Former Brigham Young University standout AJ Dybantsa has signed a professional endorsement contract with Nike as he prepares for the upcoming NBA Draft.
The projected lottery pick originally agreed to a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with the sportswear giant in January 2024.
He has now extended that agreement into a formal professional basketball contract ahead of his rookie season.
“It means everything,” Dybantsa told ESPN.
“They’ve been with me since Day 1. It’s been a great partnership and we’re looking forward to keep building for the long term.”
Aiming for the number one pick
The 6ft 9in forward declared for the draft following a spectacular freshman season where he led the nation with 25.5 points per game.
Operating at an impressive 51% shooting efficiency, he also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest.
The Boston native is determined to be the very first name called by NBA officials in June.
“Ever since the rankings came out in 9th grade, I’ve been No. 1,” he said.
“I haven’t been nothing lower. So, it’s definitely a goal of mine to go No. 1.”
Preparing for the physical step up
To ready himself for the professional ranks, the teenager is currently training in Los Angeles alongside former Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas.
He has also been studying the intensity of the league firsthand, recently attending a playoff matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.
“It’s definitely physical. Things get a little more crazy in the playoffs,” Dybantsa noted.
His physical preparation began early during his collegiate career under the guidance of former Milwaukee Bucks strength director Michael Davie.
Davie used advanced sports science to benchmark the young prospect’s athletic metrics against established NBA veterans.
“He would compare, for example, my lateral movement compared to Jrue Holiday or my vertical jump compared to Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Dybantsa explained.
Tactically, former BYU head coach Kevin Young also tailored his offensive system to mirror professional schemes.
The former Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns assistant relied heavily on early-action plays and isolation sets to accelerate his star player’s development.
The Atlanta Dream have traded for forward Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky ahead of the new season as they look to build on recent progress and challenge for the WNBA title.
The Georgia-based franchise sent two future first-round picks to secure the services of the former seventh overall draft pick.
Her arrival coincides with the organisation re-signing a strong veteran core, including Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada, to multi-year contracts.
A missing piece for championship ambitions
Head coach Karl Smesko is already integrating the new recruit into a fast-paced offensive system during early training camp sessions.
The talented rebounder expressed her delight at the move following a reportedly fractured relationship with her former team.
“I always wanted to come to Atlanta,” Reese said.
“When you think of championship culture, playing next to these players, it just made sense.”
Building on recent playoff progress
Last season marked significant progress for the Dream, culminating in a first-round postseason defeat to the Indiana Fever.
The front office is now banking on their revamped roster to close the gap on the league’s elite.
The former college national champion believes the presence of established perimeter shooters like Allisha Gray will grant her unprecedented freedom in the paint.
“I do believe that Angel is the missing piece that we need to take us over the top,” Gray added.
Fresh start in Georgia
This high-profile transfer concludes a turbulent chapter in Illinois for the dynamic post player.
Now surrounded by an experienced supporting cast, the forward has a prime opportunity to elevate her professional career.
With training camp intensifying, the squad’s focus shifts entirely to forging the chemistry required for a deep postseason run.
The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a pivotal decision over the future of star forward Kawhi Leonard as the franchise prepares for a major off-season rebuild.
Trading longtime centre Ivica Zubac and guard James Harden at the deadline signalled a stark shift in the organisation’s priorities.
After years of tantalising potential followed by subsequent playoff disappointment, the Los Angeles franchise appears ready to reset.
Shift towards youth and financial flexibility
The Clippers missed the postseason for the first time since 2022, but they have quickly identified a blueprint for the future.
A strong 36-19 run after mid-December stemmed from prioritising emerging young players, including second-round rookie Kobe Sanders.
“We do have great hope and optimism with our future because as we build that bridge from competitive to contender, we’ve put ourselves in a very good position,” said Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations.
Recent roster moves show a clear strategy to prioritise financial flexibility and draft capital over the next two off-seasons.
Leonard’s uncertain future
The veteran forward will turn 35 this summer, but he remains eligible for a lucrative contract extension.
Publicly, the franchise maintains a desire to keep the two-time NBA Finals MVP and build a winning team around him.
However, if the organisation decides to fully pivot towards youth, the six-time All-Star could become the off-season’s biggest transfer target.
Despite his age, the California native is coming off an incredibly efficient campaign where he averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game.
