Kevin O'Connor continues his 'Entertainment Rankings' with Andrew Sharp. How will the Trail Blazers make all their guards work together? Are the Utah Jazz a sleeper playoff team? The duo also looks at the Wizards with their addition of the No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, how the Raptors will handle Kawhi's return and what to expect from Cooper Flagg in year two with the Mavericks.
Later, they break down the news of Klay Thompson signing with the Miami Heat.
(0:49) Entertainment Rankings: Trail Blazers
(08:18) Entertainment Rankings: Jazz
(15:44) Entertainment Rankings: Wizards

#blazers

Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. had some hype around his name after being selected by the Nets with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Brooklyn was able to see Brown in action during the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League and while he had some nice moments, he doesn't appear to be in the running for the Rookie of the Year award.
In the most recent odds posted by BetMGM, Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson and Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer are tied for the lead to win the Rookie of the Year award. As this relates to the Nets, Brown has the sixth-best odds of winning the award which could put him in a position to be a darkhorse for the award, but he has some tough competition to beat out.
In addition to the aforementioned Wilson and Boozer, Brown also has to compete with Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa and Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson, all players that were drafted ahead of the former Louisville Cardinal. Brown, like most of the rookies in contention for the award, is in a position to get plenty of reps as the starting point guard if he's able to win the job coming out of training camp.
Brown, 20, is coming off a solid summer circuit in which he averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 ****** ists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 38.8% from the field and 34.6% from behind the three-point line. Brown has had some interesting moments over the course of the summer, but next season will show how ready he is to be an NBA-level point guard for head coach Jordi Fernandez.
Brown will be playing alongside forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle so he will be at least third in the offensive pecking order, depending on where guard Egor Demin fits into that equation. If Brown is able to play better than expected, then he could find himself in the running for Rookie of the Year and that's something that Nets fans could be excited about moving forward.

#rookie #award #summer #able

As summer continues to wind down, anticipation for football and basketball season heats up. When the 2026-27 NBA slate begins, Tar Heel Nation will have its eyes glued to Caleb Wilson.
The Chicago Bulls' fourth overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, Wilson quickly impressed amongst the pro ranks earlier this summer, setting a new record for most points in a Summer League debut. Part of a historic Draft class with fellow top-4 picks AJ Dybantsa (first overall), Darryn Peterson (second) and Cameron Boozer (third), Wilson will treat fans to a plethora of exciting matchups in his rookie season.
One of Wilson's first matchups you should be paying attention to is the Bulls' home opener on Saturday, October 24, when they'll be facing Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards.
Wilson's first regular season game will be Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m., when Chicago travels to face the Toronto Raptors. Dybantsa's rookie year begins that same day at 7 p.m., when Washington hosts the new-look Milwaukee Bucks.
Wilson played against the Wizards in Summer League, leading all scorers with 19 points in a 99-87 win, but Dybantsa sat out that game. Later in a postgame interview, Wilson said he'll play any chance he gets, as opposed to resting like his fellow Top-4 picks.

#Bulls

AJ Williams has been regarded by many as a prospect that could play in the NBA almost immediately.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, he took one-step towards that goal as the nation's top 2028 recruit reclassified to the 2027 class, according to On3's Joe Tipton.
Williams is the latest top prospect to reclassify up a class. That list includes four players who ended up being drafted first overall: AJ Dybantsa, Cooper Flagg, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
Other recent notable names to reclassify are Marcus Spears Jr., Bruce Branch III, Adan Diggs, Alijah Arenas, Baba Oladotun and Obinna Ekezie Jr.
According to 247Sports and the USA TODAY Sports composite ranking, the 6-foot-8, 210-pounder was the undisputed No. 1 overall prospect in the country for his class.

#sports #tipton #dybantsa

The next AJ Dybantsa? Why Basketball fans should watch 'Road to Peach Jam' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If you want to find the next AJ Dybantsa before everybody else knows his name, Peach Jam isn't a bad place to start.
Basketball fans don't need much of an introduction to Dybantsa anymore. Born in Boston and raised in Brockton, Mass., Dybantsa went from one of the area's most exciting young prospects to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, selected by the Washington Wizards.
But well before NBA commissioner Adam Silver called his name, Dybantsa was building his reputation in the same grassroots basketball world featured in Air Time's new "Road to Peach Jam" series.
And that's a pretty good reason for hoops fans to pay attention.

