AJ Dybantsa On “7PM In Brooklyn”

AJ Dybantsa sets rookie-year expectations plus talks No. 1 pick pressure and draft-night goals with “7PM in Brooklyn”

We share the latest episode of “7PM in Brooklyn”, a Wave Original hosted by NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide.

This week, projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa joins Carmelo Anthony the day before the NBA Draft for a wide-ranging conversation about his path to the league, the expectations that come with being the top prospect in the country, and what he hopes to accomplish as a rookie.

AJ opens up about his goals for year one in the NBA, his long-running competition with fellow top prospect Darryn Peterson, and the responsibility of potentially becoming the face of a franchise. Carmelo reflects on his own experience entering the league as a top pick, offering advice on handling expectations and embracing every step of the journey. The crew also gets into AJ’s experience training with Carmelo and Paul George, the confidence that has defined his rise to the top of the draft class, and a debate over who can draft the best all-time starting five made up of No. 1 overall picks since 2000.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• [12:07] — AJ DYBANTSA AND CARMELO DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LANDING IN WASHINGTON OR UTAH

AJ: “I think I’m gonna have the same impact on whatever team I go to. Like I think Utah will ask me to do the same amount that Washington will be asking me.”

Carmelo: “So what do you think Washington would be asking for you?

AJ: “I think they’ll ask me to come in, make a defensive impact, but also be a leader at a young age and just kind of be I mean, obviously they have vets over there, they have AD over there, they have Trae over there, but I think they want a young a young and gunning team that, you know, can go score the ball, pay transition. I think I can do all that.”

Carmelo: “They want a franchise player. They want to revive that area. They want to bring back what that culture is in that area to that organization. And I’m only saying that because you will be the number one pick. I believe that. And as of right now, Washington has that pick. So what they need is you. They need somebody that they can put this organization behind for the next decade.”

• [15:19] — AJ DYBANTSA OPENS UP ABOUT HIS COMPETITION WITH FELLOW TOP PROSPECT DARRYN PETERSON

AJ: “I was really just like light years better than everybody until I got back in that class and he kind of gave me a run for my money. Uh, so it just makes me more competitive, keeps me motivated.”

• [18:17] — AJ DYBANTSA SAYS HIS ROOKIE-YEAR GOALS ARE MAKING THE PLAYOFFS AND WINNING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

AJ: “So, whatever team I go to, they were in the playoffs last year. So, my number one goal is to not only make the playoffs, go far in the playoffs. Like, I think both teams, Utah and Washington, they have a deep enough roster that if they add me that we can automatically be a playoff team. And then rookie of the year, obviously.”

• [27:25] — CARMELO ANTHONY SHARES ADVICE FOR HANDLING THE PRESSURE OF BEING A POTENTIAL NO. 1 PICK

Carmelo: “You gonna go through every emotion that you could possibly go through when it comes to dealing with hearing your name as a number one pick, right?… I told him off camera, man, it’s just, it’s so much stress on what he have, like that that crown is heavy, you know, and it could get heavy for anybody, but let alone a 19 year old. So, just enjoy it. Like, have fun.”