Dybantsa vs. Peterson Leads NBA Summer League Opener

Sport

By lines

July 9, 2026

Pop-art illustration of an anonymous basketball player for NBA Summer League coverage

The NBA Summer League opens in Las Vegas on Thursday with the rookie matchup fans circled. No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards face No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz. Tipoff is 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Peterson Arrives Hot, Dybantsa Makes Wizards Debut

Darryn Peterson dominated the Salt Lake City Summer League last week. Peterson scored 28 points against the Atlanta Hawks. Peterson then posted 25 points and 12 assists against Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies. Peterson averaged 26.5 points and 7.0 assists across two Salt Lake games. AJ Dybantsa makes his first Wizards appearance on Thursday in Las Vegas.

AJ Dybantsa arrives with his own hype after starring one season at BYU. Dybantsa is a high-usage scorer who creates off the dribble and finishes above the rim. The Wizards drafted Dybantsa at No. 1 and rejected Utah’s offers to move up. Utah wanted Dybantsa because he grew up in the Beehive State. Many scouts still rated Peterson the top prospect in the 2026 draft class.

Oddsmakers installed the Utah Jazz as 1.5-point favorites for the opener. Sportsbooks set Peterson’s points total at 24.5 and Dybantsa’s at 19.5. Utah opened at +800 to win the Las Vegas title, second behind Memphis at +900. Washington sits at +1600 to win the event. The Las Vegas Summer League runs through July 19, with each team playing at least five games.

The No. 1 versus No. 2 opener has become a Summer League tradition. Dybantsa becomes the 17th No. 1 overall pick to play in Las Vegas before his rookie season. Last year’s No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, played just two Summer League games for Dallas. Flagg then won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel earned MVP of last year’s championship game.

For the Utah Jazz, the stakes extend past one Summer League game. Peterson slid to No. 2 after the Wizards drafted Dybantsa first out of BYU. Peterson skipped a predraft visit to Salt Lake City, believing he deserved the top pick. Coach Will Hardy now pairs Peterson with fourth-year guard Keyonte George. George, age 22, arrives off a breakout year for Utah.

Both rookies face minutes limits typical of Summer League showcases. Teams often cap top picks at two or three games in Las Vegas. Peterson chasing his points total of 24.5 gives bettors an early read. Dybantsa answering with efficient scoring would validate the Wizards’ choice at No. 1. The winner claims early bragging rights in a rivalry Utah and Washington will renew for years.