Wizards Make Major AJ Dybantsa Decision Ahead of Rookie Season: Report
The Washington Wizards‘ No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, has clearly shown that he’s one of the top young stars coming into the NBA through several big Summer League performances.
On Tuesday, the Wizards decided to shut down their rookie for the remainder of their Summer League schedule, which is likely a wise decision to protect Dybantsa from any random injuries.
Wizards summer league coach T.J. Sorrentine revealed the news to The Athletic, which also includes the team shutting down their second-year wings Will Riley and Tre Johnson.
Dybantsa played in only two games, averaging seven rebounds, two assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks, playing an average of 25.4 minutes per game. He scored 35 points in his first Summer League game, which tied a rookie record for debuts, and then followed it up with 23 points.
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Along with that, fans got to see Dybantsa take on the Utah Jazz’s No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson, a player who could become Dybantsa’s biggest rival in future NBA seasons. Dybantsa got the better of that duel, potentially proving a point that he deserved to be the top pick.
The Wizards shutting him down will rob fans of another potential measuring stick game for Dybansta as a rookie competitor. Tuesday night’s matchup features the Wizards taking on the Chicago Bulls, led by their rookie phenom, Caleb Wilson.
Wilson also scored 35 points during Summer League, and is averaging 27 points per game, the second-best of all players. That’s giving people plenty to talk about when it comes to the player that went fourth overall, but they’ll have to wait to see him on the court against Dybantsa.
The Wizards are also 2-0 in Dybantsa’s two games. Based on what the team has seen from their Summer League players, they felt the three players got the preparation they needed.
“It's a culmination of camp all the way through the games. It's not just what [everyone has] seen on TV. We've had a good camp, a lot of good practices and shootarounds, and a couple of good games,” Sorrentine said of the team observing Dybantsa, Riley, and Johnson over the past several weeks.
While fans won’t get to watch any more of his performances, the Wizards having Dybantsa healthy for the regular season is the smart move. The last thing they’d want is their rookie to experience a horrific injury before the season even starts.
The NBA has yet to release team schedules for the regular season, which starts in late October. However, Dybantsa should be a significant part of the offense, which should feature guard Trae Young and big man Anthony Davis with him in the Wizards’ starting lineup.
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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM.