Being a Boston Celtics fan is quite common for those raised in the New England area, like projected top three NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa grew up just under 24 miles south of Boston in Brockton, Massachusetts before heading to Utah where he finished high school and went on to BYU to play his college ball for the Cougars.
Now, as he prepares for next month’s draft, the 19-year-old is realizing that his time supporting the Cs is finished.
“This is my last year being a Celtics fan,” Dybantsa told reporters at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “I’m getting drafted this year so, it might still be in me but I don’t think I can be a fan as much [now that I’ll be competing against them].”
Could there have been a more brutal final year to root for the Celtics?
Most fans entered the season with little to no expectations, got their hopes up as they watched the team play inspired basketball for 82 games, then had their hearts ripped out when Boston blew its first-ever 3-1 series lead in their first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (whom they hadn’t lost a playoff series to in 44 years).
Think about that. Poor AJ, whom many hope will find his way to Boston sometime during his NBA career, will have a lasting memory of seeing the Celtics drop three of their four home games to Philly.
Do we think that could actually give him an edge over the Cs?
Like, Dybantsa could be remarkably unfazed by the TD Garden crowd when he returns as a visiting player next season and beyond because he knows better than anyone that there’s no longer a home court advantage in Boston.
AJ Dybansta's draft position isn't set in stone just yet
Which team he’ll be returning with, however, is still up in the air. The Washington Wizards won the No. 1 overall pick at last Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery, but there’s been no indication whether or not Washington will bring in Dybantsa.
If not, it doesn’t sound like he’d fall past the Utah Jazz at No. 2. According to NBA Insider Marc J. Spears, the Jazz have already reached out the Wizards with hopes of trading up to draft AJ first overall.
CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein reports that the feeling is mutual and Dybantsa hopes to remain in Utah where he’s spent the past two years.
Regardless of where he ends up and whether or not he’s still supporting the Celtics, the TD Garden faithful will undoubtedly support Dybantsa whenever he makes his NBA homecoming, as they did for Maine native Cooper Flagg back in March.
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