After an impressive start to his first NBA Summer League campaign, the Wizards have officially shut down AJ Dybantsa for the remainder of the event. Summer League head coach T.J. Sorrentine confirmed the decision before Washington’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
The move is a common one around the league, with teams often choosing to rest their top draft picks after only a couple of appearances rather than risk unnecessary injuries ahead of training camp. Washington also shut down second-year wings Will Riley and Tre Johnson.
Although his Summer League stint lasted just two games, Dybantsa made a strong first impression.
He opened his professional career with 27 points, seven rebounds and two steals before following it up with another efficient outing, scoring 23 points in his second appearance.
“It was kind of just testing grounds for me,” Dybantsa told ESPN after what ended up being his final summer league game on Sunday. “Just trying to get used to the game speed, to the plays, to the players and my teammates and the physicality of the game.”
Those two performances marked Dybantsa’s first competitive action since the NCAA Tournament in March, when he finished with 35 points and 10 rebounds in his college team’s 79-71 first-round loss to Texas.
Despite the short sample size, the 19-year-old showed exactly why he entered the draft as the consensus top prospect. His scoring ability, confidence with the ball and comfort against NBA-level athletes stood out immediately, giving Washington plenty of reason for optimism heading into the regular season.
The Wizards still have one remaining Summer League game against the Los Angeles Clippers before the Summer League playoffs begin, but Dybantsa’s work is already complete.
Rather than push him through additional exhibition games, the organization has opted to protect one of its biggest long-term investments and shift its focus toward preparing him for his first full NBA season.
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