#Basketball #fans #nesn #name

Fullcourtpass: AJ Dybantsa says he WANTS to guard Luka Doncic "I just want to be on like an ISO island. This sounds crazy, but I want to be on an ISO island and just really see if he's moving that slow." (Via RoadTrippinShow)
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I just want to be on like an ISO island. This sounds …

#want #like #wants

After dazzling in the NBA Summer League earlier this month, Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson earned high praise from Hall of Famer Charles Barkley on Tuesday.
Wilson was a consensus second-team All-American selection at North Carolina, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 ******* ists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 57.8% from the field. He set the freshman program records for scoring average and 20-point games (17).
The 6-foot-10 Wilson was highly touted entering the draft because of his versatility, athleticism and physical traits, boasting a 7-foot, 1/4-inch wingspan. Barkley, speaking on the "Dan Patrick Show," believes the Bulls hit a home run by selecting Wilson with the fourth overall pick.
I think the Chicago Bulls got the best rookie in the NBA. When I was talking to coaches and general managers, they are like, 'Who would you take with the No. 1 pick?' I said, 'Caleb Wilson.' They are like, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'I like (AJ) Dybantsa. I like (Darryn) Peterson. There was no player I would have taken before Caleb Wilson. Not one.' Peterson and Dybantsa are probably better scorers at this stage, but he can learn how to shoot. Let me tell you something: From an athletic point, he can guard one, two, three, four. Ain't ******* ody more talented than Caleb Wilson. Period.
Wilson was named to the All-Summer League first team, averaging 23.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.8 ******* ists and 1.2 steals while shooting 41.9% from 3-point range in four games. He ranked fourth in total points (94) among all players, having scored 19 or more in each appearance.

#caleb #point

After Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA Summer League championship, fans were curious to know who would take home tournament MVP honors.
Although ESPN named Boozer their MVP of the tournament, NBA voters didn't quite see it the same way, awarding Boozer's rival, Yaxel Lendeborg, with the trophy. However, Boozer was recognized as one of the top players throughout the summer, being named to the 2026 NBA Summer League First Team. Boozer was joined by Lendeborg, Caleb Wilson, Brayden Burries and Meleek Thomas, the only second-rounder to make the first team.
Boozer's teammate Cedric Coward was named on the second team, as well as Zyon Pullin, Egor Demin, Liam McNeeley and another Duke alum, Khaman Maluach of the Phoenix Suns.
The top-two selections in the 2026 NBA Draft (AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson) did not make either team; however, they played in just two and three games, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Cameron Boozer narrowly misses out on NBA Summer League MVP

#team #league

Between adding a number of notable transfers, searching for a starting center, and both AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders being selected in the NBA draft, it's been an eventful offseason for BYU.
But the most stunning story of the summer belongs to Rob Wright III, the rising junior point guard and lone returning Cougars starter.
In a Powder League pro-am game this past week, Wright scored an eye-popping 101 points — and quickly went viral online for it.
Wright shot 32 of 55 (58%) from the field and made 14 3-pointers to cross the century mark and break the Powder League's single-game scoring record. Unless Wright goes for 102 points in a future outing, it's safe to say his record won't be broken.
The 101-point outburst now serves as a timely reminder that amid all of BYU's intriguing roster additions for the coming campaign, no move carries more importance than that of Kevin Young and his staff recruiting Wright out of the transfer portal to return for another year in Provo.

#dybantsa

No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa has been shut down by the Washington Wizards for the remainder of the NBA Summer League, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
Dybantsa logged two appearances with the Wizards, averaging 25 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 steals, two **** ists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 39.4% from the field. He is tied with teammate Will Riley for the fifth-highest scoring average among all players in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In addition to Dybantsa, Riley and second-year guard Tre Johnson will also sit for the rest of the team's stint in the desert. Wizards summer league coach T.J. Sorrentine told The Athletic that the team has seen enough of the trio in game action and in practice.
The Washington Wizards have decided to shut down AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson and Will Riley for the team’s final three NBA Summer League games, Wizards summer-league coach T.J. Sorrentine told TheAthleticNBA. Story here:https://t.co/0EUa3BSxRm
— Josh Robbins (JoshuaBRobbins) July 14, 2026

Washington Wizards rookie and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa is done for the remainder of NBA Summer League. The BYU product was shut down by his team on Tuesday, July 14. According to The Athletic, Wizards Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine informed Dybantsa that he will not play in the team's final two games.
This is a normal situation for highly-touted prospects. Many first-round picks are shut down after two Summer League games as a precaution to ensure no injuries are sustained before their rookie season.
Dybantsa has drawn a good amount of hype heading into the 2026-27 season, with even veteran teammates like Trae Young attending the team's Summer League games in Las Vegas for an early glimpse at the up-and-comer. And Dybantsa didn't disappoint.
In just two games, Dybantsa averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 ***** ists per game, helping lead the Wizards to wins over both the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.
More: The Wizards set the table nicely for AJ Dybantsa to thrive right away

