AJ Dybantsa’s early NBA Summer League run is looking more and more like a real preview.
The No. 1 overall pick followed up his 27-point debut Thursday against the Jazz with another strong outing Sunday in Las Vegas, putting up 23 points and seven rebounds as the Washington Wizards beat the Sacramento Kings 104-85.
The scoring has come fast for Dybantsa, who is now averaging 25.0 points per game through two Summer League appearances. That’s just a shade below the 25.5 points per game he posted at BYU this past season, and it’s a strong start to his introduction at the pro level.
What stood out most against the Kings, though, was the other end of the floor. Dybantsa logged two blocks and three steals and did it without being whistled for a single foul, a sharp sign of how hard he was working defensively throughout the game.
He did most of his damage early, scoring 17 of his 23 points in the first half while playing 14 minutes. His pace dipped after halftime, then picked back up in the fourth quarter when he settled into his usual rhythm again.
Dybantsa finished 6 for 15 from the field, including 4 of 8 in the first half, and hit 5 of 6 at the line. He also added two assists.
The long-range shot is still the part of his game that needs work. After going 0 for 3 from deep Thursday, he was 1 of 6 from 3-point range Sunday. That area remains a clear project before his rookie season begins in October.
Even so, the rest of his offensive package has translated well. His ability to get to his spots, draw free throws and slice through traffic toward the rim has carried over to Summer League, and that’s the kind of stuff that should keep the Wizards encouraged.
Dybantsa finished plus-18 in 24 minutes Sunday. Across his first two games, he’s averaging 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 40% from the field.
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