by Mildred Europa Taylor, Face2FaceAfrica.com
AJ Dybantsa, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, has reportedly applied for Jamaican citizenship as he looks to represent Jamaica in international basketball competitions.
The 19-year-old forward’s mother is from Jamaica, while his father is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jamaica Basketball Association President Paulton Gordon told the Jamaica Observer that dual citizenship paperwork has begun, adding that Dybantsa could become eligible to represent Jamaica in the future, even though he has represented the United States at the youth level in the past.
“He is getting [a] passport, so I guess that may be a possibility down the road. He however has represented USA in all age group competitions from Under-17 level,” Gordon said to the outlet.
Dybantsa’s mother, Chelsea Dybantsa, was born in Jamaica and grew up in Chester Castle, Hanover, before moving to the United States, where she raised her children while preserving deep Jamaican ties and cultural traditions.
Her Jamaican roots have helped shape Dybansta’s identity as he proudly represents his Jamaican heritage. The Brockton native even wore both the Jamaican and Congolese flags on his jersey while representing the World Team during the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit.
In 2025, to know more about his family’s history and spend time with his mother’s side of the family, he traveled to Jamaica, where he also interacted with young basketball players.
The trip to his homeland, which was sponsored by Nike, the Bob & Rita Marley Foundation, and the Jamaica Basketball Association, was also meant to support youth basketball development. Dybansta shared basketball gear and gave inspirational talks to young players interested in following his path.
“Always nice to see players at that level connected to their heritage and making deliberate steps to motivate and elevate the young ones who are showing interest in basketball,” Gordon told the Jamaica Observe.
To further support charitable causes, Dybansta launched the AJ Dybantsa Foundation, which helped raise funds for hurricane relief in Jamaica.
Currently, there are multiple players with Jamaican backgrounds playing in the NBA, including Jalen Brunson, who just helped the New York Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship. His mother is from Jamaica.
Years before Dybantsa, Jamaican basketball great Patrick Ewing was selected as number one in 1985 by the New York Knicks.
During the NBA Finals, Dybansta and Ewing were seen interacting, with some reports stating that they spoke in Jamaica’s native language Patios. It was a moment that caught the attention of basketball lovers in both Jamaica and the U.S.
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