'First-Team All-Defensive': Wizards' AJ Dybantsa makes bold NBA future prediction about himself originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The learning curve in the NBA can be quite steep; not many top prospects immediately find their identity in the league after being drafted. AJ Dybantsa might just be a different breed of top-end talent. After a few games in the NBA Summer League with the help of Anthony Davis and Trae Young, among others, he seems to know what skill sets will define his career in the long run. The first overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft out of the BYU Cougars system even made a wild proclamation about future individual accolades.
Rookies do not have their 'welcome to the league' moment until their first official game in the 82-game regular season. It is only when that moment comes that they begin to climb and refine their playbooks to thrive in the NBA. AJ Dybantsa did not have to wait that long.
The Wizards rookie has played two games in the NBA Summer League so far, and each outing was a revelation. He looked like a man among boys on both ends of the floor, but the 19-year-old out of the BYU Cougars system posits that he thrives in one area more than the other. Dybantsa even thinks he is well on his way to becoming a member of an NBA First-Team All-Defensive squad, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
"I think I can be a first-team All-Defensive team guy. That’s just where I’m trying to make an impact, on the defensive end. In college, I was being really lazy on the defensive end, just letting guys blow by me and not being a help-side defender. But I definitely want to bring it to the next level," Dybantsa declared.

Following up his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday, No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa took the court again in Las Vegas for the Washington Wizards and scored 23 points in Sunday’s 104-85 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Dybantsa also grabbed 7 rebounds with 3 steals and 2 blocks, demonstrating the defensive presence he can provide for Washington as a rookie.
His most exciting defensive sequence on Sunday may have been when he blocked a 3-point attempt by fellow rookie Darius Acuff, showing he can close out on outside shooters. He then hustled down the floor in transition to score a fast-break layup.
"I've been telling my trainers I think I could be a first-team All-Defensive team guy," Dybantsa told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. "In college, I was being lazy a lot on the defensive end. Just letting guys blow by me, not being a help side. But definitely want to bring it to the next level."
Wizards Summer League coach T.J. Sorrentine believes he can be an all-defensive team player.

The 2026 NBA Draft Class is one of the best in recent memory, featuring future All-Stars in Top-4 picks AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson, who are all playing in the NBA Summer League.
Wilson enjoyed the best debut amongst his Top-4 counterparts, scoring a record-breaking 35 points in the Chicago Bulls' 97-96 loss to Boozer's Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Boozer scored 23 points to lead his new team, while Dybantsa and Peterson thrived on Thursday night.
Each of this year's Top 4 picks scored a minimum 20 points in their debuts, further proving 2026 as an all-time great Draft class.
Wilson made 12 of his 21 shots from the field, including a 7-of-11 mark from deep, while making two free throws. The rookie phenom added five rebounds, three blocks and two steals to his big night.
Boozer sank seven of his 12 shots, including his lone 3-point attempt, while adding six rebounds, four ****** ists, a steal and block apiece.

Kansas Jayhawks News
It's not quite Kansas news, but this ESPN article says Jazz fans are hyped after seeing Darryn Peterson in the Summer League
Through the Phog writes that Lance Leipold is trying to fix the biggest problem from last season
Links!
AJ Dybantsa's Wizards scraped past Darryn Peterson's Jazz last night

LAS VEGAS — Fans filled the Thomas & Mack Center wanting a show. No. 1 vs. No. 2 — AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson — from the most heralded draft class in a decade (at least), going head to head. Fans wanted to see if these two were worth the hype.
The fans got what they wanted.
It wasn't always efficient — they shot a combined 13-of-36 — and both showed things they needed to work on (Peterson had eight turnovers, Dybantsa was 0-of-5 from 3-point range). However, fans who came to see if these guys could live up to the hype were not disappointed.
Dybantsa was the best player on the floor and finished with a game-high 27 points. However, what stood out — what will translate to the NBA and make him a force — is his fluid athleticism. He's graceful, but he was blowing past guys, and his ability to get downhill at his size is impressive — he just glides. It's not to say he can't be physical, but this isn't like watching a Jalen Brunson drive. This feels effortless.
He also had some impressive finishes at the rim — he is a tough shot maker, and it showed.

