​Start: Thursday at 7 p.m. MDT
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: ESPN
Streaming: espn.com/watch or Jazz+
In one of the most anticipated games in NBA Summer League history, top draft pick AJ Dybantsa, first overall, makes his Wizards debut against the No. 2 overall selection, Darryn Peterson of the Jazz. Dybantsa and Peterson are no strangers to each other. Before the draft process, they were widely viewed as the premier duo in their recruiting class, and they even squared off at Allen Fieldhouse this past January. Peterson delivered a dominant first half to help Kansas beat BYU, while Dybantsa contributed 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting.
Peterson previously had the upper hand in high school competition as well, erupting for 58 points for Prolific Prep in February 2025 to edge Utah Prep by two points, despite Dybantsa scoring 49 himself. In their lone college seasons, Dybantsa led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game and earned First Team All-American honors. Peterson logged 20.2 points per game across 24 games and shot close to 40 percent from three-point range.
So far this summer, Dybantsa has yet to take the floor for the Wizards, while Peterson has been thriving for the Jazz. In two Salt Lake City Summer League appearances, Peterson has averaged 26.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game, shooting 53 percent from the field. Their intertwined paths promise plenty of intrigue, and the history between them will likely fuel the narrative surrounding Thursday’s clash.
With both players carrying substantial expectations, Dybantsa will aim to deliver a bold statement in his debut and quiet the pro-Peterson crowd. Peterson, meanwhile, will seek to sustain his hot start and outplay the No. 1 pick. The anticipation surrounding this matchup is electric, epitomizing what makes Summer League drama so compelling.
For readers looking to dive deeper into the Dybantsa-Peterson storyline, here are several Deseret News pieces to prep you for Thursday’s showdown. The expectations are high, the stakes feel significant, and the stage is set for a memorable Summer League moment.