Darryn Peterson’s first preseason game offered a useful reminder for anyone eager to put AJ Dybantsa on a stopwatch.
The NBA opened its preseason over the weekend, with the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat getting things started Saturday before Sunday night brought a pair of Western Conference games: the Utah Jazz against the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Clippers. Future Hall of Famers like Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry saw some action, but a lot of the attention landed on two top-five picks from Dybantsa’s class making their league debuts of sorts: Peterson and Keaton Wagler.
Wagler’s night did little to change the uneasy feeling from the Las Vegas Summer League. He shot 3-15 from the field and 1-11 from 3-point range, another rough outing for the Wizards rookie class to digest.
Peterson, meanwhile, had already shown plenty in Utah. The No. 2 pick dropped 28 points on 11-for-21 shooting in 27 minutes there, a performance that fueled the belief that he belonged exactly where he landed - and even had some wondering whether he should have been the Wizards’ choice at No. 1 overall.
But preseason brought a very different version of the Kansas guard. In Utah’s win over Denver, Peterson managed just three points in 22 minutes, going 1-for-5 from the floor while adding six rebounds, two assists, and two turnovers. It was a rough debut, plain and simple, and a sign that even the brightest prospects are going to hit some bumps early.
That’s the larger lesson for Wizards fans when it comes to Dybantsa. A couple of shaky performances from a player with this much hype do not suddenly rewrite the scouting report. Peterson’s difficult night does not erase what makes him such a major talent, just as a strong summer league run didn’t mean he was already fully formed.
The same standard should apply to Dybantsa. Nobody should expect him to walk in and average 20 points per game from the jump, and a few uneven nights in preseason or even the regular season would not make him a bust. The patience being asked of Wizards fans has to extend here, too.
And even when the shot isn’t falling, Dybantsa should still find ways to matter. His defensive upside, his ability to get into the paint and force help, his ball-handling, and the way he already carries himself as a vocal leader all point to a player who can influence games right away. The scoring package may take time to fully come together, but the impact can still be there while it develops.
In Other News...
Wizards Preseason Is Exposing A Real AJ Dybantsa Concern
The early look at Washingtons preseason has put a spotlight on a familiar kind of rookie question: how quickly can a top pick become a focal point when the roster already has proven talent around him? AJ Dybantsa enters the season with plenty of upside, but the Wizards are also trying to balance touches, roles and shot quality while leaning on a group that includes established All-NBA-level players. For a team trying to climb out of the leagues lower tier, the fit matters almost as much as the talent.
The bigger concern is what that fit looks like when the ball is moving and the floor is packed. Washingtons shooting profile leaves some room for doubt, and the preseason has made clear that spacing is going to be a central issue if the offense is going to open up for Dybantsa and the rest of the core. The Wizards need their young talent to find cleaner driving lanes and easier decisions, and that puts a premium on which players can punish defenses from outside and keep the half-court from bogging down. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Already Puts A Huge Wizards Decision In Focus
Anthony Davis is heading into his first full season with the Wizards, and even before the games start counting, his long-term future is already hanging over the franchise. The fit is obvious on paper, but the contract picture is anything but, especially with Washington balancing Davis injury history, his age, and a payroll that already has major commitments built into it.
What makes this situation so tricky is that the real conversation is likely to wait until after the season, when both sides can better judge where things stand. If Davis plays well and stays healthy, the Wizards will still have a major decision to make about whether to meet his price or pivot elsewhere, and every step of the season will only sharpen the pressure around that choice. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Gives Wizards Hope As One Big Threat Lingers
Anthony Davis has already given the Wizards something they have badly needed around a roster in transition: a reason to believe the fit can work. His enthusiasm about joining Washington, along with his praise for the groups balance, offers a useful counterpoint to the skepticism that usually follows a franchise trying to reset around a veteran star.
The bigger question, though, is whether the story stays about basketball long enough for Washington to benefit from it. The Wizards have made clear they want to keep Davis, but the trade chatter is unlikely to disappear, especially with the deadline drawing closer and Davis still trying to put recent injury issues behind him. Until he gets on the floor and settles into his new team, the speculation will remain part of the package. [Read more 🡒]