AJ Dybantsa heard the words that few players in history can say have been uttered about them by the NBA commissioner: “With the first pick of the NBA draft ...”The former BYU star joined elite company as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday when the Washington Wizards selected him as what they hope will be a franchise savior.The 19-year-old from Massachusetts spoke on “TODAY” on Wednesday about what it was like to become the 80th No. 1 overall pick since the first draft in 1947. The moment was filled with some suspense, as Dybantsa was in the mix with two other players, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Cameron Boozer of Duke, for the No. 1 overall pick.“It was super surreal,” Dybantsa said. “Obviously, you see it for years and years on TV, and for your name to get called, it’s ridiculous.”NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after he is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York.Arturo Holmes / Getty ImagesThe hard work that propelled Dybantsa to the top of his draft class flashed through his mind when he heard NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announce his name.“I was just kind of replaying all the memories in my head,” he said. “All the sacrifices I made, all the practices, late nights, crying, all the blood, sweat and tears.”Dybantsa also paid tribute to his father during his special moment. While he normally goes by AJ, he requested that Silver announce his draft selection by using his full name, Anicet Dybantsa Jr., in tribute to his father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa Sr.The elder Dybantsa, who is serving as AJ’s manager, was at the draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn with wife Chelsea and AJ’s two sisters, Samarra and Jasmyn.“It’s meant a lot, obviously, just knowing them since birth, having my emotional support,” Dybantsa said. “Them supporting me along with my sisters, it’s been great.”Chelsea and Ace were also there on “TODAY” to watch their son’s interview, beaming with pride. They shared their reaction to hearing him announced as the league’s No. 1 overall pick.“Nervous, very, very nervous,” Chelsea said. “But we’re just happy to be here. He worked so hard and we’re proud of him, but he should be proud of himself no matter what.”“He made a lot of sacrifices, and I told him all the time, you work hard it will pay off, and here we are,” his father said.Dybantsa is the first No. 1 overall pick by the Wizards since former All-Star guard John Wall in 2010.Becoming the No. 1 pick in what experts have considered a stacked draft class is the latest impressive milestone in Dybantsa’s rise.The 6-foot-9 wing led the NCAA in scoring with 25.5 points per game in his lone college season at BYU this past winter. He was named a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12.Dybantsa was considered the nation’s No. 1 recruit coming out of Utah Prep before he signed with BYU, so he has been on the NBA radar since he was in high school.He hopes to bring instant offense to a moribund Wizards franchise that has not had a winning season since 2017-18 and is coming off a 17-65 season, the worst of any team in the NBA.After being drafted by the Wizards, Dybantsa said he heard from head coach Brian Keefe along with star point guard Trae Young, who just signed a four-year, $212.9 million contract with Washington after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks. Dybantsa said he also heard from rising young talents Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George after being selected by the team.“They’re just excited to meet me, come watch me play,” he said.Dybantsa also shared that he’s eager to face off against one player in particular.“Kevin Durant is my favorite player,” he said.The 19-year-old already has one accolade over Durant. The Houston Rockets star and future Hall of Famer was the No. 2 pick of the 2007 NBA draft.“He got drafted when I was born,” Dybantsa said.