The Washington Wizards drafted AJ Dybantsa with the number one overall pick. They thought he would be a superstar, but nobody expected him to play like a veteran from day one. The 19-year-old missed the first four games of the regular season recovering from an ankle injury. From the moment he returned, Dybantsa has bought into his role and is playing like this year ten, not the start of his career.
Dybantsa had immense defensive potential, but nobody expected to see it in year one. He shut down the Hornets’ two best players on Friday night. Brandon Miller and Naz Reid made just one of 11 combined shots against the rookie. He even pulled the chair on a Reid post-up in the fourth quarter.
It is not just on defense. Dybantsa is helping the Wizards win. He is not hunting stats or trying to get on the highlight reel. The 19-year-old doesn’t care. AJ is making the Wizards look smart and playing the game like a veteran.
AJ Dybantsa has fit into the Wizards' offense seamlessly
The rookie is averaging 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 28.5 minutes per game over his first two. Dybantsa is shooting 56.5 percent from the field and has an effective field goal percentage over 60. The 3-point shooting will take some time, but the 6’9 forward is playing within the flow of the offense.
This is why the Wizards traded for Trae Young. They knew he was an elite offensive creator who would set the table for the young talent. Dybantsa can create his own shots, but even the best rookies are inefficient to start their careers. Having Young get him an open 3-pointer or an easy bucket at the rim makes life easier for the rookie.
The number one overall pick isn’t pressing or trying to put up gaudy stats. He is playing in the flow of the offense and taking the opportunities that come. Most rookies don’t do that, which further shows Dybantsa is special.
AJ Dybantsa looks comfortable to start his NBA career
Sam Vecenie said this about Dybantsa when discussing the rookies on his Game Theory podcast.
“He’s just really confident, calm, and poised out there in a way that’s going to lead to a lot of success for him moving forward in the NBA.”
Wizards fans can see it immediately. Most rookies are nervous in their debut or are trying to impress their new team. Dybantsa was ready. He scored when he saw opportunities and stuck to Washington’s game plan. That isn’t easy to do, which is exactly why the number one overall pick looked like a veteran.
There have been struggles. Dybantsa has three assists and three turnovers in his first two games. He has made just two of his seven 3-point attempts. It is just two games, and the teenager’s first two contests. Dybantsa should only improve from here. That is scary for the rest of the NBA because he is already playing like a veteran on both ends of the floor.
Wizards got the superstar they spent years tanking for
The Wizards won 50 games over the last three seasons combined. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2021 and haven’t finished the regular season with a winning record since 2018. There has been nearly a decade of struggles for the Wizards. They spent years trying to get their next superstar, and the losing finally paid off.
Dybantsa is him. The 6’9 forward was the best scorer in the NCAA last season. He is already showing a special ability to get buckets and more defensive readiness than anyone expected. The teenager is impacting winning on both ends of the floor and looks more like a veteran in his prime than a rookie getting his first taste of the NBA.
He is already efficiently scoring 18 points per game and operating within the Wizards' offense. Dybantsa is getting plenty of chances to score, and he’s delivering. Defenders have to worry about Young and Anthony Davis. That leaves plenty of open space and opportunities for the top pick to attack.
AJ Dybantsa is a future superstar. A teenager playing like a ten-year veteran has an immense ceiling. He will keep improving, and nobody will be surprised if Dybantsa turns into one of the best players on the planet. He is already well on his way, and this is just the start.
The Washington Wizards need to keep putting AJ Dybantsa in positions to succeed. He is a special talent who wants to win. The Wizards have the talent around him. It is all about maximizing it. Trae Young is a key piece in doing just that. Expect him to keep setting up the youngsters and helping Dybantsa blossom.
The rookie will quickly ditch the label of playing like a veteran for the superstar tag. The Wizards got a special talent. Now, they must build a serious contender around him to keep him for years to come.
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