AJ Dybantsa upgrades from NIL deal to pro partnership with Nike

Los Angeles–like AJ Dibantsa While making the transition from college basketball to prepare for the NBA Draft, he’s also taking the next step in his endorsement deal with Nike.

DiBuntsa, who signed a voidable deal with Nike through January 2024, is extending that deal to a pro basketball contract, he told ESPN.

“It means everything,” DiBantsa said. “They’ve been with me since day one. It’s been a great partnership and we look forward to maintaining it for a long time.”

The 6-9, 210-pound DiBantsa declared for the draft after a stellar freshman season at Brigham Young University, when he led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game on 51% shooting to go along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 assists per game. DiBantsa has big plans for his NBA career starting on draft night in June.

“Ever since the rankings came out in 9th grade, I’ve been number 1 [in my class],” DiBantsa told ESPN. ”I am not inferior to anyone. So, going to No. 1 is definitely my goal.”

He has been working out for the draft in Los Angeles, with the Boston native recently working with former boston celtics Guard Isaiah Thomas and basketball trainer, Zach Gonzales, who count the Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard among your customers. He said he’s brought his Boston background with him during his basketball journey.

When DiBantsa was asked what defines Boston’s players, he said, “Passion, probably.” “After a big stop, a big bucket, I scream a lot, fumble a lot. I think it’s pretty Boston for me.”

He also got some insight into his future competition by attending Game 2 Los Angeles LakersFirst round series against Houston Rockets Self

“It’s definitely physical,” DiBantsa said. “Things get a little more crazy in the playoffs. It’s probably a tough environment to play in because it’s a very physical game.”

DiBantsa got a start in preparing his body for physicality at the next level, working with Michael Davie, director of strength and conditioning and sports science at BYU, who had previously won championships in a similar role. milwaukee bucks.

“He’ll do a lot of strength testing with us and he’ll compare us to a lot of guys in the NBA because he’ll have that type of information on his iPad,” DiBantsa said. “So that would compare, for example, my lateral movement compared to junior holiday or than my vertical jump giannis [Antetokounmpo]. So I got to see where I ranked at the beginning of my college career.”

and his head coach at BYU, Kevin Young, a longtime NBA assistant coach philadelphia 76ers And phoenix sunAdapted him to the league’s style and plans.

“KY has put us in a position to become professionals,” Dyabantsa said. “You’ve seen me in a lot of one-on-ones, you’ve seen me in a lot of pick-and-rolls. You’ve seen all of us in a lot of early action. We scored a lot early in the shot clock. So, I think I’ve gotten used to how the NBA plays in college.”

As the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago approaches next month, DiBantsa, who shot 33.1% on 3-pointers in college, is familiarizing himself with the extended NBA 3-point line.

“Just trying to be a knockdown shooter and use the NBA line,” he said. “I think I have pretty good mechanics. It’s just getting used to the line and just… I think my percentage was dropping because I was hitting stupid shots. So, I’m just focusing a lot on shooting smart shots and getting used to the range.”

Nike, in conjunction with the new deal, created a logo for Dyabantsa, a star composed of his first initials reflecting his childhood nickname.

“It’s some abstract art,” Dyabantsa said. “It’s like A and J. If you keep turning it over, you’ll see it. … I got a nickname when I was little… ‘Star Boy.’ So, I have always been a star. And the pressure doesn’t really get to me. It makes me shine like a diamond.”

He told ESPN he plans to establish roots with his charity in whatever city attracts him, inspired by his father, who was born in the Republic of Congo and returned to Brazzaville years later to donate to his childhood primary school.

And then he planned to work on the court and establish himself as the best in his class.

“There have been a lot of great players who have won Rookie of the Year,” he said. “I don’t want to win Rookie of the Year. I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘Oh, I don’t really care about Rookie of the Year.’ “Yeah, I definitely want to win it.”