AJ Dibantsa dominates MSG ahead of potential Brooklyn teammate Egor Demin
The The Brooklyn Nets are looking for another top draft pick this season and the opportunity to select a transformational player next June. On Tuesday, they got a closer look at one of the top players in the 2026 class — BIU star AJ Dibansta.
With the Nets point guard and former BIU star Egor Demin I’m looking, Dibansta showed in his best performance of the season at Madison Square Garden, leading the Cougars to a 67-64 comeback victory over Clemson. The 6-foot-9 wing posted 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
BIU trailed by 22 in the second half before Dibansta took over and led them to their fifth straight win. The performance certainly caught the eye of Nets general manager Sean Marks, as well as dozens of other NBA executives in attendance.
AJ Dibansta dazzles at MSG in front of Egor Demin, Nets director
Dibansta is one of the promising three stars considered 2026 draft picks, alongside Kansas’ Darrin Peterson and Duke’s Cam Boozer. The BIU star has been as advertised early this season, averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists on .542/.364/.789 shooting in nine appearances.
Although Peterson is the consensus No. 1 pick in most mock drafts, performances like Tuesday’s could put Dibansta in contention for the No. 1 spot as the season progresses.
The Nets operated this offseason with a thin plan in mind. They made an NBA-record five first-round picks in the 2025 draft and entered the season with only rookies at guard.
However, after an 0-7 start, a stretch of 6-10 dropped Brooklyn to sixth place in the lottery draft table. The degree of urgency the rebuilding team shows as the season progresses will determine his chances of landing one of the generational prospects for the 2026 draft.
Dibanstino’s performance at MSG is as good an advertisement as any for why the Nets need to sacrifice wins this season for a brighter future.
2025-12-10 22:03:00
