Gilbert Arenas Confused by Geography Correction from NBA Draft Prospect AJ Dybantsa
Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas appeared perplexed after BYU prospect AJ Dybantsa clarified that Utah is a state, not a city, during a June 2 episode of 'Gil's Arena'.
On 2 June 2026, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas hosted BYU basketball prospect AJ Dybantsa on his podcast, 'Gil's Arena', to discuss the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. During the conversation, Arenas suggested that Dybantsa would be a suitable fit for the Utah Jazz, who hold the No. 2 pick in the draft following Arenas’ former team, the Washington Wizards. In arguing for the move, Arenas referred to Utah as "his city," a statement that prompted an immediate correction from the Boston-native prospect.
Dybantsa, who played his high school senior season at Utah Prep and spent his college freshman year at BYU before declaring for the draft on 22 April, challenged Arenas’ premise. When Arenas argued that the state was "home" for the last two years, Dybantsa pointed out that Utah is not a city. The interaction, which was captured in a video clip later shared by journalist Art Cummings on X on 3 June 2026, showed Arenas appearing dumbfounded by the clarification.
Arenas, a former Arizona Wildcats standout known for his bombastic hot takes, asked co-host Josiah Johnson what Utah was called after Dybantsa identified it as a state. Johnson reminded Arenas that he had played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City during his NBA career and noted that BYU is located in Provo. Despite this reminder, Arenas appeared confused, asking Johnson, "What do they call it?"
The exchange highlighted a disconnect between the veteran player’s commentary and the prospect’s background. Dybantsa, the nation’s top scorer during the 2025-26 college basketball season and the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, laughed at Arenas and remarked, "You've gotta be trolling." However, the context of the clip and Arenas’ subsequent questions suggested genuine confusion rather than a jest.
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place at the Brooklyn Nets' Barclays Center on 23-24 June. The incident has circulated on social media, drawing attention to the geographic misconceptions presented during the pre-draft media cycle.
