AJ Dybantsa is a very rare type of NBA superstar. His uncommon career path, combined with an "I'll make it work" attitude, has been on full display during his pre-draft period, setting him apart from those below him on the mock drafts.
But what makes him especially unique as a potential NBA superstar is his affinity toward... Utah. The Beehive State and its affiliated franchise, the Utah Jazz. Dybantsa hasn't been shy about how much he's enjoyed his time at BYU, nor his desire to play for the Jazz, who climbed to the second pick in the draft -- likely one position out of reach.
It's just another notch in the Utah Jazz's storied record of "so close, but not close enough" shortcomings. Utah, a team tired of mediocrity, fell on its own sword and deconstructed their core of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in an exhausted attempt to build something ready to compete for the NBA Finals.
Brick by brick, pick by pick, player by player, trade by trade, the Jazz have built something to believe in out in Utah, but missing out on AJ Dybantsa is just that much more painful considering how compatible the pair could have been.
No matter his landing spot, however, Dybantsa feels entirely confident that he can draw the attention of the national media with his on-court production alone, letting the popularity and market of opportunity follow.
The BYU star shared the following quote with The Athletic, diving into why he spent the last two years of his basketball career in Utah, of all places.
"It wasn't really about the market size," Dybantsa shared on his decision to spend his high school, college days in Utah, a notoriously small market in basketball circles. "Everything that's coming, when it comes to marketing, comes if I do me on the court."
He certainly has the talent to contribute to winning, and you can look to Oklahoma City and San Antonio as perfect examples of small-market teams that have been thrust into the spotlight on the backs of their immense star power.
In Washington, or in Utah, AJ Dybantsa believes in the talent that has carried him to becoming the number-one high school recruit and a consensus All-American outside of the "big market" bubble.
Leading the nation in points per game in Provo, Dybantsa's distinct ability to get his teammates involved while concurrently elevating his own play makes him the clear-cut number-one pick in this draft class. Where Peterson struggles to push his teammates ahead, Dybantsa thrives. Where Boozer struggles to excite and innovate, Dybantsa is in his element.
No matter his landing spot, this superstar made a name for himself while at BYU. I have no doubts he'll do just that at the next level.
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