AJ Dybantsa’s pre-draft visit to Washington cemented his place on Wizards’ board
WASHINGTON — When, exactly, did Washington Wizards decision-makers decide they would select AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in the NBA Draft?
Dybantsa opened the post-lottery portion of the pre-draft process as the No. 1 player atop Washington’s draft board, and he remained in that spot, ahead of a list of other options headed by Darryn Peterson.
His visit with the Wizards in Washington on, or around, June 11-12 made a positive impact. Although Dybantsa said on the “Baseline Banter” podcast before the draft that he didn’t work out for any teams, Dybantsa in fact worked out for the Wizards.
And his entire visit solidified team officials’ thinking.
“It was obviously a combination of people that had to make that decision, to make sure that we got it right, and we didn’t want to rush that process,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins told The Athletic on Thursday, after Dybantsa’s introductory news conference.
“I would say a few days after his workout and visit is when we felt comfortable moving forward with the decision.”
Dybantsa said his visit went “great” and added the workout allowed him to show the Wizards “a little bit of everything.”
Like many prospects who visited the Wizards before a draft, Dybantsa met with many segments of the organization, including the player engagement department, analytics specialists and the coaches, Dawkins said.
The goal for such wide-ranging interactions with team staff, Dawkins said, is to give prospects a feel for what the franchise is like, to show them how the franchise can help on and off the court and to let them understand what the expectations will be. The process also helps the staff get a head start on working with a player if he is drafted.
Film sessions with coaches, for example, illustrate how prospects process information and learn.
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins, left, said AJ Dybantsa made a great impression on the team’s staff during his mid-June visit to Washington. (Amber Searls / Imagn Images)
Those interactions meant more than the workout, according to Dawkins.
“It was less about what he showed on the basketball court and just more of who he was as a person and fitting into the environment,” Dawkins said. “Obviously, we do a lot of research and get background information on who he is as a person, what he’s about, what his motivators are. When you get him in there (during the visit) and he exceeds expectations and kind of solidifies that, that’s what made us comfortable. But a player like him, who could go at the top of many drafts, you’re lucky to get him. And not only did he want to come in for a visit, he wanted to work out. He wanted to prove, ‘Any questions you have about me, I want to show them to you.’ And he was just open, honest and transparent, and he was the person that we thought he would be.”
Warm reception
As part of Dybantsa’s introduction Thursday, Wizards officials held a fan fest at the Wharf in Southwest Washington in which former Wizards center Brendan Haywood conducted a Q-and-A session with Dybantsa and a few fans, who also asked questions of the player.
The turnout was impressive by any standard — especially for the middle of a workday.
Dybantsa already had felt a warm welcome to Washington two days earlier. He saw the draft-night videos of several thousand Wizards fans who had gathered at the Anthem concert venue to watch the draft unfold. When NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced Dybantsa as the Wizards’ pick, the fans at the Anthem erupted in cheers.
“Definitely a crazy feeling,” Dybantsa said. “Seeing the Anthem watch party, (with everyone) just wanting me to be here and wanting me to be that pick … that made me feel welcome.”
Picking a number
Dybantsa will wear No. 4 on his Wizards jersey.
His preference would have been to wear No. 3, which he wore at St. Sebastian’s, Prolific Prep, Utah Prep and BYU, but Wizards teammate Trae Young already claimed that number.
So, what led Dybantsa to No. 4?
“Just new beginnings,” Dybantsa said. “Obviously, me coming to D.C., I just wanted to grab a new number. I previously wore No. 3. But I was the No. 1 pick, and I wanted to add those up, and we got 4.”
Summer League plans
The Wizards’ roster for the NBA Summer League next month in Las Vegas will be stacked.
In addition to Dybantsa and 46th pick Felix Okpara, Dawkins said he anticipates that Washington’s summer-league roster will include rising second-year players Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins and Juju Reese.