combo guard. He can score at all three levels and was sensational during combine shooting drills, knocking down 19-of-25 spot-up threes.

There is a toughness to Peterson’s game that scouts love. He attacks defenders relentlessly and looks completely comfortable taking over games late. Some evaluators even believe he could eventually become the best offensive player in the class.

If Washington already had an elite young wing in place, Peterson would make even more sense. But franchise wings are harder to find than scoring guards, and that matters when choosing first overall.

Then there is Boozer, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.

Boozer may honestly be the most polished prospect in the draft right now.

The Duke freshman averaged 24.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting an absurd 65.3 true shooting percentage. He also reportedly shot 19-of-25 from three-point range during combine drills.

At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer already has an NBA-ready frame. He plays with incredible poise, understands spacing, rebounds at a high level, and processes the game faster than almost anyone in the class. Yahoo Sports described him as “the most polished player in the class.”

There is a world where Boozer becomes the best player from this draft because his floor feels incredibly high. He impacts winning immediately. He rebounds, defends, passes, and scores efficiently.

But the question for Washington comes down to ceiling.

Can Boozer become one of the five best players in basketball someday?

Maybe.

Can Dybantsa?

Absolutely.

That is why the Wizards cannot overthink this.

For a franchise that has spent years searching for an identity, Dybantsa offers exactly what Washington basketball has lacked: superstar potential, excitement, and a player capable of becoming the centerpiece of the organization for the next decade.

The Wizards have missed on draft opportunities before. They cannot afford to miss here.

Take the player with elite size. Take the player with elite athleticism. Take the player with elite shot creation. Take the player that the rest of the league is terrified could become a superstar.

The Wizards should draft AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.