​LAS VEGAS — Sitting just a few inches from the baseline at the Thomas & Mack Center, perhaps the best seat in the house for AJ Dybantsa’s Summer League debut, Paul Pierce’s inquiry mixed bewilderment with excitement. “He already got his own shoe?” the Hall of Famer asked, referencing Dybantsa’s metallic silver Nike GTs. “God****!” A few minutes later, as the No. 1 pick dribbled from the logo on Thursday, bulldozing through four defenders like a prime Clinton Portis on his way to a thunderous dunk that sent the arena into an uproar, Pierce’s questions were answered. The hype was real, and the wait appeared justified.
AJ Dybantsa drives against the Utah Jazz in the second half on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. The scene, captured by AP photographer John Locher, lingered in the memory as fans watched. “That looked like [No.] 1 to me! That looked like 1 to me!” Pierce hollered, leaping from his seat along with thousands of other onlookers. In what felt like no time at all, the 48-year-old found himself heading for the exits, repeatedly claiming he had seen enough from the much-anticipated exhibition clash.
The Wizards’ 92-88 victory over the Jazz was not a showcase of NBA-level competition in a traditional sense. The night highlighted far more fouls than made baskets, a staggering 72 fouls in total to 60 field goals, and 36 turnovers between the teams. Dybantsa and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson both shot well below 50 percent from the floor, a reminder that in July the margins are slim and the samples are small. Yet this wasn’t the point of the affair. July showcase games aren’t about perfect football-stadium-caliber execution; they’re about the spark of talent, the early crackle of a budding rivalry, and a reminder that the sport remains in a vibrant, evolving place as the next generation of hoopers steps forward.
Even amid the clumsy moments and the messy play, the signs were hard to miss, hidden beneath the clutter of a game that didn’t quite resemble an NBA regular-season contest. Dybantsa’s ability to absorb contact, to locate his spots on the floor, and to finish through contact stood out. Peterson, meanwhile, showed a penchant for creating something out of nothing—slipping through screens, rising for pull-up shots, and attacking open spaces manufactured by teammates. Both players demonstrated a knack for drawing contact, a skill set that should translate to the pro game regardless of how the advanced analytics view these particular July exhibitions. Dybantsa finished with a game-high 27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block in 26 minutes despite missing all five of his outside attempts. Peterson added 24 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. Outside of a handful of exchanges, the two seldom guarded one another, much to the disappointment of fans hoping for a direct duel, but there was still enough substance to intrigue.
“It’s great,” Dybantsa said after the game. “Every time I play against him it’s a battle. He always comes out to compete. He beat me three times previously; that was my first win. I was just glad to come out on top.”