As the oldest player in the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been fortunate enough to compete against some of the greatest players to ever step foot in the league.
In Year 23, James continues to show that he can hang with the next generation of stars despite losing a step physically. Mentally, he is as sharp as ever and he and the Lakers remain in the thick of a playoff race.
While James and the Lakers look to compete for a championship, there is already plenty of interest in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft as there are several prospects who look the part of franchise pillars. For example, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is considered one of the favorites to go first overall and for good reason as he’s got the size, length, athleticism and scoring ability to be a true No. 1 option on a title team.
Dybantsa got the chance to see James up close when the Lakers faced the Utah Jazz on the road, and the two met on the court for a quick greeting, via BYU Men’s Basketball’s official X account:
game recognizes game 🤝 pic.twitter.com/iXrfGscOkU
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) December 19, 2025
Dybantsa offered his own shoutout to James on his personal X account as well:
‘@KingJames 🤞🏾 pic.twitter.com/TcX9nc9g8a
— AJ Dybantsa (@AJ_Dybantsa) December 20, 2025
After BYU’s win against ACU, Dybantsa described what it meant to meet James and revealed what he said to him, via TNT Sports:
“He was just saying that he’s been watching from a distance. Obviously I worked out with him like two years ago, so I’ve been in contact with him a little bit. But it’s greatness, so I’m just happy to meet him.”
James has been gracious with his time when it comes to young players like Dybantsa and his acknowledgment should be enough to show that the BYU star could have next. Dybantsa headlines a 2026 draft class that also features Kansas’ Darry Peterson and Duke’s Cam Boozer, and any of the three could wind up going first overall.
Dybantsa fits the mold of a modern NBA offensive player, though his frame and athleticism given him arguably the most upside. Every team craves to build around a player like Dybantsa, so it should be no surprise when teams start to tank down the stretch.
LeBron James ‘dodged bullet’ with knee
James and the Lakers managed to beat the Jazz, though the star looked like he seriously hurt his knee after taking a shot from Walter Clayton Jr. James was OK after and admitted feeling as though he ‘dodged a bullet‘ with the situation.
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