The AJ Dybantsa contract is a four-year rookie deal with the Washington Wizards worth about $66.9 million, according to reports of his July 2, 2026 signing. The Wizards took the BYU forward with the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. This guide covers the reported salary by year, how the rookie scale works, and where sources disagree on the exact total.
Quick answers
- Team: Washington Wizards, No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft (June 23, 2026).
- Contract: four years, about $66.9 million (Bleacher Report, Roundtable); Sportico reports $67.1 million.
- First-year salary: about $14.7 to $14.8 million, depending on the source.
- Signed: Thursday, July 2, 2026.
How AJ Dybantsa Became the No. 1 Pick
According to Scripps News, the 2026 NBA Draft was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. Washington won the draft lottery and kept the top pick despite speculation that Utah might trade up from No. 2. The Wizards selected Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9, 217-pound forward from BYU. Utah took Darryn Peterson at No. 2, Memphis took Cameron Boozer at No. 3, Chicago took Caleb Wilson at No. 4, and the Clippers took Keaton Wagler at No. 5.
Scripps lists his single season at BYU as follows: 25.5 points per game (national scoring leader), 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 51% shooting and 33.1% from three-point range. He was a first-team AP All-American and set a BYU freshman record with 43 points against Utah. He attended Utah Prep in high school and was born in Boston.
How Much Is AJ Dybantsa’s Contract Worth?
Sources give two slightly different totals:
| Source | Total | First-year salary |
|---|---|---|
| Bleacher Report (citing Spotrac) | $66.9 million, four years | Not given |
| Roundtable (Wizards announcement) | $66.9 million, four years | $14,748,000 |
| Sportico | $67.1 million, four years | $14.8 million |
The difference is about $0.2 million. Roundtable’s exact first-year number rounds to $14.7 million, so Sportico’s $14.8 million is likely a rounded or differently sourced figure. We could not see a primary Wizards or NBA document, so treat the exact amounts as reported.
Dybantsa’s Salary by Year
Roundtable listed these year-by-year figures:
| Season | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2026-27 | $14,748,000 |
| 2027-28 | $15,485,760 |
| 2028-29 | $16,223,040 |
| 2029-30 | $20,457,254 |
Added together, they come to about $66.91 million (our arithmetic), which matches the $66.9 million total. Roundtable did not say which years are guaranteed or which are team options. The rookie scale rules below explain the usual structure.
How the NBA Rookie Scale Works
Sportico explains the rules that apply to first-round picks:
- Salaries are tied to draft slot, and the slot values are tied to the salary cap.
- Teams must offer between 80% and 120% of the slot’s scale value, and nearly all deals are signed at 120%.
- First-round contracts run four years. The first two years are guaranteed, and the team holds options on years three and four.
- Second-round picks have no scale and often sign minimum or two-way deals.
Sportico also said rookie deals rise with the salary cap, which grew about 7% for 2026-27. The official cap is $164.961 million, as we detail in our NBA salary cap 2026-27 guide.
How Dybantsa’s Pay Compares
For context, our NBA minimum salary guide lists a rookie minimum of about $1.36 million. Dybantsa’s reported first-year salary of about $14.7 million is roughly 10.9 times that (our arithmetic). Sportico lists two other first-round examples: the 15th pick, Dailyn Swain of the Chicago Bulls, at $24.1 million over four years, and the 30th pick, Koa Peat of the Phoenix Suns, at $15 million. Scale amounts for the picks in between differ across sources, so we do not publish a full table.
What We Cannot Confirm
- Endorsement or NIL income. We did not find a reliable figure.
- Guarantees and options by year. Not stated in the reports we reviewed.
- Net worth. We could not find a reliable figure, so we do not publish one.
Related Reading
For a look at how rookie pay works in women’s basketball, see our guides to the Awa Fam contract and Olivia Miles’ salary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is AJ Dybantsa’s contract?
About $66.9 million over four years, per Bleacher Report and Roundtable. Sportico reports $67.1 million.
What is AJ Dybantsa’s salary in 2026-27?
About $14.7 million, with Sportico rounding it to $14.8 million.
Who drafted AJ Dybantsa?
The Washington Wizards, with the No. 1 pick on June 23, 2026.
When did Dybantsa sign his contract?
Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Where did AJ Dybantsa play college basketball?
BYU, for one season.
How are NBA rookie contracts set?
By a draft-slot scale. Teams offer 80% to 120% of the scale, and most pick 120%.
AJ Dybantsa Contract: Summary
The Wizards signed AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick, on July 2, 2026, to a four-year deal reported at $66.9 million, with a first-year salary of about $14.7 million. Sportico lists $67.1 million and $14.8 million. First-round deals follow a scale tied to the salary cap, with the first two years guaranteed and team options on the last two.