Looming league investigation
Complicating any potential roster moves is an ongoing league investigation hanging over the franchise.
The Clippers have been accused of circumventing the NBA’s salary cap rules regarding previous payments to their superstar wing.
If found guilty, the organisation could face severe penalties including significant fines, suspensions of team executives, and the loss of crucial draft picks.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has opened up about his future, the GOAT debate and his recent injury return in a yearlong interview series during his historic 23rd NBA season.
The four-time NBA champion recently made his season debut after missing 14 matches with severe sciatica.
This painful lower-back issue sidelined him entirely throughout training camp.
Crucially, the injury delayed his on-court integration with Luka Doncic, who the Lakers acquired in a blockbuster midseason trade last year.
“Never in my life, since I started playing the game of basketball, have I ever not started the season.”
LeBron James
“It’s been a mind test, but I’m built for it,” the 39-year-old added regarding his recovery.
Playing on an expiring contract
The 2025-26 campaign marks a uniquely uncertain period for the future Hall of Famer.
For the first time since arriving in California in 2018, he is competing on an expiring deal.
The basketball icon opted into his $52.6m (£41.5m) player option in June rather than negotiating fresh terms.
This contractual backdrop adds significant weight to his public reflections on life after the sport.
Unbreakable records and the GOAT debate
As part of the chronicled discussions, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer examined his own legacy.
He addressed the endless comparisons with Michael Jordan and identified which of his own statistical milestones will never be beaten.
One primary topic was his record-breaking streak of consecutive games scoring at least 10 points.
That historic run reached 1,297 matches following a recent December defeat against the Phoenix Suns.
A close call with history
The Olympic gold medallist revealed his double-digit scoring streak was almost snapped in March 2021.
During a fixture against the Atlanta Hawks, opponent Solomon Hill crashed into his right leg while chasing a loose ball.
Despite crawling off the court in severe pain, the forward checked back into the game specifically to hit a corner three-pointer.
That crucial shot secured his 10th point before he immediately substituted out.
He subsequently missed the next 20 games, an absence that ultimately derailed a potential back-to-back championship run for Los Angeles.
Victor Wembanyama claimed a dominant double-double to help the San Antonio Spurs secure a 4-1 series victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, marking their first NBA play-off series win in nine years.
Spurs dominate to advance in the West
The Western Conference second seeds cruised to a 114-95 victory in Texas to finally eliminate Portland.
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 21 points as six home players reached double figures in a balanced offensive display.
However, it was the newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year who anchored the performance with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks.
“It was as sharp as we’ve been,” said San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson.
Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter praised the generational talent of the French centre following the heavy defeat.
“They have a superstar that changed the game and they deserve it,” Splitter conceded.
The Texas franchise will now face either the Denver Nuggets or the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Conference semi-finals.
Embiid keeps Sixers alive in the East
Over in the Eastern Conference, Joel Embiid delivered a 33-point masterclass to help the Philadelphia 76ers secure a 113-97 road victory against the Boston Celtics.
The star centre was playing only his second game since undergoing an emergency appendectomy earlier in April.
Philadelphia’s crucial win cuts their series deficit to 3-2 and forces a game six on home court this Thursday.
“I found my rhythm in the second half, we adjusted some stuff at half-time and got a win,” Embiid explained.
If the Sixers manage to defend their home floor, the series will return to Massachusetts for a deciding game seven on Saturday.
Knicks push Atlanta to the brink
The winner of the Boston and Philadelphia matchup will advance to face either the New York Knicks or the Atlanta Hawks.
New York currently hold a 3-2 series lead following a comprehensive 126-97 victory at Madison Square Garden.
All-Star guard Jalen Brunson exploded for 17 of his 39 total points in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
London-born forward OG Anunoby provided vital support for the third seeds by claiming 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Atlanta must now win on their home court on Thursday to force a decisive seventh game back in New York.
Jalen Brunson scored 39 points to lead the New York Knicks to a commanding 126-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, taking a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference quarter-final series.
The dominant home win pushes the franchise to the brink of the semi-finals following two consecutive blowout victories.
New York’s talismanic point guard exploded for 17 points in the fourth quarter alone to ensure there would be no late comeback.
Tactical shift frees up Knicks star
The 27-year-old had struggled with his shooting efficiency earlier in the matchup while being closely guarded by Dyson Daniels.
However, Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder opted to move his elite perimeter defender onto Karl-Anthony Towns for Game 5.
This adjustment provided the American international with the breathing room needed to dictate the tempo of the contest.
“It’s like a chess match. If someone makes a move, you’ve got to make another move.”
Brunson added that the team must be ready for anything and wait to see how their opponents react.
Suffocating defence seals the rout
The supporting cast in New York proved vital on both ends of the floor to secure the 29-point margin.
OG Anunoby delivered an unsung performance with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Towns added 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Defensively, the hosts restricted their opponents to just 42.7% shooting from the field and a dismal 27.7% from beyond the arc over their last two outings.
Veteran guard CJ McCollum was heavily contained, managing just six points in his lowest-scoring output since arriving in Georgia in January.
“It’s been a multitude of things. We picked it up as a unit. I think us being on the same page, both sides of the ball, was a factor.”
Playoff pedigree shines through
High-scoring post-season exploits have quickly become a trademark for the franchise player.
He previously recorded three consecutive 40-point games during the 2024 first round against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Head coach Mike Brown praised the phenomenal output, noting that the squad has developed a thick skin throughout a rocky opening round.
The team will now look to close out the series and advance when they travel back to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday.
Joel Embiid scored 33 points to help the Philadelphia 76ers avoid playoff elimination with a 113-97 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
The seventh-seeded visitors trailed by 13 points in the third quarter before mounting a crucial comeback to keep their season alive.
Tyrese Maxey provided vital support for the away side with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Paul George also added 16 points and nine rebounds to ensure the first-round series extends to at least a sixth match.
Embiid shines after recent surgery
Playing in only his second game since undergoing an emergency appendectomy, the star center anchored a stunning turnaround.
He delivered 13 points in the second quarter and added another 10 in the third as Philadelphia seized control.
A decisive 12-0 scoring run transformed a narrow three-point advantage into a comfortable 15-point cushion.
The dominant defensive effort subsequently restricted their Eastern Conference rivals to a mere 11 points in the final quarter.
Series heads back to Philadelphia
Boston had previously taken a commanding 3-1 series lead following consecutive victories on the road.
Jayson Tatum recorded 24 points and 16 rebounds for the hosts, while Jaylen Brown contributed 22 points in a losing effort.
Game six will take place in Pennsylvania on Thursday night.
If the Sixers emerge victorious again in front of their home fans, a decisive seventh game will be held in Massachusetts on Saturday.
Top-rated high school senior and projected 2027 NBA number one draft pick Tyran Stokes has committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks next season, choosing them over the Kentucky Wildcats in a highly-anticipated Tuesday announcement.
The 6-foot-7 small forward revealed his decision on national television just before the start of the evening’s NBA playoff fixtures.
It concludes an intense, months-long recruiting battle between two of college basketball’s most prestigious collegiate programmes.
A crucial victory for head coach Bill Self
The Wildcats had appeared to be the clear frontrunners during the autumn, but a late surge from Kansas ultimately secured the teenager’s signature.
This represents a massive acquisition for Jayhawks head coach Bill Self, whose team has failed to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in each of the past four seasons.
The Louisville native becomes the second five-star recruit to join the Lawrence-based programme for the 2026 class, following point guard Taylen Kinney.
His arrival also ensures Kansas will feature a potential top NBA draft selection for the second consecutive year, building upon Darryn Peterson’s recent presence on the roster.
Dominant performances on the national stage
Widely regarded as the premier talent in his age group for several years, the highly-rated prospect has consistently excelled against older competition.
He recently guided Rainier Beach High School in Washington to a state championship, notably delivering an extraordinary 63-point performance on Senior Night with coaches from both Kansas and Kentucky in attendance.
The versatile forward also dominated the Nike EYBL circuit last summer, averaging 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for the Oakland Soldiers.
International success with USA Basketball
Beyond domestic competitions, the rising star has already established a remarkable international pedigree by winning three gold medals with USA Basketball.
He achieved tournament victories at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship, the 2024 Under-17 World Cup, and last summer’s Under-19 World Cup.
Across 20 international appearances, the dynamic playmaker averaged 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds, showcasing an uncommon blend of high-volume rebounding and elite scoring efficiency.