The Washington Wizards haven’t had a lot of moments worth celebrating over the past few decades. But Sunday in Las Vegas, rookie AJ Dybantsa gave them one.
The 19-year-old No. 1 overall pick put up 23 points, 7 rebounds, 5 stocks and 2 assists in 24 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. That part is impressive but not surprising. What stood out more was what happened after the 104-85 win.
Dybantsa looked into a camera and talked about culture. Not the usual rookie cliches about working hard or staying humble. He said something that landed differently.
“It just shows that the culture is shifting in D.C.,” he said. “We have a new team, new vets that just want to show love to the youngins’, and I think we’re gonna be great this year.”
Why his words matter more than his points
Dybantsa is 19. He wasn’t alive the last time this franchise made the conference finals in 1979. He was a toddler when they last made the second round in 2017. But he knows the history. That’s the part that felt real.
The Wizards’ roster has been completely overhauled since Michael Winger and Will Dawkins took over in 2023. Only Anthony Gill might return as the 15th man. Everyone else joined in 2024 or later. The team went 50-196 over the last three seasons, bottoming out on purpose to stockpile young talent like Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and now Dybantsa.
But the real shift might be in the vibes. The entire roster showed up courtside for Thursday’s Summer League win over the Jazz. Bub Carrington took pictures for the NBA. The squad also packed Young’s press conference when he signed his four-year, $212 million max extension. Carrington asked if Young would go by “The Wizard” as a new nickname. Everyone laughed.
It’s not normal for a whole NBA roster to show up to Summer League games and a press conference on back-to-back days. That level of buy-in doesn’t happen by accident.
Will Riley might be the deeper story here
Dybantsa got the headlines. But Will Riley quietly stole the show on Sunday. The 6-foot-9 wing dropped 32 points on 9-of-14 shooting with 6 threes, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. He scored 7 in the first half and 25 in the second, looking unconscious from deep.
Riley explained his growth as a playmaker after mostly playing off-ball last season.
“I’ve been on the ball a little more this year, so just trying to fine-tune my handle, making reads,” he said. “When I get in the paint, knowing there’s a guy open. Trying to make those reads consistently, to the point where the defense will break down.”
The former Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year averaged 14.6 points on 47% shooting in February last season, then 15.3 in March. If he can handle backup point guard minutes behind Trae Young, he’ll have a path to real playing time on a crowded depth chart.
The Wizards play the Bulls on Tuesday in Summer League. But the real season starts in October. For the first time in a while, that actually sounds interesting.
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