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AJ Dybantsa arrived at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday and confirmed everything the hype promised. The No. 1 overall pick finished with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in 26 minutes as the Washington Wizards beat the Utah Jazz 92-88 in the NBA Summer League opener. Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick, gave him everything he could handle with 24 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds on the other side.
Hall of Famer Paul Pierce was seated near the baseline and lasted about 12 minutes before heading for the exits, telling those around him that he had seen enough.
What Dybantsa showed in his first NBA Summer League game
Dybantsa missed all five of his outside shots and the game itself was far from clean. Both teams combined for 72 fouls, only 60 field goals and 36 total turnovers. Summer League basketball in July is not meant to look polished, and it did not.
What it was meant to do was show flashes. Dybantsa delivered those steadily. His ability to absorb contact and still finish at the rim stood out throughout the game. He found spots on the floor, created angles against physical defenders and demonstrated the kind of drawing-contact instinct that translates to the real NBA regardless of any July shooting chart. One drive in particular cut through four defenders and finished with a dunk that brought the building to its feet.
Peterson showed similar qualities from the other side. He created offense from difficult situations, worked through screens, pulled up cleanly and found open space that his teammates created around him. Both players spent relatively little time matched up directly against each other, which frustrated some fans in attendance, but there was still enough head-to-head to feel what this rivalry might become.
What the Dybantsa and Peterson matchup means going forward
Both players acknowledged their history. They have faced each other four times now, with Dybantsa getting his first win on Thursday. The comfort they have competing against each other was visible, and both suggested they expect this to continue throughout their careers.
The Wizards and Jazz are running parallel rebuilds, each leaning on youth and development while adding pieces around their respective young stars. Washington signed Trae Young to a long-term extension this offseason and added Deandre Ayton and Khris Middleton. Dybantsa enters a roster with experienced veterans who can help accelerate his growth. Utah lost Walker Kessler in restricted free agency but builds around Peterson alongside Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. Jazz coach Will Hardy sat courtside Thursday watching both young players closely.
What comes next for Dybantsa and the Wizards
Dybantsa’s next Summer League game comes Sunday, July 12, against the Sacramento Kings. The NBA Summer League runs through July 19. His debut removed the anxiety of the unknown and gave the basketball world its first real look at what the top pick can do in a professional setting.
The rivalry with Peterson is early and organic. Neither player has manufactured it. The competition shapes itself naturally whenever they share a floor, and with both franchises building toward the same window, this is likely only the beginning.
SOURCE: Yahoo
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