If the Indiana Pacers secure the No. 1 pick in this year's draft (with the worst record in the NBA, they currently have a 14% chance of making this happen, according to Tankathon.com), they need to draft BYU's AJ Dybantsa. Especially after his recent stretch.
Dybantsa has been fantastic all season long at BYU, but he has turned it up another level. Since the start of February, the Massachusetts native has averaged 28.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 49.4% from the field and 35.2% from deep in 13 games.
Furthermore, he scored a combined 93 points in his last three games (while shooting 52.4% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc), breaking the previous Big 12 tournament scoring record, which was held by Kevin Durant.
AJ Dybantsa just broke Kevin Durant's Big 12 tournament scoring record.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2026
Dybantsa has 93 points in 3 games.
KD finished with 92 in 3 games.
The top of the NBA Draft is expected to be a loaded one. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer are all potential franchise guys at the NBA level, and they are each legitimate candidates to get drafted first overall. Whichever one ultimately gets their name called first likely will depend on which team wins the draft lottery. But if it's the Pacers, their decision should already be set in stone.
The Pacers should draft AJ Dybantsa first overall
To be clear, Indiana should be happy if it can land any of Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer (and even Caleb Wilson, who is widely considered the clear fourth-best player in this year's class). But if it had its choice, Dybantsa is the answer.
The 19-year-old is probably the safest pick in this year's draft in the sense that he has all the physical tools to be great at the NBA level (6-foot-9, 6-foot-11 wingspan and is just a freak of an athlete), while also being amazing at almost everything. Plus, in the modern NBA, having a ball-dominant wing who can contribute in every area of the game is vital.
Dybantsa plays with a ton of energy and has very few flaws in his game. He is an elite shot-creator who can score at all three levels (and is especially improving as a three-point shooter). Additionally, he can get to the basket at will, can rebound and defend, and is a solid playmaker.
Not only is he arguably the best player in this year's draft as it is, but he is a dream addition to the Pacers' roster.
Dybantsa is someone who can take a lot of pressure off of guys like Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and Pascal Siakam because of his shot-creation. And with Bennedict Mathurin no longer on the roster, the Pacers need this more than ever.
Plus, his ability to impact the game in every area should make him an immediate contributor in Indiana, and it should allow him to mesh well with everybody on the roster. And given that the team may be able to re-enter the title picture as soon as next season, adding someone like him would just be the cherry on top.
The BYU forward is arguably the most NBA-ready player in this year's draft, but he also has a ton of upside. He has a lot of untapped potential, yet there are already reasons to believe he could be an immediate starter for the Pacers because of how talented he already is.
Indiana will need a lot of luck to go its way moving forward. But if it all works out, the team will have a legitimate opportunity to build a juggernaut that can compete for a championship now and for the long haul. And it all starts with adding someone like Dybantsa to a roster that is already capable of winning it all.