​Fans of the Washington Wizards and First overall pick AJ Dybantsa alike waited with bated breath for his Summer League debut Thursday night in Las Vegas. After not competing in a game since March 10, when BYU fell to Texas in the NCAA tournament, Dybantsa did not disappoint. In 26 minutes, he posted a plus-7 rating, led the game with 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and handed out two assists in a 92-88 victory over the Utah Jazz and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson. Peterson, who starred at Kansas, was widely regarded as one of the two top prospects in this year’s rookie class.
“Every time I play against Darryn Peterson it’s always a great setting,” Dybantsa said. “He got the best of me three times, so I just wanted to come out on top.”
Dybantsa’s efficiency from the field wasn’t perfect—he finished 7-for-18—but he drew contact consistently and went 7-for-8 at the free-throw line. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to attack the basket. Last season, he led the nation in scoring (25.5 points per game) and free-throw attempts (296), a testament to his aggressive style and fearless approach to getting to the line.
“We’ve seen it all camp. He’s very shifty in the paint,” Wizards Summer League coach TJ Sorrentine said. “I talked about it before the game; he’s got the little nuances to get to the free-throw line that are hard to teach—the Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders and the Jalen Brunsons of the world. You score a lot of points in this league; you get to the free-throw line. He does that now naturally, so we knew he was going to do that. The way he moves is different. It’s fun to watch.”
Sorrentine emphasized getting the ball into Dybantsa’s hands early and often. On the Wizards’ second possession, Dybantsa used a strong left-handed drive to get downhill and finished with a reverse layup off the glass over Jazz center Orlando Robinson. On the next sequence, Dybantsa flashed his playmaking, feeding a streaking Will Riley in transition for a dunk and a three-point play.
Later in the first quarter, Dybantsa continued to absorb contact and buried an off-balance mid-range jumper. The highlight of his debut came in the final minute of the opening frame, as Dybantsa pushed toward the basket and threw down a thunderous two-handed jam, narrowly beating the shot clock.
“I thought he was terrific. Didn’t shoot it great, but he gets to the free-throw line and he finds his spots,” Sorrentine said. “You just see the talent, and he’s just scratching the surface. Really thrilled with how he played. We’ll watch the film, but I thought he was really good.”
Dybantsa may have missed all five of his three-point attempts, but his interior efficiency stood out. Postgame, he noted that he had been overthinking some layups during summer camp, which contributed to a few misses. In front of a lively Thomas & Mack Center crowd, though, he appeared comfortable around the rim and showed the makings of a dynamic player who can impact games in multiple ways.
“A little bit of everything felt normal,” Dybantsa said, reflecting on his first Summer League showcase. As he continues to adjust to professional basketball and races to refine his craft, Wizards fans have reason to be optimistic about a young guard with a blend of cutting ability, court vision, and an innate knack for drawing fouls.