BYU star AJ Dybantsa teaches Gilbert Arenas that Utah's 'not a city'

BYU star AJ Dybantsa teaches Gilbert Arenas that Utah’s ‘not a city’

Former NBA star and ex-Arizona Wildcats standout Gilbert Arenas is a reputed jokester who offers bombastic, radical hot takes on his podcasts about the league.

During his latest episode of his show “Gil’s Arena” featuring BYU one-and-done star AJ Dybantsa, released June 2, Arenas explained to the 2026 NBA Draft’s presumptive No. 1 overall pick why Dybantsa would be better playing for the Utah Jazz. They own the No. 2 pick after Arenas’ former team, the Washington Wizards.

But the tables turned when the nation’s top scorer during the 2025-26 college basketball season gave Arenas a funny geography lesson about the state of Utah.

“The spotlight is coming on you,” Arenas said. “So if the spotlight is gonna come to you, then I’m gonna keep you home, because it’s your city.”

A Boston native, Dybantsa was perplexed and interrupted him, “In Boston?”

Dybantsa played his high school senior season at Utah Prep. He remained in the state for his college freshman year before he declared for the draft on April 22.

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Scenes from Arizona Wildcats basketball game vs Brigham Young

Brigham Young Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dribbles the ball while Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) attempts to block him during the first half of the game at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, on Feb. 18, 2026.

(Aryanna Frank/Imagn Images)

“No, Utah,” Arenas said.

Dybantsa immediately quipped with a confused look, “That’s not home.”

Arenas was right when he then told Dybantsa that Utah is where he became but Arenas flubbed in the same breath for how he categorized Utah.

“It’s not home for you, but it’s been home for the last two years and that is your city right now,” Arenas said.

“Utah’s also not a city, by the way,” Dybantsa responded.

Arenas looked confused and asked, “What is it?”

Dybansta calmly answered with pursed lips, “A state.”

When the next frame showed Arenas and the show’s co-host and social media influencer Josiah Johnson looking at each other, Arenas was dumbfounded by Dybantsa’s correction.

Arenas then asked Johnson, “What do they call it?”

Johnson said, “Utah.”

Arenas further admitted that he overlooks Utah. Johnson reminded him that Arenas played at the Jazz’s Delta Center in Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, throughout his NBA career, and BYU is in the city of Provo.

The clip ended as Dybantsa laughed at Arenas and said, “You’ve gotta be trolling,” but Arenas wasn’t.

The draft takes place at the Brooklyn Nets’ Barclays Center, June 23-24.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: BYU basketball’s Dybantsa teaches Arenas that Utah’s not a ‘city’