Following up his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday, No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa took the court again in Las Vegas for the Washington Wizards and scored 23 points in Sunday’s 104-85 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Dybantsa also grabbed 7 rebounds with 3 steals and 2 blocks, demonstrating the defensive presence he can provide for Washington as a rookie.
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His most exciting defensive sequence on Sunday may have been when he blocked a 3-point attempt by fellow rookie Darius Acuff, showing he can close out on outside shooters. He then hustled down the floor in transition to score a fast-break layup.
“I’ve been telling my trainers I think I could be a first-team All-Defensive team guy,” Dybantsa told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “In college, I was being lazy a lot on the defensive end. Just letting guys blow by me, not being a help side. But definitely want to bring it to the next level.”
Wizards Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine believes he can be an all-defensive team player.
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You just see the size and the length and the way he moves.” Sorrentine told The Athletic’s Josh Robbins. “Once he nails down the way the NBA is played — he’s a sponge, so it’s going to happen quick — the sky’s the limit.”
The Wizards are scheduled to play two more games in Las Vegas, unless they advance to the Summer League playoffs. But Dybantsa might be done for now. NBA teams often limit their lottery picks to two games of action this soon after joining the league, according to Youngmisuk.
Dybantsa averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in the Wizards’ two games.
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If he showed one weakness, it was with his outside shot. Dybantsa shot a combined 1-for-11 on 3-pointers in Vegas. But that wasn’t a featured part of his game in college, either. During his lone season at BYU, Dybantsa shot 33% on 148 attempts.
Sunday’s other lottery pick standouts
Acuff finished with 12 points, shooting 4-for-14 (and 0-for-4 on 3s).
Darryn Peterson scored 23 points with 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the Utah Jazz’s 104-82 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 25 points in three Summer League games.
Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler also tallied 23 points, shooting 4-for-7 on 3s, with 4 assists.
Brayden Burries scored 26 points, shooting 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 90-80 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
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Yaxel Lendeborg scored 14 in the Golden State Warriors’ 104-79 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Aday Mara notched 10 points and 9 boards. (OKC’s other first-round pick, Bennett Stirtz, scored 13.)
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