Even if it was unofficial, the debut of AJ Dybantsa in a Washington Wizards uniform lived up to expectations after opening the five-game Summer League slate with win against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
Dybantsa, the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, finished the game with 27 points to not just lead both teams, but also tie Blake Griffin for the most points by a top overall pick in a Summer League debut. Dybantsa also did so while shooting 7-of-18 from the field along with seven rebounds, two ****** ists, two steals and one block in 26 minutes, a performance that the newest Wizard called “solid.”
Yet the feat of tying Griffin, who became the top pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, left a “crazy” feeling for the newest Wizard after looking to make an impact in his first showing.
“Overall, I just wanted to showcase everything, grab a few rebounds, I wanted to get a few steals, couple [of] ****** ists,” Dybantsa told Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network. “I was just happy to get back out on the court though.”
Dybantsa was the one to kick off the scoring for the Wizards in Summer League before ending the first quarter with already 11 points as he and Tre Johnson paved the way for a near-20 point lead through the first half.

LAS VEGAS — Seated just a few inches from the Thomas & Mack Center’s baseline, arguably the best seat in the house for AJ Dybantsa’s Summer League debut, Paul Pierce’s inquiry was a mixture of bewilderment and excitement.
“He already got his own shoe?” the Hall of Famer asked, referencing the pair of metallic silver Nike GTs Dybantsa was wearing. “God****!”
A few minutes later, as the No. 1 pick dribbled from the logo Thursday, plowing through four defenders like prime Clinton Portis en route to a thunderous slam — with the entire building erupting in awe — Pierce’s questions had been answered.
The hype, real. The wait, warranted.
“That looked like [No.] 1 to me! That looked like 1 to me!” Pierce screamed, leaping from his seat like the thousands of other onlookers. It took just 12 minutes for the 48-year-old to get his money’s worth, heading for the exits while repeatedly stating he had seen enough from the highly anticipated showdown.

AJ Dybantsa gets upper hand over Darryn Peterson in Las Vegas Summer League debuts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LAS VEGAS — Fans began lining up outside of Thomas and Mack arena for first-come, first-serve seating starting at around 7 in the morning, braving temperatures of up to 110 degrees before the doors opened at 11:30 am.
And they weren't there for the Hunter ****** inson vs. Rocco Zikarsky matchup that started off the day's games.
The buzz all day was around No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa facing off against No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson at 6pm local time. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George were on the sidelines, jumping onto the floor during big plays. Deandre Ayton and Anthony Davis were among the Wizards who came to cheer on Dybantsa. Paul Pierce roamed along the baseline, schmoozing his way into baseline seats. Jalen Williams took them over as Pierce wandered off after the first quarter. Kings coach Doug Christie couldn't find a seat, so he watched the whole game standing to the side of press row.
MORE: The best and worst contracts of NBA Free Agency so far

Roughly two weeks after the Washington Wizards made AJ Dybantsa the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-9 forward made his Las Vegas Summer League debut on Thursday.
Eager to show that he can live up to the hype and lofty expectations, the former BYU star brought the crowd to its feet with a rim-rattling poster dunk in the first quarter.
The highlight play went viral, sparking strong reactions from the NBA world.
Dybantsa’s first game in a Wizards jersey came against the Utah Jazz, featuring this year’s No. 2 pick, Darryn Peterson. With anticipation building for the duel, Washington’s rookie dazzled in front of a packed Thomas & Mack Center.
Late in the first quarter, Dybantsa drove past Cody Williams but ended up facing a swarm of defenders. Unbothered, he forcefully went up over Justin Harmon for the highlight play of the night. The slam had his Wizards teammates Trae Young and Deandre Ayton on their feet, cheering wildly for him.

LAS VEGAS — When the No. 1 pick goes up against the No. 2 pick, the stars come out.
The AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson game was heavily attended at Las Vegas Summer League, with the lower bowl at Thomas & Mack center absolutely packed and NBA stars lining the court on all sides.
But the crowd was left a little underwhelmed, with the game not really reaching the level of hype it had garnered prior to tipoff.
“Look, they’re two of the best young players on the planet, and people are excited about them, and rightly so,” Jazz ******* istant coach Steve Wojciechowski said of Peterson and Dybantsa. “Those guys, from a very early age, have had to learn to handle the spotlight. And I’m not sure any games they’ve played in has been as big a spotlight as this one. ... And I thought both of them handled it really well.”
While both Peterson, the No. 2 overall pick by the Utah Jazz, and Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards, were able to showcase a number of reasons that they are going to be centerpieces for their respective teams, this was not the Summer League classic that everyone was hoping for.

