AJ Dybantsa grew up surrounded by Boston Celtics memories, but the potential No. 1 pick is already thinking like an NBA opponent.
The Brockton, Massachusetts, native once had every reason to root for the team down the road.
Now his career is about to pull him to the other side.
AJ Dybantsa, Celtics break comes before the NBA Draft
Speaking on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Dybantsa explained why his Celtics fandom has to stop before he hears his name called in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“I’m a Celtics fan, been to multiple Celtics games… now I’m not a Celtics fan anymore… Because I’m about to get drafted so I’m not going to be a fan of them… I told you I’m not a fan anymore so I don’t really care what they do.”
That sounds cold only if the local context is ignored. Dybantsa was born in Brockton, grew up close enough to Boston for the Celtics to become part of his basketball identity, and attended Celtics games long before he became a national name.
Andscape reported in 2024 that he was at TD Garden for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks, watching the team he supported win on the same parquet floor where he may one day play as a pro.
He has also talked about seeing Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Garnett in person when he was younger. This is a hometown prospect drawing a professional line.
AJ Dybantsa’s Celtics dream runs into draft reality
Boston fans can imagine the story, but the draft board makes it impossible.
Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in his lone season at BYU, led the nation in scoring, and entered the draft as one of the clearest No. 1 candidates in the class. NBA.com called him one of the top prospects in the field, while ESPN described him as the projected No. 1 pick.
The Celtics are nowhere near that range. They hold the No. 27 and No. 40 picks, which puts them in late-first and second-round territory, not Dybantsa territory.
Could Boston make an unprecedented move to No. 1? In theory, yes. In reality, that would require a monster package at the same time the Celtics are being linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Jaylen Brown reportedly on the table and future picks already part of the conversation.
That points Boston toward a win-now superstar swing, not a historic draft climb for a 19-year-old wing.
The more realistic outcome is simple. Dybantsa will become someone else’s franchise scorer, likely competing against the Celtics for most of the next decade. His fandom is over because his rivalry might be just beginning.
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