The Boston Celtics are still settling into an early-season rhythm, but the conversation around their future took an unexpected turn this week. AJ Dybantsa, the projected top-three pick and Brockton native, is set to return home for BYU’s upcoming game at TD Garden. The matchup has not even tipped off yet, but Dybantsa’s comments leading into the weekend have already ignited a fresh wave of Celtics rumors.
Boston fans have followed his rise closely for years, and with the hometown star preparing to play in the city where he grew up, the speculation around a possible future in green has only intensified. This time, Dybantsa himself helped fuel it.
Celtics Rumors Grow As Dybantsa Talks About Boston Interest
GettyPORTLAND, OREGON – APRIL 12: AJ Dybantsa #7 of Team USA looks on during the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit at Moda Center on April 12, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Celtics fans have spent months tagging Dybantsa in photoshops, debating draft scenarios, and openly dreaming about adding a Massachusetts native to a core built around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Dybantsa acknowledged that the noise has reached him.
“I get tagged in the Celtics stuff all the time,” Dybantsa told Bobby Manning of The Garden Report. “Instagram, Twitter, everywhere. I’m definitely seeing it.”
The rumblings were already strong before this week. What made them spike was what he said next. When asked specifically about fitting alongside Tatum and Brown, Dybantsa didn’t dodge the question. Instead, he delivered the line that instantly became the centerpiece of the latest Celtics rumors.
“If the basketball gods ever made that work out,” he said, “I’m pretty adaptable to play multiple positions. So I think it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s game but only enhance it.”
That answer changed the temperature of the conversation immediately.
Why His Skill Set Makes These Celtics Rumors Hard To Ignore
Beyond the hometown roots, the basketball fit is what gives these rumors staying power. Dybantsa is a 6’9 wing who plays with power, pace, and the kind of physicality that translates early at the NBA level. He has been overwhelming defenders at BYU with his strength and driving ability, while also showing the flashes of shotmaking scouts expect from a top pick.
For the Celtics, a player with his blend of size, scoring, and positional versatility naturally stands out. Tatum and Brown thrive alongside wings who can switch assignments, attack off the dribble, and complement their scoring without needing to dominate possessions. Dybantsa sees that too.
“I’m adaptable. I can play multiple positions,” he said in the same interview. “I think it would only enhance everybody’s game.”
Hearing a projected top-three prospect speak that directly about fitting into Boston’s roster is unusual. Prospects typically stay neutral about specific NBA teams. Dybantsa leaned into the idea.
For a fanbase that embraces homegrown talent more than most, that is all it takes.
What These Rumors Really Mean
The path for Boston to actually land Dybantsa remains unlikely. Unless the season spirals in a way the Celtics do not expect, they will not be drafting anywhere near the top of the board. He is widely projected inside the top three, and that tier rarely slips.
But rumors are not always about probability. Sometimes they are about possibility.
And Dybantsa did not shut the door on that possibility. He acknowledged the noise, leaned into the Boston connection, and spoke openly about fitting with Tatum and Brown.
The Celtics still have their season to focus on. The draft is months away. But Dybantsa’s homecoming turned a quiet storyline into one that will linger for a long time.
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