AJ Dybantsa was well worth the wait.
The Wizards rookie made his delayed debut Wednesday evening towards the Cleveland Cavaliers after lacking Washington’s first 4 video games with a sprained ankle. Wizards followers certainly preferred what they noticed.
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Dybantsa made a direct impression off the opening tip and led the Wizards with 19 factors.
Dyabntsa instantly sought to make an influence with an aggressive drive to the opening on his first NBA spark off the opening tip. He did not get the dunk. He did get fouled and hit each free throws for his first NBA factors.
There was no stopping Dybantsa on his second dunk try.
The athletic 6-9 ahead slipped behind the Cleveland protection in transition. Trae Younger noticed him from the backcourt and delivered a go that Dybantsa slammed house from the baseline.
By the tip of the primary quarter, Dybantsa had 9 factors on 3-of-3 capturing that included a 3-pointer and a tricky floater via visitors.
It was the kind of dynamic offensive show that made Dybantsa faculty basketball’s main main scorer and a first-team All-American as a freshman and the No. 1 choose within the NBA Draft. It helped Washington to a 42-34 first-quarter lead.
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Whereas the Wizards in the end surrendered that lead in a 121-111 Cavaliers win, there was a lot to love from Dybantsa all through the sport.
He added one other alley-oop dunk for his first bucket of the second half that prompted the Cavaliers to name a timeout.
He completed the sport with 19 factors, 2 assists and a pair of rebounds. He did it on 8-of-12 capturing from the sphere (1 of three from 3) in a powerful show of effectivity in his first recreation dealing with regular-season NBA competitors.
Enjoying in a lineup that options multiple-time All-Stars Younger and Anthony Davis, Dybantsa was aggressive, however appeared for his spots and did not drive his photographs. He ended up main Washington in scoring as Davis and Alex Sarr tallied 18 factors every and Younger completed with 14. Bilal Coulibaly added 17 factors off the bench.
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Dybantsa joins a Wizards staff that includes veteran All-Stars as an already established star. How he suits into and impacts the lineup as a rookie can be a compelling watch this season as Washington seeks to return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2021.
Though his debut did not include a win, the Wizards are definitely pleased with what they noticed Wednesday evening.
