Neither AJ Dybantsa nor Darryn Peterson would be told which of them Washington had chosen until Adam Silver announced the pick on the night.
Both the Wizards and the Jazz remained undecided between Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa days out from the 2026 draft, leaving the order of the first two picks open.
AJ Dybantsa met with Washington and Utah before the draft while Darryn Peterson met only with the Wizards, the two prospects the top of the board had narrowed to.
ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports Washington won the May 12 lottery after finishing 17-65, the first team to convert the league's worst record into the top pick since the 2019 format change. It is the franchise's first lottery win since taking John Wall in 2010, and ESPN projects BYU forward AJ Dybantsa as the selection.
AJ Dybantsa was regarded around the league as the most probable No. 1 selection in the 2026 draft, with the order still to be settled by the lottery.
