BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa has performed well in the first four games of the 2025-26 college basketball season. A potential top pick in the 2026 draft, Dybantsa is already capturing national attention, with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown expressing excitement about possibly playing with him in the future.
Building on this momentum, the 6’9″ forward took the opportunity during the Nov. 15 episode of CLNS Media’s Garden Report: Celtics Post-Game Show to address Brown’s recent comments and discuss the potential of playing for the Celtics, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating his next move.
What Was AJ Dybantsa’s Reaction To Jaylen Brown’s Praise Of Him?
CLNS Media reporter Bobby Manning had Dybantsa as a guest on his show, and he showed a video of Brown talking about him in a postgame interview after the Celtics’ game against the Wizards on Nov. 5.
In the clip, the Celtics shooting guard praised the freshman for playing well with BYU. Brown also expressed excitement about watching Dybantsa play in the TD Garden in front of a hometown crowd.
Responding to the video, the BYU forward said it was the first time seeing it and called it a blessing to receive praise from one of the world’s elite players.
“Just hearing your name (from an NBA player), it’s just kind of like a blessing,” Dybantsa said. But again, I’ve spoken to them before. So I mean, we kind of have that relationship where he’s able to speak on my behalf and what he knows about me. So it’s a blessing that he’s able to acknowledge me on like a press conference like that.”
Currently, Boston is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Although still early, the Celtics sit within the draft lottery, but their odds of obtaining the No. 1 pick remain slim.
Building on their current lottery position, Bobby Manning and AJ Dybantsa discussed a potential scenario in which Boston secures the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. They envisioned the ideal fit of playing alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, with the forward expressing confidence in their ability to work well as a team.
“I think that we kind of all three played similar positions. I think we can each play guard or wing,” Dybantsa said. “So if it ever happens, I think that their games complement each other well, Tatum and Brown. And I think I’m pretty adaptable and flexible to play multiple positions.”
He further explained that the addition of a third superstar would elevate Boston, should upper management decide to pursue him in the first round of next year’s draft.
Dybantsa and BYU played at the TD Garden on Saturday against UConn and played well against the six-time champions, despite losing by two points, 86-84. The Brockton, Massachusetts, native finished with 25 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-3 from the 3-point line. He also made seven of 10 attempts from the free-throw line and came up with six rebounds and two steals.
The Cougars will be back in action on Nov. 21 when they take on No. 24 Wisconsin at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.