THREE HOURS BEFORE probably the most anticipated sport on the Las Vegas summer season league, AJ Dybantsa was on a coach’s desk. He was getting a therapeutic massage and therapy contained in the 26,000-square-foot ballroom that serves because the Washington Wizards’ facility at Mandalay Bay.
On the identical time, assistant coach Cody Toppert was working Dybantsa by video clips on an iPad to point out the No. 1 decide within the 2026 draft the way to assault defenses. No. 2 decide Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz have been on deck first.
What occurred subsequent was regular earlier than a regular-season NBA sport however uncommon at summer season league due to the back-to-back contests: Dybantsa stepped onto the Wizards’ follow courtroom to do some warmup taking pictures, taking midrange photographs, sending 3-pointers from all around the courtroom, working towards shot-creation strikes and dealing on free throws for over half-hour.
From his pregame routine to his 6-foot-9 body to his considerate interviews, Dybantsa appears, acts and feels like a franchise participant. The Wizards, who haven’t made it previous the primary spherical since 2017, have gone 50-196 over the previous three seasons. They want the 19-year-old to be nice.
“I do not need to sound cocky,” Dybantsa’s father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa Sr., advised ESPN. “However he was born prepared.”
Dybantsa outdueled Peterson in a 92-88 win, scoring 27 factors and grabbing seven rebounds in simply 26 minutes. He added 23 factors and 7 extra boards in opposition to the Sacramento Kings in his second — and last — summer season league matchup. He grew to become the primary No. 1 decide to attain 20-plus factors in every of his first two video games on the Las Vegas summer season league, in line with ESPN Analysis. He did this regardless of taking pictures simply 1-of-11 from 3-point vary.
“He is good,” Wizards level guard Trae Younger mentioned. “He will be nice. He is already good now. However folks do not perceive, I see sure issues that he may even be higher at. And [that’s with him being] already the No. 1 decide.
“He made [scoring 27] look straightforward.”
The vibes across the Wizards have been excessive final week with your complete roster in Las Vegas, together with Younger and Anthony Davis, for whom Washington traded in separate offers at midseason. Gamers attended Dybantsa’s extremely anticipated debut after which attended Younger’s information convention saying his new four-year, $212.8 million contract the following morning.
With Davis and Younger — together with current first-round picks Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and Will Riley — the Wizards have entered the following part of their reconstruction. With Dybantsa’s arrival, the strain is on to be aggressive and make the playoffs for the primary time since 2021.
If Dybantsa’s summer season league debut is a style of issues to come back, Wizards proprietor Ted Leonsis shall be thrilled. On one first-half play in opposition to Utah, Dybantsa drove previous two Jazz defenders, quickly shedding the ball in air earlier than punching in a nasty two-handed dunk that was punctuated by the rookie screaming and flexing his muscular tissues.
Leonsis observed a fan behind the Wizards bench celebrating greater than Dybantsa. He hopes it is a preview of what followers will see at Capital One Enviornment this season.
“I used to be watching this man over there,” Leonsis advised ESPN at halftime. “That dunk bought him out of his seat, and that is what I am speaking about.
“[Dybantsa is] form of the next-generation prototype. And that is simply his first sport.”
DYBANTSA WAS RAISED to handle this second. Ace Dybantsa, a believer in self-discipline and accountability, had his three youngsters do 100 pushups day by day beginning after they have been 5. He made certain of it by putting in a digicam so he might watch them whereas he was at work.
“It is known as powerful love,” Ace mentioned. “Make him and his sisters accountable since they have been infants. In case you do not do that, this can occur. That is simply the way in which they work.”
AJ was first allowed to do media interviews on digicam within the seventh grade. Ace, who’s from the Republic of Congo, watched every one and critiqued how his son might enhance, stating repeated “umms” or leaning an excessive amount of on phrases akin to “You recognize what I am saying?” He would additionally appropriate AJ’s posture.
It is no surprise Dybantsa is comfy in entrance of cameras and a big media scrum. Leonsis could not assist however discover how Dybantsa’s character reminds him of that of an all-time D.C. legend: Washington Capitals famous person Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s main profession aim scorer.
“What I used to be impressed with was once we introduce him to folks, he makes eye contact, he asks, ‘What’s his identify?’ Shakes his hand. He is a really magnanimous character,” mentioned Leonsis, who has received a Stanley Cup as proprietor of the Capitals. “It jogged my memory, I hate to say this, of Alex Ovechkin, the place he simply lights up the room.
“Alex’s mom was his agent. Here is [Dybantsa’s] dad being his agent. So I simply had a very good vibe about it.”
His on-court presence is simply as spectacular. John Wall, the Wizards’ No. 1 decide in 2010, who was in attendance for Dybantsa’s debut, and others have drawn comparisons between Dybantsa and Corridor of Famer Tracy McGrady.
“I’ve seen some [reporters] power me to say it is form of like Tracy [McGrady] and Kobe [Bryant] reimagined,” Dybantsa mentioned of him and Peterson forming a rivalry whereas within the league. “They form of gasoline it up.”
His first basket got here on a drive together with his left hand earlier than he scored on a reverse together with his proper hand in visitors that appeared harking back to McGrady. He used his energy to attract contact and shed defenders. Dybantsa was 12-for-14 from the free throw line below the one free throw rule the NBA was testing at summer season league. He dealt with the ball and used his dimension on the glass to common seven rebounds in his two outings.
