AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson are about to share a stage again, and this one comes with a lot more shine.
The NBA Summer League is back Thursday night in Las Vegas, where the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz meet in a primetime game at 8 p.m. CT.
For Washington, it’s the first look at Dybantsa in a Wizards uniform after the club took the BYU star forward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. For Utah, it’s another chance to watch Peterson, the No. 2 pick, who has already put up 26.5 points, 7.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds through two games in Salt Lake City.
Peterson has wasted no time making noise. After scoring 25 points against the Memphis Grizzlies, he delivered one of the summer’s sharpest quotes ahead of this matchup:
“I say it all the time, I'm a Kobe guy….Anytime I can assert dominance, I try to, so at the end of games, I try to kill.”
That kind of edge only adds fuel to what already feels like a built-in rivalry. Dybantsa’s connection to Utah runs through BYU, while Peterson’s rise has continued after his shortened Kansas career ended. They’re expected to be two of the most watched rookies in the league next season, and Thursday will mark just their fourth official meeting on the floor.
Their history goes back further than that. Peterson won both of their high school meetings, then beat Dybantsa again in college when Kansas topped BYU 90-82 at Allen Fieldhouse.
Peterson had 18 points in only 20 minutes that night, while Dybantsa finished with 17. BYU shot 45% from the field and 34% from three in its lone college matchup with Kansas.
This one still has the feel of a fresh start. Both players are only beginning their professional lives, and both teams are looking for early signs of what’s ahead. They may meet again during the 2026-27 regular season once schedules are released mid-August, but Thursday’s game is the raw version - two young stars, two new homes, and a first pro chapter that starts under the lights in Las Vegas.
The game will air at 8 p.m. MT on ESPN.
In Other News...
BYU Suddenly Has A Major Defensive Question Before Camp
As the Big 12 wrapped up its annual media days and preseason buzz turned toward the 2026 college football season, BYU found itself dealing with a reminder that summer storylines can change fast. The Cougars were already looking ahead to a defense that was supposed to lean on Faletau Satuala after Tanner Walls departure for the NFL, making the safety one of the more important pieces on the roster heading into camp.
Satualas presence matters because BYU is trying to build on a 12-2 season and keep the momentum from one of the programs best recent runs. Any uncertainty at a spot that was expected to anchor the back end of the defense adds a little more intrigue to August, especially with camp approaching and the Cougars still sorting out how their new-look defense will come together. [Read more 🡒]
BYU May Already Have Its Next Freshman Breakout In Camp
Spring camp gave BYU a fresh look at a rookie class that already seems to have a few players pushing for real roles, even if most of the group is still in the early stages of development. Wide receiver Jaron Pula and Legend Glasker are among the newcomers drawing attention on offense, while the defensive line has its own cluster of intriguing bodies in Braxton Lindsey, Nusi Taumoepeau and Ulavai Fetuli. Add in offensive tackle Bott Mulitalo, and the Cougars have a freshman group that looks more like a long-term pipeline than a class waiting quietly in the wings.
The most interesting part for BYU is how quickly some of those names are forcing their way into the conversation. Spring observations and coaching comments suggest there are already freshmen who look capable of helping sooner than expected, especially on the edges and in the trenches where depth charts can change fast. The question now is which of these first-year players can turn camp momentum into actual playing time once the season starts, and which ones will keep building toward a bigger role down the road. [Read more 🡒]