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The Washington D.C. sports scene has seen a number of legends walk through town, but there's arguably been none bigger than Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin.
The No. 1 pick by the Capitals in 2004, Ovechkin had an illustrious career in Washington, finishing as the top goal-scorer in NHL history and helped win the 2018 Stanley Cup. But there's a new age of D.C. sports, and it's headlined by former BYU Cougars star AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — 22 years after Ovechkin hard his name called first.
The two drew comparisons from Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis earlier this week, with Dybantsa's polite, calm mannerisms with the media leading Leonsis to bring up Ovechkin's name. Just a few days later, the two iconic Washington sports stars posed for a picture at the Fanatics Fan Fest in New York City.
From one D.C. sports star to a number, with Washington fans hoping that Dybantsa can do what Ovechkin did: bring a championship back to the city.
With All-Stars Trae Young, Anthony Davis and a slew of former lottery picks on the roster plus Dybantsa's talent, the Wizards certainly have the ability to make some noise in the Eastern Conference next season. Whether it results in a championship remains to be seen, but if Dybantsa can even sniff Ovechkin's greatness and iconic career overall, it will undoubtedly be considered a success.
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This article originally appeared on BYU Cougars Wire: The passing of the guard: AJ Dybantsa and Alex Ovechkin pose for pic
