The Utah Jazz have tanked for the last three seasons, although they don’t have much to showcase. Since trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, they have won 37, 31, and 17 games.
They have picked Taylor Hendricks (ninth), Cody Williams (tenth), and Ace Bailey (fifth) during their rebuild. All three are promising, but only Bailey has true star potential.
Even with Lauri Markkanen still on the roster, Utah is expected to finish at the bottom of the West, which should play out well. The 2026 Draft is loaded with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.
Dybantsa is already in Utah playing college ball for BYU, and he doesn’t seem eager to leave the Beehive State.
GettyPROVO, UT – AUGUST 12:
Ace Dybantsa, left, and AJ Dybantsa stand for a portrait on Brigham Young University’s campus in Provo, UT on August 12, 2025. Ace Dybantsa, the father of one of the country’s best freshman college basketball players, has an outsized role in his son’s career, managing everything he does off the court, including his media appearances and name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
(Photo by James Roh for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
AJ Dybantsa Likes Idea of Playing for Utah Jazz
Dybantsa is a part of a new breed of prospects ushered in by Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg. All three have insane physical gifts, although their competitive motor is what sets them apart.
Dybantsa knows he won’t be drafted by a winning team, such is the nature of being a top pick. However, he doesn’t aim to play for a losing team for very long.
“I don’t like to lose, like, at all,” Dybantsa said on the October 14th episode of the Boardroom podcast. “So I’m not going into it like, ‘Oh, if I don’t make the tournament, I’m still not going to be a top draft pick.’ I don’t care. I’m trying to win March Madness.”
The BYU Cougars have had limited success in the NCAA tournament. They made it to the Elite Eight last season, tying their deepest run ever.
Dybantsa will only be in college for one season, and the Jazz should have decent odds to land him.
Dybantsa claimed that he likes living in Utah so far, finding it “chill” and a good environment for him to focus on getting better and winning.
Utah Jazz Are Slowly Building a Winner
In the preseason, both Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh have shown flashes of excellence, and Marakkanen is an established star.
Hopefully, players like Hendricks, Williams, Isaiah Collier, Walter Clayton Jr., and Kyle Filipowski can round out the young core, although the Jazz are missing a true superstar.
Luckily, Utah isn’t too concerned about fit and can take the best player available. For now, that seems to be either Peterson or Dybantsa, and the college season will only strengthen the case.
The Jazz have never been a major trade destination or free agency candidate, so Utah has no choice but to build through the draft. Dybantsa doesn’t seem concerned about nightlife or any of the flashy distractions “premier” destinations offer. Utah would be a perfect fit.
The Jazz just have to hope the lottery goes their way. They are expected to lose enough games to have top odds next spring.
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