![\"Brad](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2237751488_412839-e1761501531843.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto By Winslow Townson\/Getty Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics<\/p>\n
The Boston Celtics<\/a> are still settling into an early-season rhythm, but the conversation around their future took an unexpected turn this week. AJ Dybantsa<\/a>, the projected top-three pick and Brockton native, is set to return home for BYU\u2019s upcoming game at TD Garden. The matchup has not even tipped off yet, but Dybantsa\u2019s comments leading into the weekend have already ignited a fresh wave of Celtics rumors.<\/p>\n Boston fans have followed his rise closely for years, and with the hometown star preparing to play in the city where he grew up, the speculation around a possible future in green has only intensified. This time, Dybantsa himself helped fuel it.<\/p>\n AJ Dybantsa.<\/p>\n Draft 2026.<\/p>\n Boston Celtics. <\/p>\n Celtics Rumors Grow As Dybantsa Talks About Boston Interest GettyPORTLAND, OREGON \u2013 APRIL 12: AJ Dybantsa #7 of Team USA looks on during the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit at Moda Center on April 12, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Celtics fans have spent months tagging Dybantsa in photoshops, debating draft scenarios, and openly dreaming about adding a Massachusetts native to a core built around Jayson Tatum<\/a> and Jaylen Brown<\/a>. Dybantsa acknowledged that the noise has reached him.<\/p>\n \u201cI get tagged in the Celtics stuff all the time,\u201d Dybantsa told Bobby Manning of The Garden Report<\/a>. \u201cInstagram, Twitter, everywhere. I\u2019m definitely seeing it.\u201d<\/p>\n The rumblings were already strong before this week. What made them spike was what he said next. When asked specifically about fitting alongside Tatum and Brown, Dybantsa didn\u2019t dodge the question. Instead, he delivered the line that instantly became the centerpiece of the latest Celtics rumors.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the basketball gods ever made that work out,\u201d he said<\/a>, \u201cI\u2019m pretty adaptable to play multiple positions. So I think it wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone\u2019s game but only enhance it.\u201d<\/p>\n That answer changed the temperature of the conversation immediately.<\/p>\n AJ Dybantsa on how he would fit with Tatum & Brown if he was drafted by the Celtics:<\/p>\n \u201cIf the basketball gods ever made that work out\u2026 I\u2019m pretty adaptable to play multiple positions. <\/p>\n \u201cSo I think it wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone\u2019s game but only enhance it.\u201d<\/p>\n Via @CelticsCLNS<\/a> <\/p>\n Why His Skill Set Makes These Celtics Rumors Hard To Ignore<\/p>\n Beyond the hometown roots, the basketball fit is what gives these rumors staying power. Dybantsa is a 6\u20199 wing who plays with power, pace, and the kind of physicality that translates early at the NBA<\/a> level. He has been overwhelming defenders at BYU with his strength and driving ability, while also showing the flashes of shotmaking scouts expect from a top pick.<\/p>\n For the Celtics, a player with his blend of size, scoring, and positional versatility naturally stands out. Tatum and Brown thrive alongside wings who can switch assignments, attack off the dribble, and complement their scoring without needing to dominate possessions. Dybantsa sees that too.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m adaptable. I can play multiple positions,\u201d he said in the same interview.<\/a> \u201cI think it would only enhance everybody\u2019s game.\u201d<\/p>\n Hearing a projected top-three prospect speak that directly about fitting into Boston\u2019s roster is unusual. Prospects typically stay neutral about specific NBA teams. Dybantsa leaned into the idea.<\/p>\n For a fanbase that embraces homegrown talent more than most, that is all it takes.<\/p>\n Who does AJ Dybantsa\u2019s game remind you of? \ud83e\udd14 <\/p>\n The No. 1 SC NEXT 100 prospect with 17 PTS on 7-10 FG in BYU\u2019s second win of the season \ud83d\udd25 <\/p>\n What These Rumors Really Mean<\/p>\n The path for Boston to actually land Dybantsa remains unlikely. Unless the season spirals in a way the Celtics do not expect, they will not be drafting anywhere near the top of the board. He is widely projected inside the top three, and that tier rarely slips.<\/p>\n But rumors are not always about probability. Sometimes they are about possibility.<\/p>\n And Dybantsa did not shut the door on that possibility. He acknowledged the noise, leaned into the Boston connection, and spoke openly about fitting with Tatum and Brown.<\/p>\n The Celtics still have their season to focus on. The draft is months away. But Dybantsa\u2019s homecoming turned a quiet storyline into one that will linger for a long time.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tKeith Watkins<\/a> Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Celtics\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t![\"Team](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GettyImages-2210007329-e1760552818939.jpg\")
<\/p>\n