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...
Darryn Peterson Just Reopened A Painful Bill Self Debate At Kansas
Darryn Petersons first NBA Summer League game with the Utah Jazz offered a fresh look at what Kansas fans thought they were getting when the former five-star arrived in Lawrence. Peterson said he is enjoying being on the ball as a point guard at the next level, a role that has let him handle more of the offense than he did at Kansas, where he spent much of his time working as a shooting guard and wing option.
That contrast has reopened an old discussion around Bill Selfs usage of Peterson and whether the Jayhawks ever found the best way to deploy him. Selfs side of it was always tied to roster needs and Petersons availability, with cramping issues and injuries limiting how often Kansas could build around him, but the NBA setting is putting the difference in roles back in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Just Addressed Kansas Fans' Biggest Wembley Fear
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Leipold acknowledged the challenge of the travel, but he also pointed to a built-in cushion that should matter to Kansas fans worried about the aftermath. The game comes in Week 3, and the Jayhawks get a bye week afterward before turning to a demanding nine-game finish, so the staff has time to manage the transition back and reset for the Oct. 3 matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Thinks Kansas Finally Has An Answer In Close Games
At Big 12 Media Days, Lance Leipold sounded encouraged by what Kansas has built heading into the season, pointing to a roster that looks sturdier across the board. The Jayhawks believe they have more reliable depth in the trenches and at several key spots on defense and in the backfield, and that matters for a program trying to turn more of its competitive Saturdays into wins.
Leipold also tied that stability to the changing college football landscape, saying the new revenue-sharing model has helped Kansas allocate resources more effectively. He added that the single transfer portal window has made it easier to keep the roster together, and for a team that has been searching for a better way to finish tight games, that kind of continuity could be as important as any single player on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]