In the latest 2026 NBA mock draft published to FanSided.com, the Atlanta Hawks saw their dream come true. The lottery worked in the Hawks' favor, with Atlanta jumping to No. 1 overall thanks to the pick they acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2025.
With the No. 1 overall selection, Christopher Kline of FanSided.com has the Hawks selecting BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa. The logic is simple: Providing franchise player Jalen Johnson with the ultimate running mate at the forward positions.
Per Kline, with Dybantsa and Johnson working alongside one another, the Hawks could realistically expect to compete at the highest level as soon as next season.
"The sheer athleticism, rim pressure and creativity stemming from Atlanta's two 6-foot-9 engines is enough to start imagining lofty heights for this team. The Hawks aren't too far from contention as is. If the Hawks can find a defensive anchor in the middle and perhaps another shooter or two for the second unit, Dybantsa is probably in the playoffs next season — potentially with home-court advantage."
Though there are a surplus of captivating players for the Hawks to consider, including Darius Acuff Jr., Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson, landing Dybantsa would be the ultimate dream come true.
Hawks land No. 1 pick, select AJ Dybantsa in latest FanSided mock draft
Dybantsa, 19, is coming off of one of the most prolific freshman seasons in NCAA history. He won the national scoring title at 25.5 points per game, was a consensus First-Team All-American, won Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and led BYU to the NCAA Tournament.
Dybantsa became the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since former Hawks franchise player Trae Young in 2017-18, as well as just the third in history.
Dybantsa now heads into the NBA Draft process receiving immeasurable hype for a simple reason: He's everything teams want in a small forward. He's listed at 6'9" and has flashed sincere potential as a three-level scoring threat, with a smooth jump shot being complemented by above-the-rim athleticism and an already impressive in-between game.
For a Hawks team that has seemingly established its future at every position but the 3-spot, bringing in a potentially elite scorer whose defensive promise is equally as enticing is the ultimate win.
That's a compelling possibility considering Johnson has emerged as a productive scorer whose specialty is creating for those around him. With Dybantsa running the wings and even showing elite potential as an isolation scorer, the Hawks could create the perfect balance at the forward positions.
It's still something of a long shot, but if the Hawks ultimately land the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, it'd be hard to go with anyone other than Dybantsa as Johnson's perfect co-star.