The Washington Wizards have defeated the Utah Jazz, 92-88, in a highly anticipated matchup between the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa, and the No. 2 overall pick, Darryn Peterson.
Dybantsa got the last laugh despite having an inefficient night from the floor as he ended the game with 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. He shot 7-18 from the floor (38.9 FG%) and missed all five of his three-point shot attempts. Despite that, he tied with Blake Griffin for the most points scored in a summer league debut.
Meanwhile, Darryn Peterson finished with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists, eight turnovers, and nine fouls (10 allowed in the Summer League). He shot 6-18 from the field (33.3 FG%) and 2-7 from behind the three-point line (28.5 3P%).
Following the game, Dybantsa spoke to the sideline reporter about facing Peterson tonight, and his competitive side instantly came out, admitting that he remembers their record against each other and is glad to get his first victory against him.
“I mean, it’s great. Every time I play against him, it’s a battle. He always comes out to compete. Beat me three times previously, but this was my first win, so I was just glad to come out on top,” said Dybantsa.
Peterson also spoke to the media at the postgame scrum, where he spoke his mind on AJ Dybantsa as well.
“I look forward to every game we play. Obviously, this was a big one,” said Peterson.
Dybantsa started the game strong, and within just five minutes of action, he justified why he was a lock for one of the top-three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. And also why the Wizards have likely made the right choice in making him the first overall pick.
The game already looks slowed down for him, something that often takes years for players to attain. The 6’9 forward has long arms that allow him to finish over defenders and also help on the defensive end with steals and blocks.
And on the offensive end, he’s a natural scorer who can also impact the game off-ball. He picks his spots and waits for the defense to make mistakes while staying in control. Dybantsa is very active with his rebounding and will prove to be a pivotal piece in the Wizards’ pursuit of a championship in 2026-27.
There was a small concern during the game when Dybantsa was seen grabbing his ankle in pain. But he clarified after the game that it seemed to just be soreness, and he hopes to be back in the next game.
Over the past few seasons, it has become clear that teams sometimes look for excuses to safeguard their top prospects from any potential injury. Often, they shut down their Summer League early. But Dybantsa’s resilient mentality is also a green flag for the potential future franchise player of the Wizards.
Meanwhile, for the Jazz, even though Peterson played well, his nine player fouls ended up being costly. The game could have boiled down to a single possession had he not conceded as many free throws as he did. Peterson seems to be the kind of player who takes a loss personally, so it will certainly be interesting to see how Peterson responds to his first loss against Dybantsa.
