The Washington Wizards knew AJ Dybantsa was special when they drafted him number one overall, but the teenager is a jump shot away from being a star already. The 6’9 forward was the best scorer in the NCAA last season. Everyone expected Dybantsa to be able to get into the paint and score at will. It has been the rest of the teenager’s game that has surprised.
Dybantsa is playing like a 10-year veteran. He is fully bought into his role and not pressing. Number one picks often try hard to live up to the hype immediately. AJ is playing within the flow of the offense and surprising everyone with his immediate defensive impact.
Dybantsa missed the first four games with an ankle injury, but was impactful from the jump when he returned. He is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal in 30.5 minutes per game to start his NBA career. The teenager will play more, and developing a consistent jump shot will make him virtually unstoppable.
AJ Dybantsa is a jump shot away from being impossible to guard
Dybantsa is already shooting 46.5 percent from the field, but just 25.0 percent on 3.0 3-point attempts per game. He shot just 33.1 percent on the shorter NCAA line last season. Nobody expected the 19-year-old to be a lights-out shooter from the jump, but it is the missing piece.
Dybantsa isn’t a Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander level of offensive creator. He is going to be more of a scorer and potential two-way force. The Wizards wisely locked in Trae Young as the point guard to feed him the ball.
Fans have already seen that Dybantsa is a downhill force and mid-range bucket-getter. Adding that third level prevents defenders from sagging off. If they have to guard AJ beyond the 3-point line, the floor will be wide open for the entire team.
Most rookies struggle to make shots. Luka shot 32.1 percent from the 3-point range over his first two NBA seasons. SGA hit 35.4 percent. Those are below both players' career averages. Dybantsa has time to find his shot, and it should be a point of emphasis moving forward.
Wizards need to help AJ Dybantsa reach his ceiling
The 19-year-old is a hard worker, but the franchise needs to maximize him. It is on the Wizards to put the right pieces around Dybantsa and help him expand his game. He is an elite driver and finisher. Washington must improve his jumper and put him in the right spots to score 25-plus every night.
The Wizards have seen the value of veteran talent this season. They spent the last three years rebuilding, and the young players struggled. With Young and Anthony Davis, Washington is 4-4 and is quickly finding out the ideal roles for their developing talent.
Dybantsa is a star, but one player isn’t winning a championship. He needs the right roster around him that maximizes his skill set. The Wizards paid Ice Trae to be a long-term piece. Washington needs to figure out who else fits, while developing Dybantsa’s game.
AJ Dybantsa has the potential to be a top 5 player in the NBA
Dybantsa is likely to score over 20 points per game as a rookie. Since 2012, the only players to do that are Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, Victor Wembanyama, and Cooper Flagg. Those are all superstars, except for Zion.
It is not just his scoring. Dybantsa has been a plus defender from jump. He has casually been putting up numbers as a teenager without pressing. That is what elite players do.
Dybantsa could be the next Anthony Edwards if his jumper improves. A 25-point-per-game scorer on efficiency, capable of lifting his team to new heights. That is lofty praise, but it is also why the Wizards spent three years tanking and didn’t stop after landing Alex Sarr. Washington wanted a true alpha, and got one in AJ.
Becoming a league-average 3-point shooter puts defenders in a bind. They can sag off AJ Dybantsa right now and force him to take difficult mid-rangers or contested shots at the rim. Getting that bit of extra space changes the thought process. The Washington Wizards are already working on it. Expect Dybantsa to make the leap and become elite. The teenager just needs time.
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