BYU star AJ Dybantsa forced to remove Red Bull after Big 12 Tournament win — here’s why originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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BYU star AJ Dybantsa dropped 40 points in his Big 12 Tournament debut win over Kansas State on Tuesday night. But it wasn't just the outstanding performance that had social media buzzing.
The Cougars freshmen phenom was told by conference officials to remove his Red Bull during the postgame press conference. Not because of BYU's stance on caffeinated drinks, but because the energy drink wasn't an official sponsor. This is odd at this stage, but nonetheless understandable.
Dybantsa was one of the first Red Bull signature ambassador athletes and has always promoted the brand during his time in Provo. As one of his first NIL deals, he even participated at events in Europe for Red Bull's F1 team over the course of the offseason. One endorsement that will likely carry over to the soon-to-be days in the NBA.
The only thing that stopped AJ Dybantsa tonight was his Red Bull. He was made to remove it during the postgame press conference because it wasn’t a sponsor. pic.twitter.com/a9PKmFJBXh
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) March 11, 2026
On the court, Dybantsa has carried the load for BYU, who are without six key contributors in the midst of the Big 12 tourney. This includes Cougars star Richie Saunders in Kevin Young's lineup. However, the team has adjusted to a lighter bench with more minutes to go around, including Dybantsa playing nearly 40 per game down the stretch.
More: Why Nike's influence might keep AJ Dybantsa at BYU next year
All signs point to this being a one-and-done year for the former five-star and projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Yet, Dybantsa has teased the possibility of staying in school. This would be a long shot for Young and the Cougars, but it would be huge if it actually happened.
BYU faces West Virginia on Wednesday night in Kansas City.
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