AJ Dybantsa says he ‘fills seats’ as race for NBA Draft's No. 1 pick intensifies

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He arrived at his conversations with teams — the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks as of noon Wednesday, he said — in a suit and tie. On Wednesday, he even showed up for his 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters and broadcasters dressed in a gray plaid suit, dark blue dress shirt and a tie with notes of blue. Year after year, prospects typically show up wearing comfy sweats to their media interviews. But not him. “I had interviews this morning with different teams, and I mean, I never had a job before,” Dybantsa said. “I was 13 (when I) started taking basketball serious. But this is like my first job interview. So my dad’s kind of like, ‘You know, this is your job interview. So come professional, come in a suit.’” Dybantsa, an explosive wing from BYU who said he wants to be picked No. 1, has reason to view this week as a tryout. He faces competition for the top spot from Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. The Wizards won the draft lottery and own the top pick, followed by the Jazz at No. 2, the Grizzlies at No. 3 and the Bulls at No. 4. All four players continued to make their draft cases Wednesday. Each prospect was asked by the assembled media some variation of why he should be the top pick or what he will bring to an NBA team. “I’m super versatile as a player,” Dybantsa said. “I think I can guard one through four, play one through four. I think that I can play a little bit of combo guard if you need me to. I can be that jumbo wing if you need me to. I play the game the right way. So I try to play to win, try to make my teammates better. But I’m super exciting as a player, super explosive. I fill seats.” Boozer was asked to name the skill he possesses that will transfer immediately to the NBA. “I think my mind, for sure,” Boozer answered. “I just think my feel for the game is elite. My competitiveness, my will to win, I think those are the biggest things that are going to translate.” Peterson said he had interviewed with approximately 10 teams as of midday Wednesday, including the Wizards, Jazz and Grizzlies. “I think I can fit with any team just because I think I can play both off and on the ball and help my team wherever I go,” Peterson told reporters. There has been speculation that Peterson only wants to go to a team that views him as a point guard, stemming in part from comments he made to Andscape that he’s at his best as a point guard. On Wednesday, however, when he was asked directly whether he would cross a team off his list if it considers him solely as a two-guard, he answered, “Nah, no, sir. I mean, at the end of the day, whoever wants to pick you is probably going to pick you. So if they come in and say I’m a two-guard, I’m familiar with it now (from playing at Kansas), so I’ll just make a way.” A pair of hand injuries limited Wilson to only 24 games at North Carolina. On Feb. 10, he broke a bone in his left hand when he attempted to block a shot and fell to the ground. On March 5, he fractured his right thumb when he struck the rim during a practice drill. Wilson said the Jazz, Bulls, Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets are among the teams that have interviewed him. He has an interview scheduled Thursday with the Wizards, and he likely has an interview upcoming with the Grizzlies, too. Asked what he will bring to a team, Wilson answered, “Leadership and focus, honestly. Of course, I can score. Of course, I can rebound and do all those things. But I feel like being a leader and really being able to kind of impact winning and impact the culture of the team is going to be something I really bring from day one. “I never really felt like my hand injury was a setback,” Wilson added. “Of course, I was heartbroken when it happened. But my hand’s perfectly fine now, and I feel like it offered me a different perspective on basketball in general, just because once I injured my hand, now I’m way more grateful to play. Every day I wake up and I get the opportunity to play and just be able to shoot and dribble and stuff like that. I just feel grateful for the opportunity, and I wasn’t as grateful as I am now.” Wilson said he would be happy to go to any team that believes in him. In the moments immediately after the Wizards won the lottery, Dybantsa appeared stone-faced, prompting at least some observers to speculate that he does not want to play for the team and prefers to go somewhere else. He said he would be happy to go to any team. “I literally had no reaction at all, and people find ways to say that I didn’t want it. I did want it,” Dybantsa said. “But it all comes with social media. People are going to make narratives. I just tried not to react at all, just keep a straight face, try to stay even-keeled.” It’s an extension of his businesslike approach to the week. A week with no guarantees he’ll be selected No. 1. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms