The NBA’s annual showcase for rookies and fringe players lands in Las Vegas tonight. All 30 teams, 11 days, 76 games – and the marquee matchup to open it: AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards host Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. No. 1 versus No. 2 in the 2026 draft, first night, prime time.
Who is AJ Dybantsa
The Wizards took Dybantsa with the top pick last month over Peterson and Cameron Boozer (Duke, No. 3). The 6-foot-9 forward played one season at BYU, averaging 25.5 points on 51% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 35 starts – and led all of Division I in scoring. The last player to lead D-I in scoring AND go first overall was Glenn Robinson out of Purdue, back in 1994.
Before college, Dybantsa captained the United States to the 2025 FIBA Under-19 World Cup title, where he was named tournament MVP. His mid-range mechanics draw comparisons to Kevin Durant and Victor Wembanyama – the ability to rise and shoot over almost any defender. He’s 19 years old, and Washington is building around him after three years of rebuilding.
The rest of opening week
Peterson (No. 2, Kansas, Utah Jazz) faces immediate scrutiny tonight alongside Dybantsa.
Cameron Boozer (No. 3, Memphis Grizzlies) and Caleb Wilson (No. 4, Chicago Bulls) square off July 10 at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video – the week’s second major prospect matchup.
All 76 games air live on Prime Video or ESPN platforms. The full schedule is on NBA.com.
What Summer League actually tells you
Context matters. Summer League performances don’t reliably translate – some of the league’s best players had forgettable runs here, and some Summer League stars never made a regular roster. What you’re watching is a first look at movement patterns, decision-making under pressure, and how a player carries himself when the lights come on for real.
For Dybantsa tonight, the number doesn’t matter as much as the process. But the whole league will be watching anyway.
per NBA.com | per ESPN | per Yahoo Sports
[Update – July 10, 2026] The game delivered. AJ Dybantsa (27 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk) led Washington past Utah 92-88 in their Summer League opener. He built a 54-37 halftime cushion – 19 of those 27 points came in the first half – before Utah trimmed it to one with 1:22 left. Darryn Peterson answered with 24 points and 3 rebounds for the Jazz but couldn’t close. Tre Johnson added 26 for Washington; Cody Williams (16 pts, 4 stl) led Utah’s second-half charge. Per NBA.com and ESPN.
