Dybantsa ups NIL deal to pro Nike partnership
Jeremy Woo breaks down the race between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson for top prospect in the NBA draft. (2:33) LOS ANGELES — As AJ Dybantsa is transitioning from college basketball to prepare for the NBA draft, he is also taking the next step in his endorsement deal with Nike. It's been a great partnership and we're looking forward to keep building for the long term." The 6-9, 210-pound Dybantsa declared for the draft after a stellar freshman season at Brigham Young University, when he led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game on 51%, along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. 1." He has been working out for the draft in Los Angeles, with the Boston native recently working out with former Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas and basketball trainer, Zack Gonzales, who counts Celtics guard Payton Pritchard among his clients.
It's probably a tough environment to play in because it's a very physical game." Dybantsa got a head start on having his body ready for the physicality at the next level while at BYU, working with the director of strength and conditioning and sports science, Michael Davie, who previously won a championship in a similar role with the Milwaukee Bucks . "He would do a lot of strength testing with us and he would compare us to a lot of the guys in the NBA, because he would have that type of info on his iPad," Dybantsa said. So, I feel like I got used to how the NBA plays in college." As the NBA draft combine in Chicago next month approaches, Dybantsa, who shot 33.1% on 3-pointers in college, is familiarizing himself with the extended NBA 3-point line.
Analysis: Why This Matters
Updates around AJ Dybantsa carry weight: contracts, rosters, and momentum all hinge on stories like this.
Key Takeaways
- I think that's pretty Boston of me." He's also done some scouting of his future competition by attending Game 2 of the Los Angeles Lakers ' first-round series against the Houston Rockets in person.
- I'm not going to sit here and be like, 'Oh, I don't really care about Rookie of the Year.' Yeah, I definitely want to win it."
- Dybantsa, who signed a NIL deal with Nike in January 2024, is extending that agreement as pro basketball contract, he told ESPN.
Updates from the locker room, league office, and front office are likely soon — we'll keep you posted.
Source: ESPN Sports