No. 1 Pick AJ Dybansta Going to Wizards Does Not Impress Stephen A. Smith: “They’ve Been an Abomination”

AJ Dybansta could be the final piece for the Washington Wizards as they look to stop their run of losing seasons.

No. 1 Pick AJ Dybansta Going to Wizards Does Not Impress Stephen A. Smith: “They’ve Been an Abomination”

AJ Dybansta and Stephen A. Smith (Image via FirstSportz)

After the Washington Wizards held on to their No. 1 overall pick and drafted AJ Dybansta, many were quick to label the franchise as potential NBA title threats.

The team is loaded with young players who are primed to continue their development. On top of that, they have a veteran in Anthony Davis, who has experience winning a championship.

That alone can help the youngsters speed up their development. But that is not all that is going to work for them. Continuity is another factor that can help a young core take the next step.

Just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, who made it to the Finals, with the former winning it all. Sure, they do not have a legitimate superstar like those two teams.

But with Davis and Trae Young committing for the next four years, one of those youngsters could take that mantle. It could even be Dybansta, who is often considered to be on or better than Cooper Flagg‘s level. But a certain Stephen A. Smith was not impressed.

I already told the Washington Wizards this. I have no faith, zero. They’ve been a basketball purgatory, an abomination… They are moving in the forward direction, they are trying to… They got a lot of work to do.

Stephen A. Smith said

He pointed out to his First Take colleagues that he hopes he is proven wrong, but added that unless he sees real improvement, he is not changing his views.

The franchise has been pathetic for a long time, and unless there is a change, he does not believe the arrival of AJ Dybansta, or the presence of both Anthony Davis and Trae Young, will matter.

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Stephen A. Smith’s former colleague agrees with his AJ Dybansta-Wizards opinion

It was not the first time Stephen A. Smith flamed a sports franchise for not being good enough. Additionally, he was not the last to flame the Washington Wizards.

I felt a little sorry for him last night that he got picked by Washington. It’s been kind of losersville for a long time. It has this sort of stench around it.

Skip Bayless said on Gil’s Arena

This was Skip Bayless, who has covered sports throughout his multi-decade-long career. He knows how bad the Wizards have been all this time.

Other than questioning the decision to pin their hopes on Anthony Davis’ fragile health and the questionable talents of Trae Young, Bayless believes that Dybansta might struggle to fulfil his hype.

It seems analysts are not sure whether the Washington Wizards are capable as an organization to do what is needed to help the players develop into a competitive unit.

A franchise and its facilities are important for a team to succeed. Maybe this was them pointing out that the run poor they’ve been for years shows how the problem starts from the top, rather than just the players and coaches.

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Former All-Star believes Wizards will be contenders

While these veteran analysts question the Washington Wizards’ ability next season, a former player disagrees. This was Gilbert Arena’s opinion when he appeared on the Stephen A. Smith Show.

Trae Young and Anthony Davis will lead Wizards
Trae Young and Anthony Davis will lead Wizards (Image via DraftKings Network/X)

It is about to be a deep playoff run… It was really the Sarr who was the number one pick. So we got him. We got Anthony Davis… And we got Trae Young… Then you add AJ, who covers up all positions after that. He can guard one, two, three, four, right? Come on. He can guard one through four.

Gilbert Arenas said

Smith was himself dismissing Arenas’ claims, as the latter had his best years with the Wizards. But the three-time All-Star reiterated that his former team will go on a deep playoff run.

If they stay healthy, they will easily topple some Eastern Conference heavyweights. With AJ Dybansta’s wide range of skills at hand, Arenas is not doubting the Wizards.

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