AJ Dybantsa vs. Darryn Peterson: Who won in their first NBA matchup? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It was a moment NBA and college hoops fans alike were waiting for ever since the NBA draft wrapped up. The No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards going up against the No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz.
Of course, the NBA kicked off its Summer Series with this matchup. It makes a statement to kick off the Summer Series with the most talked-about players.
Plus, adding to the drama at the Thomas & Mack Center was the reality that Dybantsa wasn't a shoo-in for No. 1. The Wizards could have easily gone with Peterson or even eventual No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer for that top slot, because all three players are so close in talent. So, did the Wizards make the right decision? That's the question they were hoping to answer.
So, who won? Frankly, they both did. Both players looked confident on the court and got buckets. ***** ody buckled under the pressure of the big lights and their first Summer League game. So, both franchises, and players, should feel good about their picks.

NBA fans highly anticipated the Las Vegas Summer League game on Thursday between the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. It was the first matchup between No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson. The rookies gave spectators a good show, leading their teams in scoring.
While Peterson scored 24 points, his nine fouls became a huge talking point. The Summer League allows up to nine personal fouls before fouling out. The Kansas product also committed eight turnovers on the night, and shot 6-of-18 from the field.
MORE: Kendrick Perkins sets incredibly high ceiling for Darryn Peterson’s career
Peterson’s uncommon stat was posted by NBA on ESPN on X and fans dropped their reactions in the comments section.
“I knew I wasn’t reading that wrong in the box score,” a reaction read.

How many points did AJ Dybantsa score today? Full stats, results, highlights from Darryn Peterson showdown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
AJ Dybantsa, the first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, will play his first game in the NBA Summer League. The Washington Wizards will take on Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz in a very exciting game.
You can check out all of Dybantsa's stats against Peterson and the Jazz today below.
Points: 2
Rebounds:

AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson stats today: Tracking live points, rebounds and more from Summer League showdown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Washington Wizards held the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, opting to take AJ Dybantsa instead of Darryn Peterson, a decision the front office will hope works out in the future. While Summer League isn't going to determine who the better player is or what careers they'll have, this will be their first time going up against one another in the NBA.
You can find all stats and more from today's game between Dybantsa and Peterson below, with our live tracker here at Sporting News.
Points:
Rebounds:

One thing to watch from each top five 2026 NBA Draft pick at Las Vegas Summer League originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Basketball devotees understand how little Las Vegas NBA Summer League games predict young players’ futures. But even for the most measured consumer, it’s easy (and enjoyable!) to lose oneself to small-sample Summer League ***** ysis and evaluation, especially for highly touted rookies.
In that spirit, let’s discuss one thing I’m watching for each of the top five picks from the loaded 2026 draft class.
At BYU, possessions rarely began or ended without AJ Dybantsa touching the basketball. A mid-season injury to star teammate Richie Saunders only amplified their future top pick’s offensive responsibilities. Dybantsa already led the nation in scoring and approached the leaders in usage rate, but that figure spiked to a gargantuan 36.8 percent following the Saunders injury.
Dybantsa will handle the ball and create plenty in Las Vegas. He’ll share the floor with some other high-profile prospects (Tre Johnson, Will Riley) and must operate away from the ball, an area where he lacks experience and high-end skill.

Every July, all 30 teams cram into two gyms in Las Vegas and we collectively overreact to basketball games that will be forgotten by Halloween. And yet, Summer League matters because it's the one place where every fanbase, from the contenders to the doomed, gets to squint at a 19-year-old and think, "Hey, he's gonna be a guy for us!"
Here are the 50 players I'll be watching, including one player from every team. Some are star rookies. Others are second-year guys who need to show something. A handful are just fighting for a chance in the league.
Peterson's lone Kansas season was a medical drama with a hamstring strain, mysterious cramps, and 11 frustrating absences. So naturally, he showed up in Salt Lake City and reminded everyone why he was still the second pick: 28 in his debut against Atlanta, including a 3 to answer a fourth-quarter push and another to break a tie in overtime. Two days later, 25 points and 12 ****** ists against Memphis. The guy with the cramps appears gone. The high school phenom has returned.
In high school, he was a dynamic playmaker who used his burst to get into the teeth of defenses and generate buckets for himself and his teammates, while also showing off the kind of shot-making that draws comparisons to Hall of Famers. At Kansas, he thrived in an off-ball role, stroking jumpers out of movement actions and showing he can scale up or down depending on what a roster needs. With Utah, he appears to be combining both of those skills to so far look like the star of the summer. Will this run continue? On Thursday night, he'll face off against the one player drafted ahead of him.
Dybantsa could become one of the NBA's most unstoppable shot-creators, but he's already under pressure entering his Summer League debut on Thursday with a matchup against Darryn Peterson, who is looking like a superstar for Utah, and with the third pick, Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer, resembling a veteran All-Star.

The NBA draft has come and gone, free agency continues to blow in the wind, fireworks have popped off, hot dogs have been consumed. That only means one thing: it’s time for Summer League.
While the California Classic and SLC Summer League delivered a hint of what’s to come, the main event is here: 31 games in Las Vegas from Thursday to Sunday and then the action just keeps pouring in next week.
No matter how you feel about Summer League, it’s hard to deny it’s continued growth. As a matter of fact, when I played at UNLV (yes I did, yes it was a long time ago, please respect my privacy), there were moments where you could walk through Thomas & Mack Center and ******* Pavilion unbothered. Those days are long gone; it’s highly likely that anybody who is anybody will pop up and that anybody who wants to be somebody will be along for the ride. There’s an energy that’s hard to explain; the polos, the notebooks, the shuffle between arenas. The mix of Summer League veterans and people experiencing it for the first time delivers a unique charm.
Part of the charm is how much Summer League is about opportunity. There is the obvious nature of the headlining rookies — AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, Caleb Wilson, etc. — showcasing what they can do (and starting the weekend trying to do it against each other). It goes beyond that, though. There is a chance for returning players to focus in on different aspects of their game in a different role and a different context. There’s value in being able to get more on-ball reps, to carry more of a responsibility on both ends of the floor. You can lay a foundation that could pay off down the line.
How does that serve a defense and energy-first guy like the Lakers’ Adou Thiero? Do the extra opportunities give more wiggle room for Boston’s Hugo Gonzalez or San Antonio’s Carter Bryant to build on top of the things that earned them rotation minutes as rookies? Is this the right environment for Utah’s Cody Williams to build on the aggression he showed early last season? Can Orlando’s Jase Richardson show the flashes are hiding just how bright he could become?

NBA Summer League schedule 2026: Times, TV channels, live streams to watch Vegas, Utah, California games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The next generation of the NBA, including No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, will start their careers at the 2026 NBA Summer League.
The league is divided into three events, beginning with a couple of four-team circuits: the California Classic Summer League and Salt Lake City Summer League. The California Classic gets underway on Thursday, July 3, with the Salt Lake City Summer League tipping off on Saturday, July 4.
Then, the complete 30-team event — the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas — gets underway on Thursday, July 9.
Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, will make his NBA Summer League debut for the Wizards. Also in Las Vegas, No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson and the Jazz, No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer and the Grizzlies, and No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson and the Bulls will all take the floor for the first time.

Jul. 2—Illinois ******* istant coaches Geoff Alexander and Orlando Antigua have reached the "travel abroad" portion of their summers. Both were in Turkiye at the end of June for the FIBA U17 World Cup, and other FIBA events will have the two cycling back and forth between Champaign and The Continent.
Alexander and Antigua got a look at a pair of Illinois recruiting targets in the Class of 2027 during their time in Istanbul, with Team USA guards Cayden Daughtry and NaVorro Bowman Jr. playing key roles in another dominant performance by the U.S.
Wednesday's 141-85 win against Cameroon pushed Team USA to Friday's quarterfinals where they'll meet ******* XXX. The 56-point margin of victory has been fairly standard for the U.S. since a 115-84 win against France on the opening day of the tournament. The U.S. also beat ******* an 128-66 and Italy 131-80 in pool play.
Eight players putting up double digit scoring averages has helped Team USA average just shy of 129 points as a team thus far in its tournament run. Daughtry and Bowman are part of that high-powered offense. Daughtry is averaging 11.5 points, 5.8 ******* ists and three rebounds as the backup to starting point guard Beckham Black. Bowman is also averaging 10.8 points, 3.3 ******* ists and 2.8 rebounds off the bench.
Team USA, which is 55-0 all-time in FIBA U17 World Cup action, is now just three wins away from its eighth straight gold medal dating back to 2010. The most recent, in 2024, was led by four recent first-round NBA draft picks (AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Chris Cenac Jr. and Koa Peat) and four of the top 2027 draft prospects (Caleb Holt, Jordan Smith Jr., Brandon McCoy and Tyran Stokes).