​Following up on his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday, No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa again took the floor for the Washington Wizards in Las Vegas and delivered a 23-point performance in Sunday’s 104-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Dybantsa also collected seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, underscoring the defensive impact he can bring as a rookie for Washington.
One of the most thrilling moments of his Sunday showing came when he chased down and blocked a 3-point attempt by another rookie, Darius Acuff, signaling that he can consistently close out on outside shooters. Dybantsa then hustled in transition to convert a fast-break layup, showcasing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
“I’ve been telling my trainers I think I could be a first-team All-Defensive guy,” Dybantsa told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “In college, I was being lazy a lot on the defensive end. Just letting guys blow by me, not being a help side. But definitely want to bring it to the next level.”
Wizards Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine echoed that sentiment, praising Dybantsa’s physical tools and potential. “You just see the size and the length and the way he moves,” Sorrentine told The Athletic’s Josh Robbins. “Once he nails down the way the NBA is played — he’s a sponge, so it’s going to happen quick — the sky’s the limit.”
The Wizards have two more Summer League games on the schedule in Las Vegas, pending advancement to the Summer League playoffs. However, Dybantsa’s current stint may be nearing its end, as is common for lottery selections early in their rookie years. Youngmisuk noted that teams typically limit their top picks to two Summer League appearances soon after joining the league.
Dybantsa’s Las Vegas stat line across his two Summer League appearances stands at an average of 25 points, seven rebounds, two assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. If there’s a weakness to address, it’s his outside shooting consistency. He went 1-for-11 from beyond the arc in Las Vegas, a doorway he hasn’t heavily explored in college. In his lone season at BYU, Dybantsa shot 33% on 148 attempts from three, indicating he can become a more reliable threat from deep with time and development.
Across the league, other summer performances stood out. Darius Acuff finished with 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting, including an 0-for-4 mark from three. In Los Angeles, Darryn Peterson dropped 23 points with five assists, two steals, and two blocks in the Utah Jazz’s 104-82 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, while Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler added 23 points on 4-for-7 shooting from three with four assists.
Elsewhere, Brayden Burries poured in 26 points on 4-for-5 shooting from three in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 90-80 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs. In the scoring mix for the Golden State Warriors, Yaxel Lendeborg contributed 14 points in a 104-79 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Aday Mara posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. (OKC’s other first-round pick, Bennett Stirtz, added 13 points.)
For fans following the early-stage growth of top prospects, Dybantsa’s performance in Summer League continues to generate buzz about his ceiling for Washington. If his defensive instincts translate to regular-season games and his outside shot improves, he could become a cornerstone piece for the Wizards’ defensive identity in the coming years.