AJ Dybantsa’s Terrifying New Persona Revealed As He Officially Embraces “DYMANSTA”

NCAA Basketball: ESPN Events Invitational-Brigham Young at Miami (FL) - Source: Imagn
BYU Cougars freshman AJ Dybantsa - Image source: Imagn

BYU Cougars freshman AJ Dybantsa still doesn’t have a signature nickname like many other basketball stars, but on Saturday night, he seemed open to one suggested by fans.

Ad

Dybantsa posted on X a photo of two Cougars supporters holding a banner that edited him into the character Sulley from the Monsters Inc. franchise, adding horns and big blue arms to his likeness.

The banner also labeled him with a new moniker: AJ DYMANSTA, a twist on his last name and “the monster.”

Ad

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Dybantsa is widely viewed as a top-three prospect for the 2026 NBA draft. He’s averaging 19.0 points on 54.2% shooting plus 6.4 rebounds per game for the 6-1 Cougars.

His highest-scoring outing came in an 86-84 loss to the UConn Huskies on Nov. 16, when he tallied 25 points on 57.1% shooting and added seven rebounds. He hasn’t scored fewer than 15 points in any of his seven games so far.

Which teams could make use of AJ Dybantsa?

AJ Dybantsa remains a consensus top-three pick thanks to his scoring potential and size. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo projects him at No. 2 to the Washington Wizards, praising his aggressiveness along with his “tantalizing scoring upside” and “impressive physicality” that give him an edge on both sides of the court.

Ad

Wings are highly valuable in today’s NBA -- especially versatile ones -- as the league continues to feature more players in that mold, such as OKC Thunder’s Jalen Williams, the Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson and Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown.

His overall skill set makes him an appealing target for any team lucky enough to draft him. As of Saturday night, the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks (via the New Orleans Pelicans) and Brooklyn Nets hold the strongest odds for the No. 1 pick, and all three would benefit from adding him.

Ad

Even the next group of teams -- the Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, OKC Thunder (via the LA Clippers), Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies -- could use him if any of them jump into the top three, where Dybantsa is projected to land.

As Woo noted, AJ Dybantsa still has room to grow and must continue improving to maximize his No. 1 pick chances, but whichever team drafts him will be getting a top-tier prospect with the potential to become a multi-time All-NBA wing.

Quick Links

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications