Dybantsa Gets the Topps Cover as Washington Opens Camp

AJ Dybantsa, the Wizards' No. 1 overall pick, has been named the cover athlete for 2026 Topps Flagship Basketball — a notable commercial milestone for a player who, according to the announcement, only began collecting cards this year. The selection puts him among the most visible faces in the hobby heading into his rookie season.

The timing lands as Washington formally announced its 2026-27 training camp roster, with Dybantsa listed among the wings alongside a backcourt headlined by Trae Young, Bub Carrington, and Tre Mann. Camp is where the offseason's ambition meets the floor — a roster assembled around Young, Dybantsa, Deandre Ayton, Khris Middleton, and Anthony Davis now has to actually practice together for the first time.

GM Will Dawkins framed the coming year as a "season of growth" last week, which is a reasonable expectation for a team integrating a rookie into a largely new core. The Topps cover is a marketing moment; what happens in camp and into October will start to answer the more substantive questions.