The Washington Wizards have plenty of reasons to feel good about where things are headed this season, and AJ Dybantsa is a big part of that buzz. With veterans and young talent mixed together, there’s at least a real case that this group could make noise in the playoff race. But the loudest praise for the No. 1 overall pick came from Trae Young, who sees Dybantsa as much more than just a promising rookie.
Young laid out his view of Dybantsa during a recent appearance on ESPN’s NBA show, ‘NBA Today,’ and he didn’t hold back on how high he thinks the ceiling is.
“AJ, he’s one of one for sure. He’s definitely confident in himself, but he has all the reason to.
The work he puts in and what he does on the court, sometimes it’s crazy to even think about,” Young said “You wouldn’t even think a player can get from one point to the next as fast as he can. He’s so athletic and can score at all levels.
He’s a very smart player, a cerebral player. He’s gonna have such a long and amazing career.
He’s gonna be one of the future faces of the league for sure for a long time coming, and I’m happy he’s a part of my team.”
Dybantsa’s preseason gave a glimpse of why people are excited. He appeared in four games, logging a little more than 21 minutes per contest, and put up 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He shot 43.9 percent from the field, 18.2 percent from 3-point range and 61.9 percent from the free-throw line.
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A.J. Dybantsa's Debut Is Suddenly In Doubt For Wizards Opener
A.J. Dybantsas first regular-season game with the Wizards is suddenly up in the air after the rookie came out of the preseason finale with an ankle injury. Washington has labeled him day-to-day, and the uncertainty comes at a tricky moment with the opener against Milwaukee approaching and the team still trying to settle its rotation.
Brian Keefe was cautious when asked about the rookies status, saying Washington is handling the situation on a day-to-day basis and stopping short of locking in Dybantsa for the Bucks game. The Wizards have not put out any firm return timeline, which leaves the rookies debut as one of the first early-season questions hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Just Raised The Stakes For Washington's Young Core
Anthony Davis is already putting a bigger target on Washingtons season, and it comes with the kind of confidence the Wizards have been trying to build around their young core. With AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George and Trae Young giving the roster a fresh look, the group is still light on postseason mileage, but Davis made clear he believes the pieces are there to push into the NBA Playoffs despite the teams recent growing pains.
The early signs have been mixed, which only makes his message more interesting. Washington has shown some encouraging preseason moments and a few underlying strengths, but the larger question is whether that translates once the games count for real, especially with so many key players still learning how to win together. For a roster trying to move past uncertainty, Davis just added some real expectation to the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Bilal Coulibaly Just Raised The Stakes On Washingtons Rebuild
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Coulibaly is still very much part of the conversation in Washington, but the lack of a deal adds another layer to what the Wizards are trying to build. The organization wants more consistent performance before making a long-term commitment, and the next chapter is likely to keep this situation open into next summer, when the team will have to navigate a more complicated decision on his future. [Read more 🡒]