Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; AJ Dybantsa poses for photos with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected first overall by the Washington Wizards during the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mar 22, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) looks on during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The Washington Wizards are pinning the entirety of their hopes for the future on No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa. But how they came about that pick is now under serious scrutiny thanks to guard Bub Carrington.
Carrington, the No. 14 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, was Washington’s starting point guard for much of the 2025-26 season and “led” them to a 17-65 record, the worst in the league. That record helped the Wizards win the draft lottery and, in turn, secure the highly coveted Dybanta.
But was Washington’s really that bad? Or were the Wizards throwing games in hopes of securing the BYU star and, in turn, a potentially brighter future?
Bub Carrington says the Wizards held back to try to draft AJ Dybantsa 👀👀
“We haven’t been told to be the best version of ourselves. We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret” pic.twitter.com/yASjsgnUWD
— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) October 2, 2026
Bub Carrington Says The Wizards Tanked For AJ Dybantsa Last Season
Carrington, who averaged 10.7 points and 4.6 assists per game, told reporters on Thursday that the team, including both players and leadership, was giving less than 100 percent a year ago in hopes of landing Dybantsa.
“We just haven’t been told yet to go be the best version of yourself,” Carrington told Marshall Kramsky of local news station WUSA 9.
“We’ve all, in a way, been held back,” he added. “Because, like you said, we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret. But now, no one has handcuffs. Everyone is shackles-free.”
There’s just one problem with that: the NBA looks down severely on tanking. While it’s always been a thing, league commissioner Adam Silver dramatically changed the NBA Draft lottery rules to try to avoid it after Sam Hinkie’s brazen plan to rebuild the Philadelphia 76ers.
Of course, that didn’t actually change anything. The San Antonio Spurs tanked to land Victor Wembanyama. And now the Wizards did the same for Dybantsa. But at least Silver can pat himself on the back.
Either way, Carrington may have just opened the Wizards up to serious scrutiny and potential penalty from the NBA.