AJ Dybantsa didn’t waste any time showing Washington exactly what it got.
In his Wizards debut Thursday night in Las Vegas, the reigning top pick stepped into the first of what figures to be plenty of top-pick head-to-heads and delivered a performance that left little room for doubt. He flashed the athleticism, passing touch and downhill force that make him such a tough cover, but the clearest message was simpler than all that: when Dybantsa has the ball, good things usually follow.
The biggest takeaway from the night was his scoring. That was never supposed to be the question anyway.
Dybantsa led the NCAA in scoring as a freshman at BYU, putting up 25.5 points per game, so the offensive upside was always part of the package. One game into his pro career, though, he showed just how quickly that scoring can translate.
Dybantsa finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 7-for-18 shooting, and he added two steals and a block. He also delivered the kind of highlight plays that announce a player’s arrival, including an explosive dunk that had the arena buzzing.
He got to his spots throughout the night, used his soft touch to finish, and had no trouble scoring around the rim. Even without his three-point shot falling, he still found ways to pile up points and stay in control of the game.
That’s what makes him such a problem. With his size, athleticism, physicality, skill and fundamentals all working together, Dybantsa looks built to make an immediate impact for Washington. A 20-plus-point rookie season is well within reach, and based on what he showed in his first game, it might not even be the ceiling.
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The Wizards Summer League opener against Utah came with plenty of draft-night buzz, thanks to the presence of top names like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. But the most encouraging development for Washington was Tre Johnson, the second-year guard who looked far more comfortable and assertive than he did during a disappointing rookie campaign.
Johnsons night stood out because it felt like more than just a hot start. He scored 26 points and showed the kind of offensive polish Washington has been waiting to see, giving the team a reason to believe his second season could look very different from his first. For a roster still searching for young building blocks, that kind of progress matters. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Just Sent Wizards Fans A New Reason To Wonder
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The timing matters because Davis future has been the subject of plenty of chatter, even as extension conversations are reportedly in motion. Washington has reason to feel encouraged by the attention he paid to the team in Las Vegas, but until anything is signed, the uncertainty around his status will keep hanging over the Wizards summer. [Read more 🡒]