Both AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders will be wearing different numbers in the NBA than they did in their time as BYU Cougars.
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On Thursday, both players were introduced to local media at their new respective NBA homes after getting drafted this week — Dybantsa by the Washington Wizards and Saunders by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in this week’s draft, is changing his number from 3 at BYU to 4. Saunders, who was taken with the 32nd pick, is going from 15 to 5.
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3+1 https://t.co/OaSCprHWqy
— AJ Dybantsa (@AJ_Dybantsa) June 25, 2026
𝐁𝐘𝐔 ➡️ 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐄 pic.twitter.com/j4pTbzVuUS
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) June 25, 2026
Dybantsa explained during his introductory press conference that his new number combines his old number and the fact that he was the No. 1 pick (Trae Young wears 3 for Washington).
Saunders’ change is sadder. Since 2019, No. 15 has been occupied on the Grizzlies by Brandon Clarke, but Clarke suddenly died last month at the age of 29.
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