It’s not every day that an 18-year-old hoops phenom casually drops a carousel of photos and ends up sparking a heartfelt thank-you from a WNBA legend. But AJ Dybantsa’s latest X post did just that.

There was no big press rollout or formal highlight reel. Just three pictures from his time at the Women’s Final Four: one with legendary sportscaster Dick Vitale, one solo shot of Lisa Leslie’s son MJ, and another of MJ standing alongside his mom—the Hall of Famer herself. Dybantsa kept the caption simple: “Women’s Final Four ⏮️.” But that post said more than enough.

Somewhere in between the photos and the vibes, AJ took a moment to connect with MJ. Just a quick interaction. A moment between a future NBA star and a young fan. But to MJ’s mom, that wasn’t small at all.

Lisa Leslie took to Twitter shortly after with a message that said it all: “Thanks for taking time with my son MJ 🙏🏾🙏🏾.”

For a mom who’s always looking to pass on the mindset of greatness to her son, that moment with AJ was meaningful. In a recent interview with Distractify, Leslie opened up about how she builds her son’s confidence and grit, often leaning on inspiration from other legends to do it.

“Recently, I was trying to motivate my son, who’s 12 years old, and showing him quotes about wolves,” she shared. “It was kind of cute because I’m trying to help him with his confidence… I’m like, ‘Listen, some of the toughest things happen when you’re alone, you got to take that tough road to success.’” She also said she’s always sending MJ motivational TikToks—from Kobe Bryant, from Deion Sanders—because sometimes hearing it from someone else, especially a champion, just hits different.

So when MJ got a chance to share a moment with a future NBA star like AJ Dybantsa—someone who’s already carrying himself like a pro both on and off the court—it checked every box. It wasn’t just a photo op. It was exactly the kind of real-life inspiration Lisa’s been curating for her son all along.

AJ Dybantsa’s gestures has BYU head coach proud

AJ Dybantsa is all business when it comes to hoops. The future BYU Cougar signed with the program last year. And since then, he’s been repping it hard—on social media, in interviews, and even in his drip. His BYU pride shows. He’s shouted out his future teammates and rocked the logo like it’s already home. Dybantsa is now set to enroll early on April 29. Just a few days later, he’ll suit up for the 2025 Iverson Classic on May 3. He may have dropped the national rankings currently, but more than a few agree none’s a more popular name. 

Back in October, Dybantsa signed a headline-making NIL deal with Red Bull. That move made him the highest-paid high school player at the time. His valuation? A staggering $3.8 million, per On3. He broke the news on a Swish Cultures podcast, sitting alongside his dad, Ace Dybantsa. That same dad was with him again when they had brunch with none other than Dick Vitale. The ESPN legend later took to X to show AJ some love.

For BYU head coach Kevin Young, all of this just confirms what he already knew. “When I see AJ, his dad sent me a picture of him talking to (ESPN’s) Dick Vitale and he’s decked out in BYU gear… That pride of BYU I think is super cool,” Young said.

AJ Dybantsa isn’t just bringing talent to Provo. He’s bringing presence. And it shows—on and off the court.