Trae Young On AJ Dybantsa, No. 3 Jersey And $700K Watches

The pressure on a No. 1 overall pick rarely shows up in a box score. Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa is learning that in real time. His new point guard says he hardly notices it.

Trae Young opened up about Dybantsa in an exclusive episode of WatchGuys’ “My Collection” series. The interview was filmed in Washington, D.C., just days before the Wizards open the 2026-27 season against the Bucks on Oct. 21. Young told host Robertino Altieri that the weight of being the top pick is real but does not show.

“AJ’s, I mean, as great as advertised, obviously. Like, being the number one pick, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with it, but you can’t really see it just by being around him,” Young said.

The preseason backs that up. Dybantsa scored 11 points with four steals and no turnovers in his Wizards debut against the Knicks. Young went 3-of-6 from deep in the same game. It was an early look at the ‘Big 3’ Washington is building with Anthony Davis.

Young also has a message for the rookies. He believes they should start with the team before the highlight reel.

“Obviously, it’s easy to focus on yourself and try to make your mark,” Young said. “But I think the easiest way to find success early is focusing on the team’s success.”

He added that rookies should find where they fit and where they can stand out.

The advice carries weight when it comes from a four-time All-Star. Young is entering his first full season in Washington on a new four-year, roughly $212 million deal. He knows what it takes to lead a young roster.

Why No. 3 Carries Extra Weight for Trae Young

Young wore No. 11 for nearly eight seasons with the Hawks. In Washington, he switched to No. 3, the number Dybantsa had hoped to claim. Young explained the choice with a long answer that started in high school.

“I wore number three my freshman year of high school,” Young said. “It was my dad’s number in college and growing up. So, I mean, my favorite players Chris Paul and Allen Iverson were number three. That was something that was always kind of in my DNA.”

It was a return, not a reinvention. Young said that made the switch easy.

“I’m looking forward to making some memories in that number now,” he said.

The Watches Behind the Interview

The episode is built around Young’s collection, which WatchGuys estimates at about $700,000. He says his first big purchase was a gold Rolex after Summer League. A Tissot deal kept him from wearing it in public for a while, and he said he stayed loyal to the company.

His favorite is an Audemars Piguet he bought after his first contract extension. WatchGuys lists the Royal Oak at around $50,000.

“I wear that a lot,” Young said.

His wife gave him two Rolexes engraved with his All-Star selections. One carries the names of his wife and their two children.

The flashiest piece is a black Pristine watch set with baguette-cut diamonds. WatchGuys says it is one of only 18 in the world. Young also tried on a rose gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167 and said it is the next watch he wants. Altieri’s price was $140,000.

Young’s answer was, “I’m going to go to the store first.”

He plans to pass the collection to his kids. He also says he rotates his watches more once the season starts. It appears fans will get a first look at that rotation on Oct. 21, when Young wears No. 3 for the first time in a regular-season game for Washington.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com