​LAS VEGAS — When the No. 1 pick and the No. 2 pick square off, the spotlight tends to brighten. The matchup between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson drew a massive crowd at Las Vegas Summer League, with the lower bowl at Thomas & Mack Center packed to the rafters and NBA luminaries lining the court on both sides. Yet, despite the high expectations and the buzz surrounding two of the premier young talents in the game, the game ultimately didn’t quite live up to the hype that preceded tipoff.
“Look, they’re two of the best young players on the planet, and people are excited about them, and rightly so,” Jazz assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski said of Peterson and Dybantsa. “Those guys, from a very early age, have had to learn to handle the spotlight. And I’m not sure any games they’ve played in has been as big a spotlight as this one. … And I thought both of them handled it really well.” Both Peterson, the No. 2 overall pick by the Utah Jazz, and Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards, demonstrated several flashes that they will be central figures for their franchises, but this Summer League clash didn’t become the classic some had hoped for.
Peterson finished with 24 points but fouled out with nine and racked up eight turnovers. He also had only a couple of defensive matchups against Dybantsa, which is what fans were eager to see, though the opportunities were limited and the duel left some wanting more.
The showcase of the two 2026 rookies quickly devolved into a grueling affair, marked by 60 total fouls, multiple reviews and challenges, and a constant steady stream of stoppages, all while a potential overtime loomed that no one seemed keen to endure. When the final buzzer sounded, the Wizards had survived, 92-88, thanks in large part to Dybantsa’s 27 points and seven rebounds, punctuated by a driving dunk that electrified the crowd.
Regardless of the final score, the much-anticipated Peterson–Dybantsa showdown clearly drew an impressive audience. “I think we had a good crowd today,” Peterson remarked. “I saw a lot of NBA guys. I actually was talking to Anthony Davis a little bit during the game, which was crazy to me.”
The Jazz faithful included head coach Will Hardy, owner Ryan Smith, and a cadre of front-office leaders, alongside players like Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, Brice Sensabaugh, and Jaren Jackson Jr. The Wizards were well represented as well, with owner Ted Leonsis, general manager Will Dawkins, and head coach Brian Keefe in attendance, flanked by stars such as Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, Alex Sarr, Khris Middleton, Justin Champagnie, Kyshawn George, and Tristan Vukčević. The scene wasn’t limited to the players on the court; former NBA star Paul Pierce was courtside, and Hall of Famer Gary Payton also dropped in for a stretch of the game.
The presence extended beyond the two top picks, with notable figures from across the league contributing to the electric atmosphere. Even as the quality of play didn’t quite meet the sky-high expectations, the event underscored the immense interest in the next generation of superstars and hinted at the exciting futures to come for Dybantsa and Peterson—and for the teams that will rely on them in the seasons ahead.