AJ Dybantsa hasn’t played a single NBA minute yet and he’s already turning heads inside the Washington Wizards locker room. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft is getting rave reviews from guys who’ve been through the league grind. Will Riley, heading into his second season with the Wizards, didn’t hold back when asked what stands out about Dybantsa early on.
“Honestly, how intelligent he is,” Riley told Athlon Sports’ Josh Valdez. “He’s a very smart player for sure. Because I remember when I came in, adjusting to the defense and stuff (was challenging), but he gets it right away. He’s already there. On offense, you guys know how special he is, so just that type of stuff is very impressive.”
High praise from a guy who went through his own rookie growing pains last season. Riley knows exactly how steep the learning curve can be. Dybantsa, though, is reportedly picking up defensive schemes and offensive reads faster than most first-year players. That basketball IQ stuff matters. A lot.
And it’s not just the IQ that has people talking. Dybantsa is also making bold predictions before his first Summer League game. The rookie sat down with local media and laid out some clear goals for his debut season.
“Long-term goal, I mean, definitely win a championship. Um, it’s pretty easy, um, to say it, but it’s definitely not easy to do it. But a short-term goal, I would say, um, win the playoffs. I mean, not win the playoffs. Make it to the playoffs in year one, definitely.”
So the kid wants to drag the Wizards back to the postseason in his first year. Washington hasn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2021. That’s a bold ask for any rookie, let alone one who’s still figuring out NBA travel and the pace of the pro game. But Dybantsa isn’t backing down.
He was also asked about Rookie of the Year. His take? Winning comes first. “I definitely wanna win it, but it’s not like my main attention. Definitely wanna get more wins first. If we make the playoffs, I think ROY will come.”
That’s the kind of talk that gets a fanbase hyped. The Wizards have been stuck in the lottery for years. A generational talent like Dybantsa might be the player who finally changes the trajectory.
One more thing that got the locker room buzzing this week: Patrick Ewing is joining the Wizards coaching staff. Dybantsa welcomed the news with straight-up excitement. Having a Hall of Fame big man around to lean on? That’s a cheat code for a young player learning the ropes.
Fans will get their first real look at Dybantsa on Thursday when the Wizards face the Jazz in their Summer League opener. Summer League is always a mixed bag — some guys look like superstars against second-stringers, others shrink. But if the early reviews from teammates are any indication, Dybantsa might be the real deal.
Either way, it’s going to be fun watching him try to back up that playoff prediction.
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