Dybantsa was additionally decided to point out his defensive potential after feeling he was “lazy” on that finish whereas at BYU. He had 5 steals and three blocks mixed in his two video games.
On a sequence in opposition to Sacramento, he defended a Kings ball handler full courtroom and compelled the ball out of bounds at midcourt. After Sacramento inbounded the ball, Dybantsa trapped a Kings participant right into a turnover together with his lengthy arms. On one other possession later within the sport, he switched onto Sacramento’s 7-1 Maxime Raynaud and used his lengthy wingspan, getting the middle to go the ball.
Whereas it was in opposition to summer season league competitors, opponents shot 2-for-16 from the sphere when Dybantsa was the closest defender, in line with GeniusIQ.
“I have been telling my trainers I believe I may very well be a first-team All-Defensive Crew man,” Dybantsa advised reporters of his defensive ceiling after his final sport of summer season league.
Wizards summer season league coach T.J. Sorrentine acknowledged that Dybantsa bought drained dealing with a bigger load: He went 1-for-11 from behind the arc in summer season league. It was the No. 1 decide’s first motion since Texas beat BYU within the first spherical of the NCAA match March 19, when Dybantsa had 35 factors and 10 rebounds however shot simply 1-for-7 from 3.
Younger — sporting a blue warmup prime that learn “Washington DC Basketball” on the again — sat courtside with Davis and the remainder of the staff to assist Dybantsa in his debut. Younger mentioned Dybantsa will determine the way to take extra “straightforward photographs” and can profit from catch-and-shoot alternatives with him and Davis.
“There’s a few photographs that he turned down as a result of he is aware of he can get to the basket,” Younger mentioned. “The NBA is completely different. Generally there’s so many video games, it’s worthwhile to take the simple shot. He’ll study. That is a part of being a younger participant on this league.
“And that is why you will have us round him.”
AS YOUNG WALKED into Ballroom 4 within the 4 Seasons on Friday morning, forward of the information convention to announce his re-signing, he was greeted by a well-known and distinct voice.
“Everyone, welcome Trae Younger!” Davis bellowed to a room full of over 50 Wizards staffers and media.
Younger smiled. He and Davis have developed an particularly chummy rapport of their restricted time collectively since Washington traded for Younger in January and Davis in February.
The 2 strikes accelerated the Wizards’ reconstruction effort, which had been in Section 1 — the deconstruction part — of a four-part plan. However Michael Winger, president of Monumental Basketball, and basic supervisor Will Dawkins noticed a chance so as to add the 2 former All-Stars to mentor and assist lead their younger core of Sarr, George, Johnson, Riley and Dybantsa.
Whereas Davis shall be eligible to signal an extension in August, the staff has time to resolve what it needs to do with two years remaining on his contract. And regardless of Davis’ identify being linked early in free company to the Golden State Warriors and their pursuit of LeBron James, the massive man walked onto the ground July 9 trying wholesome and smiling in a Wizards sleeveless hoodie and shorts after Dybantsa and the staff completed their morning shootaround.
Requested if he has to get in Davis’ ear about wanting to remain in Washington, Younger mentioned he has had conversations with him.
“I ain’t on it an excessive amount of,” Younger mentioned with a smile. “I believe he is aware of the place he needs to be proper now.”
Final 12 months, Younger mentioned forward of his seventh NBA season that it could be his most vital. He injured his knee 5 video games into the marketing campaign in Atlanta and performed in 5 extra after returning in December earlier than being traded.
Younger, who appeared in 5 video games for Washington in 2026, believes the commerce “was a blessing in disguise” as a result of he’s “positively the place I should be” in D.C. The four-time All-Star needs to repay Washington’s religion in him and mentioned the Wizards are going to get one of the best model of him.
“While you’ve been to the place I have been to and you recognize the kind of participant you might be, you recognize what group you have to be in,” Younger mentioned. “And once you’re not being talked about it, that is motivating. Clearly, I do know it may very well be worse than what I am feeling, however on the identical time I am very motivated to be again within the dialog of the place I needs to be and the place I have been earlier than.”
Younger, who has averaged 25.1 factors and 9.8 assists in his profession and led the league in assists in 2024-25, mentioned he has been including new facets to his sport, together with off-the-ball wrinkles.
“Individuals suppose I am only a ball-dominant particular person,” Younger mentioned. “It is hilarious to me. The perfect model might not be probably the most factors, most assists. It may very well be. However on the identical time, I am engaged on so many issues proper now that I simply can’t wait to play.
“I bought guys who can create double-teams, who can drive. And even AJ’s going to be creating double-teams. You simply by no means know.”
Younger mentioned Wizards gamers shall be getting collectively once more in Los Angeles this summer season for extra work and bonding. Dybantsa is trying ahead to figuring out with Younger and Davis and studying as a lot as he can from them.
“While you’re enjoying with a man of that stature, I am going to positively get straightforward photographs from him if nothing else,” Dybantsa mentioned of Younger. “[AD] was the No. 1 decide a few years again, so he is been by loads of the stuff that I’ve bought to undergo.”
With Davis and a younger core itching to lastly win some video games, Younger thinks the Wizards could make severe noise within the East. After watching Dybantsa, Younger mentioned he was prepared to begin the season now.
“This staff will be tremendous particular,” Younger mentioned. “We will obtain no matter we need to, particularly if we have now all people wholesome.
“We will achieve this many issues, man. … I simply can’t wait to play.”
