Top 2026 Draft Prospects Hope LeBron James Stays in the League When They Arrive

AJ Dybantsa is simply looking forward to facing LeBron James in his upcoming rookie season.

Top 2026 Draft Prospects Hope LeBron James Stays in the League When They Arrive

LeBron James has options this offseason (Image via FirstSportz)

It is going to be 23 years since LeBron James was drafted into the NBA by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the number one pick. The 41-year-old is coming off a historic 23rd season in the NBA.

With his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers coming to an end in the offseason, his future is up in the air once again. James is yet to confirm if he will return for a 24th season, but based on recent reports, he will be back.

The 2026 NBA draft is less than a week away. AJ Dybantsa, who is a part of the draft class, was asked who he’s most excited to play against in the NBA.

Hopefully Bron don’t retire … I don’t think none of us get starstruck … but at the end of the day bro, like, it’s LeBron. The fact that you’re on the same court with LeBron is crazy.

AJ Dybantsa on ESPN

No player in the NBA has accomplished and broken records like LeBron James. His sustained excellence and longevity have put him in a class of his own, with many placing him ahead of Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate.

He may not be the player he once was, but he did average 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the regular season. To add to it, he led the Lakers to the Western Conference Semifinals without Luka Doncic by his side.

Very few players in history have come into the league with expectations and hype like James. However, the King has surpassed them as he continues to defy Father Time.

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AJ Dybansta is projected to be the first overall pick

The 2026 NBA draft class is expected to be a promising one. AJ Dybansta plays for the BYU Cougars men’s basketball at the college level. There is a lot of promise surrounding the 19-year-old.

While Darryn Peterson is a potential number-one pick, all signs point towards Dybansta. At 6’9″, Dybansta plays as a small forward and is an elite scorer of the ball as well. In the 35 games he has played for BYU this year, he has averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Last year, he was named the MVP of the 2025 FIBA U-19 World Cup.

The first pick for this year belongs to the Washington Wizards. The Wizards were one of the few clubs to make some big moves at the trade deadline this year. It looks like they have some ambitious plans for the future as they traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis this year.

With the Wizards likely to draft Dybansta, the rookie will add some more scoring and size to their roster. The Wizards could be looking at a future face of their franchise if everything goes well.

The Lakers will not offer LeBron James a max contract

It was reported earlier this month that the Lakers would prioritize Austin Reaves over LeBron James. While it does look like James may have at least one or two more years in him, it is still uncertain. Meanwhile, Reaves had his breakout season this year and has formed a strong partnership with Doncic.

LeBron James playing for the Lakers
LeBron James (Image via Ric Flair/X)

NBA insider Dave McMenamin reported that the Lakers are not going to offer James anything close to a max contract.

James has shown this season that he can still play at a very high level when required to do so. In the absence of Doncic and Reaves in the first round of the playoffs, the four-time champion turned back the clock and eliminated the Houston Rockets in six games.

It remains to be seen what James decides to do next. Some believe he will continue playing for the Lakers, while some believe that he will return to the Cavs and end his career there.

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