AJ Dybantsa already has one of the cleaner rookie arrivals in the league, and he added a Halloween win to the resume with a costume that leaned all the way into Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem from “Coming to America.”
The Washington Wizards rookie first overall draft pick has been a bright spot in the team’s 3-3 start to the 2026-27 NBA season, especially after missing the first few games with an ankle injury. Once he got on the floor, Dybantsa wasted little time showing why the Wizards made him the top pick.
His early play has looked polished, and he’s already flashing some veteran habits, including a knack for getting to the free throw line with ease.
Washington’s start has also given the franchise something it hasn’t had in a while. Led by Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the Wizards have already won three games before December for the first time in a couple of years. That may say as much about the teams that came before this one as it does about the current group, but there’s no denying the roster has been reshaped in a way that’s producing results.
There are still questions about how Young, Dybantsa, and Davis will fit together over the long haul, but for now the Wizards have three players who can take over on any night. Early on, the chemistry appears to be coming together.
Washington’s next test comes Monday night against the Orlando Magic, with tipoff set for 7:00 pm ET from Orlando.
In Other News...
AJ Dybantsa Is Already Giving Wizards Fans Real Hope
AJ Dybantsas arrival has given Wizards fans a jolt of optimism that has been hard to come by in recent seasons. The No. 1 overall pick has wasted little time looking comfortable, fitting into the offense alongside Trae Young and showing the kind of two-way presence Washington hoped it was getting when it made him the centerpiece of the draft.
What stands out early is how complete his impact already looks. Dybantsa has been efficient with the ball, active on the glass and disruptive defensively, the sort of early return that can change the mood around a rebuilding team in a hurry. The bigger question now is how quickly that promise can turn into something more lasting once the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Sarr Is Emerging In A Wizards Trend That Actually Matters
Through the first six games, Washington has built an early identity that actually travels: perimeter defense. The Wizards have been the NBAs best team at guarding the three-point line so far, holding opponents to 28.7% shooting from beyond the arc, and that has shown up in the kind of disciplined closeouts and contests that can keep a young roster competitive even when the offense is still finding itself.
Alex Sarr has been a big part of that start, especially when teams try to test Washington above the break. He leads the Wizards in defending those attempts, and the broader picture is even more encouraging for a team trying to establish a defensive standard, with five Washington players showing up among the leagues top 15 in limiting opponents to under 30% on above-the-break threes with at least 100 attempts against them. The question now is whether that early edge can hold once scouting reports sharpen and the schedule starts asking more of it. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards November Test Starts With A Frontcourt Problem In Orlando
November is bringing a real grind for the Wizards, with 15 games packed into 29 days and the first challenge coming against an Orlando team they will see more than once this month. Washington enters the stretch at 3-3, trying to turn a steady start into something more lasting while still sorting through the usual issues that come with a young roster, especially on the glass and in the frontcourt.
The matchup in Orlando already has a different feel because of the injuries on both sides, which shifts the focus toward how Washington handles the interior and whether its rotation can hold up over a heavy month. With multiple meetings against the Magic ahead, this is less about one night than about setting a tone for November, and the Wizards will need more than just effort if they want to keep building momentum through the schedule. [Read more 🡒]