The NBA summer league began this month, and the league's 30 teams descended on Las Vegas to showcase their rookies and young stars.
The tournament's opening day included a marquee matchup Thursday between the Washington Wizards and No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and the Utah Jazz and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson. Peterson, who debuted with Utah at the Salt Lake City summer league Saturday, finished the night with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists as the Jazz lost 92-88. Dybantsa had a game-high 27 points and added seven rebounds and two assists.
"Every time I play against him, it's a battle," Dybantsa said of Peterson after the game. "He always comes out to compete. He beat me three times previous, so this was my first win. I was glad to come out on top."
What can we decipher from the top two picks' first games as NBA players? NBA experts Ben Golliver and Zach Kram weigh in on key takeaways, their best moments and what part of their games had the greatest impact.
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A dazzling debut in the paint
F AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards 2026 draft pick: No. 1 College: BYU Cougars
Dybantsa's offensive approach in his summer league debut can be summed up in two words: aggression and confidence.
The No. 1 pick was the Wizards' lead ball handler for large swaths of Thursday's game, and he wasn't shy about calling his own number. He consistently got to his spots, even against Utah's aggressive help defense, en route to scoring a game-high 27 points in 26 minutes.
Not all of those spots were good spots, however. Just as he did in college, Dybantsa lived off a difficult shot diet Thursday, with far too many contested midrange jumpers. His 7-for-18 showing from the field exposes a clear area in need of refinement. (He also sat out the final clutch moments of the game because of what appeared to be leg cramps.)
But the ease with which Dybantsa penetrated the paint and his ability to get to the free throw line -- his eight attempts would have been 15 if summer league's rules weren't condensing every free throw trip to one shot -- are extremely bullish signs for his scoring prowess at the NBA level.
It's just one game, but Dybantsa showed why the Wizards selected him first -- and won the battle between the top two picks.
The Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick of the 2026 draft. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images Biggest highlight: a rim-rattling dunk over four defenders Late in the first quarter Thursday, Dybantsa beat four Jazz defenders for a highlight-reel slam. First, he accelerated from a triple-threat position to blow by Cody Williams. Then, Dybantsa easily fended off Peterson's attempt to swipe from a help position. And finally, Dybantsa rose between guard Justin Harmon and big man Orlando Robinson and stuffed the ball through the rim.