For the fourth time in their basketball careers, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson shared the floor. But for the first time in their rivalry, the stage was the NBA Summer League.
Dybantsa earned his first victory over Peterson, leading the way with 27 points, seven rebounds, and two steals as the Washington Wizards captured a 92-88 victory over the Utah Jazz. His 27-point performance also tied Blake Griffin for the most points ever scored by a No. 1 overall pick in a Summer League debut.
Peterson impressed as well, finishing with 24 points and playing with confidence throughout the night, though eight turnovers and inefficient shooting ultimately proved costly.
What began as one of high school basketball’s most anticipated rivalries carried over to the Summer League, where the nation’s former No. 1 and No. 2 high school recruits renewed their battle in front of a new audience. Peterson entered the matchup with a 3-0 edge over his rival, including an unforgettable 61-point performance and game-winning shot against Dybantsa’s 49 points in a legendary high school showdown in February 2025.
Their third matchup came in January of their freshman season. Peterson and Kansas knocked off Dybantsa’s BYU squad 90-82, with Peterson contributing 18 points in the victory.
This time, however, the script flipped. After the win, Dybantsa was asked about the experience of previous and possible matchups with Peterson:
“Every time I play against him, it’s a battle. He always comes out to compete. He beat me three times previously; that was my first win. I was just glad to come out on top.”
After years of memorable battles, the latest chapter showed why Dybantsa and Peterson could be one of the NBA’s defining rivalries for years to come.
AJ Dybantsa Starts Strong With 5 Points in 5 Minutes
On the first play of the game, AJ Dybantsa came out strong defensively with an interception off a Peterson pass before missing a floater. On the following possession, he responded with a strong drive before finishing an up-and-under layup for his first Summer League points.
Not too long after, Dybantsa captured a rebound from a missed Peterson free throw, then quickly threw an amazing cross-court dime to Will Riley for the and-one slam!
Later, with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter, Dybantsa secured another rebound and got downhill. After making contact with his defender, he cashed in a fadeaway while getting fouled for an and-one, giving him five points in the first five minutes.
Dybantsa continued to attack the rim throughout the first quarter, finishing with 11 points and a steal. His biggest highlight of the quarter came from a jaw-dropping poster dunk against two Jazz defenders.
However, in the second quarter, Dybantsa missed all four of his field-goal attempts. He stayed aggressive by drawing fouls to get to the line and ended his first half with 19 points.
AJ Dybantsa Carries His Aggressiveness Into the Second Half
Dybantsa’s scoring ability continued to thrive in the third quarter. Following a successful step-through jumper, he displayed his impressive hang time with another attack to the basket, finishing with an up-and-under layup.
While his three-point shots weren’t dropping, Dybantsa settled for paint touches, finishing through strong contests near the rim. On the defensive side, he finished possessions with aggressive rebounding while pushing the pace in transition.
After dealing with some discomfort, Dybantsa sat out the rest of the game as his team secured the victory. When asked in a postgame interview what happened, he explained it was just leg soreness.
Darryn Peterson Suffers Difficulties as the Main Ball Handler
After some struggles in the first quarter, Darryn Peterson looked aggressive in his scoring and playmaking. He finally found his first field goal toward the end of the opening quarter with a fadeaway three-pointer from the wing.
In the second quarter, he got going following a give-and-go running floater. Later in the quarter, Peterson scored his third field goal by attacking the defense and draining another floater.
For most of the second half, Peterson forced his way to the free-throw line and made the most of his opportunities.
Even though his shot wasn’t falling, Peterson tried to stay active by getting his teammates involved with great passing. Yet, he lost the ball frequently as the primary ball handler, accumulating eight turnovers alongside only three assists.
This rough game means nothing to Peterson as a player in the long term. Many current NBA superstars had a few bad games in the Summer League and went on to have great careers. Peterson still has a wealth of potential and will only get better as time goes on.
What Stood Out From Dybantsa and His Value to the Wizards
AJ Dybantsa showcased a lot in his first game, but what stood out most was his ability to play with finesse around the rim.
When he attacks the paint, Dybantsa controls his pace to read the defense. Then, when he has the advantage, he wastes no time making the most of his opportunity. Even when he has to adjust mid-air, he does so flawlessly.
This provides the Wizards with better paint finishing, resolving a critical need after the team finished second-to-last in the league with only 41.3 points per game in the paint.
Dybantsa also showed high-level rebounding potential, which is heavily needed for the team. The Wizards finished as a bottom-five team in rebounds per game last season.
The future looks bright for the No. 1 overall pick, and the Washington Wizards finally have a star in the making.
