Wizards' AJ Dybantsa shows a lot of promise in NBA debut

Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa shows a lot of promise in NBA debut

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Oct 28, 2026 10:16 PM ET

There are some real expectations for the Washington Wizards this season, and some serious excitement that has not existed for the better part of the past decade.

Not only due to the presence of veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis, as well as the return of a young core led by Alex Sarr, but also the arrival of No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.

Dybantsa made his NBA debut on Wednesday night, and even though the Wizards blew a lead and dropped a 121-111 decision to the Cleveland Cavaliers, their prized rookie gave them a lot to be excited about.

AJ Dybantsa gives Wizards promising glimpse of what is ahead in his NBA career

Dybantsa arrived in the NBA with the expectation of being an elite scorer, and he showed flashes of that in Wednesday's debut.

Not only did he record a team-high 19 points in only 27 minutes, but he did it while shooting 8-of-12 from the floor, adding two rebounds and two assists.

Even more than the efficiency and totals is the fact that he already looked like a poised NBA player. He was calm, patient and looked nothing like a rookie playing his first game.

The patience on this play is a great example of how confident he looked.

THE PATIENCE pic.twitter.com/dYGt1iD5QR
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 29, 2026

He also made an immediate highlight-reel play around the rim just minutes into his debut.

SO IT BEGINS pic.twitter.com/5sSC5QRGIA
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 28, 2026

While the additions of Young and Davis are big-name moves that will get some excitement in the short term, there are always a lot of questions surrounding their health and how often they will be available. The long-term excitement comes from players like Dybantsa and Sarr (the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft).

There is still a long way to go before they can build themselves into a serious contender, and it's only one game from Dybantsa, but this is a real reason for optimism in The District. It is the best roster they have had, on paper, in years, and they might actually have a couple of young cornerstone players that a championship-level team could potentially be built around.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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