The top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft, A.J. Dybantsa was asked to create his version of a perfect NBA player by borrowing specific traits from some of the greatest players in the game. The high schooler committed to play for BYU next season, and picked and honored some legends, even if he couldn’t make space for legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Stephen Curry.
Dybantsa picked Kevin Durant‘s scoring ability before picking all-time assists leader John Stockton‘s passing ability. He chose Kawhi Leonard‘s defense before picking LeBron James‘ IQ. He wanted to pick LeBron when asked about athleticism as well but changed his answer to Giannis Antetokounmpo, building an incredible all-around threat.
Durant is arguably among the greatest scorers in NBA history, as the four-time scoring champion is considered to be a threat from any spot on the court due to how he mixes his shooting ability and size. Leonard is one of the premier perimeter stoppers of the modern era, with the former two-time Defensive Player of the Year capable of shutting all five positions down in his prime.
LeBron is considered one of the most intelligent players in the history of the game, being able to analyze the game at a deep level despite being a traditional forward. However, his game-management skills are well-known and have been key in helping him ascend to the pantheon of greats.
Giannis is one of the most explosive finishers the game has ever seen, currently on-pace to have a second consecutive season where he averaged over 30 points on better than 60% field goal efficiency, a mark which had never been accomplished before.
The best shout was Stockton, whose ridiculous achievements as a passer are becoming more underrated as time passes. He’s the all-time assists leader with 15,806, so comfortably in the lead that No. 2 Chris Paul would need to average 10 assists a game for the next four-and-a-half season (without missing a game) to even have a shot at surpassing him.
Outside the modern-day answer of someone like Nikola Jokic, Stockton is the perfect answer and shows Dybantsa’s appreciation for the history of the game.
If there were more specific qualities asked from Dybantsa, it’s impossible to see how players like Jordan don’t come up. If a distinction was made between scoring and shooting, Curry likely would have taken the shooting spot. Jordan could’ve been an answer for scoring as well, but Dybantsa is clearly more attracted to someone like Durant who’s also one of the best shooters of all time.
If they asked him about intangibles like mentality or clutch factor, Kobe and Jordan are easy names to rattle off given those qualities are their calling cards. You can’t say Dybantsa picked the wrong answers at any point given how excellent these players are.
Dybantsa averaged 22.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks, shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.7% from beyond the arc. He fancies himself as a do-it-all forward, who could find a home as a power forward in the NBA with his 6’9″ stature which could still grow.
Emulating his offense after a similarly built forward like Durant and his defense like Leonard shows Dybantsa is paying close attention to what he wants to be on the court. LeBron controls games with a similar build by using his IQ, so trying to imbibe that makes sense.
While he won’t be a first-option passer in the NBA, looking at Stockton’s skill in that regard is great because he maximized offensive opportunities for his teammates while minimizing turnovers.
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