After what may have been the busiest offseason in league history, the NBA is back. From star players on new teams to fans just wanting to watch basketball again, several intriguing storylines have emerged since the beginning of October, including one that could impact the game for decades to come.
The 2026 NBA draft class was consideredas one of the most promising, with talent oozing from the top of the lottery down to the second round. While most incoming rookies have shown they need time to adjust to the faster, stronger pace of the NBA, the current rookie class has said otherwise. Let’s look at Caleb Wilson and AJ Dybansta.
Dybansta is the most recent number one overall pick by the Wizards, a franchise that has been at rock bottom for most of its lifetime. The team has undergone an entire rehaul, bringing in polarizing stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis to hopefully put some butts in seats but, more importantly, make them relevant again. Alongside Young and Davis, having a first overall pick on your team will automatically bring more attention, but Dybansta looks like more than just eye candy for the media.
The BYU product showed signs of NBA potential throughout college, drawing comparisons to superstar talents like Jaylen Brown and DeMar DeRozan in his prime. It didn’t take long for Dybansta to show why he was so highly touted, as he opened the pre-season with some stellar performances for such a young player. Not only did the freak of nature show off his ability to finish around the rim, but he did it in so many ways. What stood out the most, however, were his defensive performances. The small forward guarded former all-star Julius Randle, forcing him into tough shots. If Dybansta can become not only an on-ball pest but also a great off-ball defender, it’s hard to tell how far he can go in this league.
Navigating screens and keeping up with the off-ball movement of some of his matchups will likely cause issues for the 19-year-old, but don’t be surprised if he catches on quickly, given how great a basketball mind he already is.
Dybansta has averaged 13 points and four rebounds over three pre-season games.
A player who’s had similar impressions as Dybansta so far has been Wilson. After an outstanding year at The University of North Carolina, Wilson was selected fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls, much to the pleasure of many fans.
Wilson blew expectations out of the water, with some incredible performances in his limited appearances with the Bulls. Simply put, the power forward is a modern-day Chris Bosh, with an impressive skill set for a player of his size and guard-like movement.
Like the Wizards, the Bulls have been rotting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for what seems like 30 years. This team hasn’t successfully developed a rookie since Derrick Rose, and while guys like Matas Buzelis show promise, it’s still too early to tell.
Luckily for the Bulls, Wilson looks to be a player who, regardless of the team he’s on, will flourish as one of the league’s premier forwards.
Across three pre-season games, Wilson averaged 18 points and four rebounds, cementing himself as one of the most impressive players in that stretch.
With aging stars fading out of the league, there’s no better sign for NBA fans than seeing a new crop of young stars blossom right in front of their eyes. Dybansta and Wilson have the potential to reach superstar status; it’s only a matter of time before they kick into gear.