Fanatics and Fanatics Collectibles announced Wednesday they’ve signed incoming BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa to a multi-year exclusive deal, dubbing the pact one of the company’s “most significant NIL deals ever.”
Dybantsa, 18, is a top candidate to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The partnership starts immediately, according to Fanatics, focusing on trading cards and memorabilia and will extend beyond Dybantsa’s collegiate career.
“Me and my family really just take time with these deals we get,” Dybantsa told The Athletic when asked why he signed with Fanatics. “We don’t just go for any brand. It’s kind of more than just the brand itself. It’s kind of who’s running it, who’s behind it. We’re big family people, so how the brand is like a family connection, and we think we met those standards with Omar (Wilkes, head of athlete partnerships for Fanatics Collectibles) and Michael (Rubin, Fanatics CEO).”
Fanatics signing top NBA draft prospects to exclusive deals is a continuing trend for the company, following agreements with Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg. On the women’s side, Fanatics also signed USC’s JuJu Watkins to an exclusive deal earlier this year. Dybantsa is fresh off an MVP performance in helping Team USA win the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland on Sunday by beating Germany in the finals.
For trading cards, the deal will include autographs, game-used jerseys, inscriptions and being involved in brand marketing campaigns. According to Fanatics Collectibles, Dybantsa will be in a number of upcoming products, among them Bowman U Now and other Bowman offerings.
Topps, owned by Fanatics, is set to take over the NBA licensing for trading cards in October, taking it away from Panini. This means collectors can acquire NBA autographed cards with team logos and names attached for Flagg and eventually Dybantsa. That wasn’t the case for Wembanyama, whose autographed rookie cards appeared on unlicensed Topps products.
Below is a selection of questions and answers from the 6-foot-9 forward’s interview with The Athletic about collecting, NIL, BYU, and potentially being the No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA Draft:
How big are you into card collecting at all?
I was when I was younger. I used to collect cards, but ever since then I haven’t really haven’t done too much. I liked NBA, NFL, MLB (cards), but I haven’t been doing too much about that. … I probably had a crazy Charizard or something like that.
Do you see yourself maybe collecting yourself or do you think, nah, maybe not?
Yeah. I might collect myself. I can pull for myself. It might be cool.
Would you go chasing after cards? Maybe go try to buy it yourself?
I don’t know if I’ll buy my own card, but if he was willing to give it to me for free, I’ll take it.
Who are some of the players that you’ve modeled your game after that you admire and inspire?
My favorite player since growing up has been Kevin Durant. I tried to model my game after various guys, though, like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Tracy McGrady, now Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). Just those types of big wings, big guards.
In terms of a basketball program and a brand, what drew you to attend BYU?
With the staff they had, (BYU head coach) Kevin Young has coached my favorite player. He’s also coached Chris Paul, Joel Embiid, Devin Booker. Those types of guys. My ultimate goal is to go to the NBA, so why not try to get that knowledge earlier, before I get there and try to be the most prepared for when I get there.
How much have you been in touch with people along the way for guidance?
When I come across them, you know, I ask questions. Our life, we practice a little bit (for the NBA), but nothing has even come close to even starting there so I’m just excited to play college basketball. I’m not too worried about the whole process. But I’ve talked to guys like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Paolo (Banchero). They shared their experiences going through the draft process.
How do you juggle being a player and then having NIL commitments?
It’s good that players can make money off of their brand. They should have (before recently). I know a lot of players wish that they were younger so they can have the opportunity. I think it should have been applied a while ago, but I think it’s a great add on for athletes, not just basketball, generating however much money from fans, from games and ticket sales and everything. They should get a piece, so this is exciting that you can make money off of your name.
What are some of the things on the court you could work on? What are some of the things that you really feel like suit you for the college game and for the next level?
I’ve got a lot of stuff to work on. Just improving my shot, making quicker reads. Obviously, these guys are stronger, older and smarter. So just doing everything quicker and more precisely because this is not high school. They’re not going to just let me do whatever I want. …
I’m just getting in shape. Obviously we’re above sea level by 5,000-plus feet. So it’s getting in shape being able to withstand playing a full 40-minute college game. Getting used to the 3-point line being farther. Doing everything at a faster pace on a college level.
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(Top photo: Soobum Im/Getty Images)
