Washington has secured the top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, with BYU forward AJ Dybantsa emerging as the overwhelming favorite to be chosen first overall by the Wizards.
Following the lottery results, Field Level Media’s Ethan Ward immediately placed Dybantsa at the top of his draft rankings. Betting markets have responded accordingly, with BetMGM listing the forward at -450 odds to be selected first after initially opening at +360. Dybantsa has captured 38.8% of all wagers on the top pick and commands 74.1% of the total money wagered.
Despite his status as the betting favorite, Dybantsa ranks as only the third-largest potential loss for the sportsbook as of Monday. Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. holds the top liability position, with North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson in second place.
Acuff’s position stems from attracting 28.1% of all bets and 7.0% of the money despite long-shot +1000 odds. Wilson carries much shorter +5000 odds to go first overall and has drawn 13.5% of bets but only 4.0% of the total money.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who initially opened as the -325 favorite for the top selection, now sits at +350 following the draft order announcement. Ward projects Peterson to be selected second overall by the Utah Jazz.
The 2026 draft class features multiple players with star potential, creating anticipation for the June 23-24 event in New York. Duke forward Cameron Boozer has attracted the second-highest amount of money wagered on the first pick with 13.8%.
Dybantsa’s emergence as the top choice for Washington stems from his perceived fit alongside the Wizards’ mix of young players and veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis. The 19-year-old would not face immediate pressure to carry the team following his single collegiate season.
Utah would likely have strong interest in selecting the former BYU standout to keep him in the state. However, Peterson could provide an ideal complement to the Jazz’s large frontcourt with his versatility at both guard positions and ability to play without the ball.
Boozer represents one of the few top prospects whose odds have decreased since the market opened at BetMGM, moving from +875 to +1100 while receiving 11.8% of total wagers. He is commonly viewed as a potential selection for Memphis at third overall. The Grizzlies face decisions regarding Ja Morant, but Boozer is considered a safe prospect likely to become a reliable NBA scorer.
Beyond the top five selections, no other player has better than +25000 odds to be chosen first overall next month.
This marks Washington’s first time holding the top pick since 2010, when the franchise selected guard John Wall, who went on to become a five-time All-Star. The Wizards now own the first overall selection for the fifth time in team history.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa paced the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game and appears positioned to become one of the NBA’s top offensive players. The 6-foot-6 Peterson dealt with injury issues at Kansas but still averaged 20.2 points and may have been college basketball’s most talented player.
