AJ Dybantsa is already talking like a player who knows exactly what kind of NBA reputation he wants to build.
After just two games in Summer League, the Wizards rookie has put his defensive ceiling front and center, saying he sees himself as a future All-Defensive selection. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of the BYU Cougars system made that clear while describing the area he wants to define his career.
"I think I can be a first-team All-Defensive team guy. That’s just where I’m trying to make an impact, on the defensive end.
In college, I was being really lazy on the defensive end, just letting guys blow by me and not being a help-side defender. But I definitely want to bring it to the next level," Dybantsa declared.
The early returns back up the confidence. Through two Summer League games, Dybantsa has averaged seven rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks.
He has also been a problem offensively, putting up 25 points per game while shooting 39.4% from the field. And then there’s the number that jumps off the page: 91% from three-point range.
His latest showing was another strong one for Washington. The NBA highlighted his performance after he finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks in the Wizards’ win, a result that pushed the team to 2-0 in Summer League play.
The confidence around Dybantsa isn’t coming from him alone. Wizards Summer League coach TJ Sorrentine said he sees the same defensive upside.
"I think he should be All-Defense. He’s one of those … two-way players.
You just see the size, the length, and the way he moves. 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," Sorrentine said.
Dybantsa has also had plenty of help around him in Las Vegas. Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Deandre Ayton, Khris Middleton, Alex Sarr, and nearly all of Washington’s regular rotation players were there for a minicamp during the past two games.
That support system has given the rookie a strong start, and the fit around him looks clean enough that his defensive ambition doesn’t sound far-fetched. There will still be developmental hurdles ahead, but the Wizards clearly believe the tools are already there.
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