Before I dive in, I wanted to cover the three players that the Utah Jazz are projected to have the option to pick on draft night. AJ Dybantsa appears to be the consensus #1 pick and will likely be going to the Washington Wizards on June 23. That said, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Dybantsa will be the pick. Right now, FanDuel has the odds of AJ Dybantsa going #1 at -390 and Darryn Peterson at +300. That said, Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer have cases for the #1 pick, and you never know if the Wizards change
their mind. Stranger things have happened.
Let’s say the Wizards decide to draft Darryn Peterson. Dybantsa has more potential to be the franchise player for the Jazz than anyone else, given the backstory heading into this season.
It goes without saying that AJ Dybantsa is probably the most popular player among Jazz fans because of his BYU connection and strong ties to Utah. Even if you’re a Jazz and UofU fan, you have to admit that Dybantsa actually wanting to be drafted by the Jazz is a massive win not only for the Jazz, but the state of Utah as well. For a team that tends to be the butt of most jokes, the team that players have left (Gordon Hayward), or forced a trade behind the scenes (Donovan Mitchell), having the potential #1 pick want to join Utah is an incredible win and absolutely makes him a potential franchise player.
If we’re being honest, if AJ Dybantsa ends up on the Jazz, it’s very likely he’s in the purple and blue for the next 10-15 years. If he brought a title to Utah, it’s likely he would not only get a statue but might also become the mayor? A street name after him might not be enough, if we’re being honest. Heck, you might have to rename a core part of Utah after him. Should we change fry sauce to Dybantsa Sauce or something like that? I’m just spitballing here, but you can’t really understate how much Dybantsa would mean to the Jazz and Ryan Smith, too. Smith has made advertising Utah one of his biggest goals, and having Dybantsa be the face of Utah would be fantastic.
When we talk about the actual basketball, it’s very easy to see how Dybantsa becomes the core part of everything the Jazz do going forward. The most winning formula in the league has typically been a massive wing who controls the offense and bends the defense, allowing his teammates to flourish because of the gravity he creates.
Dybantsa is everything you want in a franchise player. He brings a dominant mix of athleticism, size, and skill. No one in college basketball was better at getting to the basket and drawing fouls. It’s probably the most translatable skill and something he’ll rely on his entire career. Dybantsa is about 6’9” – 6’10” with shoes and has a 42” vertical. He also has a strong handle and long strides, allowing him to get to the hoop almost at will. Good luck stopping him, and if you try, the strength and speed is going to be dominant. You either foul him or get dunked on. Speaking of dunks, Dybantsa is going to throw down highlights night after night. He’s also a great mid-range shooter, making his offensive game a problem for opposing defenses. When Dybantsa’s three-point shooting catches up to the other elements of his game, it’s good night for opposing defenses.
Dybantsa also has the personality of a star. He’s filled with the confidence of someone who knows the success he’s going to have. If he’s on the Jazz next year, Jazz fans will have a franchise cornerstone as good as any in the league.
