Full Breakdown
Wizards Pull Plug on Top Pick A.J. Dybantsa for Remainder of 2026 Summer League
7/15/2026, 12:20:43 PM
Core Decision: Shutting Down the Rookie and Two Second-Year Wings
The Washington Wizards announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that they will sit rookie A.J. Dybantsa, second-year wing Will Riley and forward Tre Johnson for the final three games of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Summer-league coach T.J. Sorrentine confirmed the move to *The Athletic* and said the players will return to the roster for the October preseason. The shutdown follows Dybantsa’s two appearances against the Utah Jazz and the Sacramento Kings, as well as Riley’s two games and Johnson’s single outing.
Background: Draft Selection and Summer-League Purpose
A.J. Dybantsa was selected No. 1 overall in the June 2026 NBA Draft after a standout season at Brigham Young University, where he led Division I with 25.5 points per game. The NBA Summer League serves as a ten-day developmental showcase for recent draftees and other young players to gain game experience before training camp. Teams often limit the exposure of high-draft picks after a few games to reduce injury risk.
Key Players
- A.J. Dybantsa – 19-year-old forward, BYU alumnus, top scorer in his two Summer League contests.
- Will Riley – Second-year wing who averaged 25 points across two games.
- Tre Johnson – Second-year forward who posted 26 points in his lone appearance.
- T.J. Sorrentine – Wizards Summer-League head coach, responsible for the shutdown decision.
- Trae Young and Anthony Davis – Veteran All-Stars on the Wizards roster who were present at the Summer League games.
Performance Data
| Player | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. Dybantsa | 2 | 27, 23 (avg 25.0) | 7, 7 (avg 7.0) | 2, 2 (avg 2.0) | 2, 3 (avg 2.5) | 1, 2 (avg 1.5) | 39.4% (13-33) | 9.1% (1-11) |
| Will Riley | 2 | 25 (avg) | 7 (avg) | 2 (avg) | — | — | — | 70% (6-8) from three |
| Tre Johnson | 1 | 26 | — | — | — | — | 55% (11-20) | — |
The Wizards won both games, defeating Utah 92-88 and Sacramento 104-85.
Official Statements & Rationale
Coach Sorrentine explained that the decision reflects a “culmination of camp all the way through the games,” emphasizing that the players have already benefited from extensive practices, shoot-arounds, and two competitive outings. He added that the organization believes the young core has “nothing left to prove” in the Summer League and prefers to avoid unnecessary injury risk before the regular season.
Criticism & Opposition
No public criticism of the shutdown was reported in the available sources. The move aligns with a common league practice of limiting the exposure of lottery picks after two games, suggesting broad acceptance among analysts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources consistently state that Dybantsa, Riley and Johnson will miss the remaining Summer League games. No discrepancies were found regarding the number of games played or the statistical totals. The reports do not disclose any specific medical evaluations that may have influenced the decision.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was kind of just testing grounds for me,” — A.J. Dybantsa
- “Just trying to get used to the game speed, to the plays, to the players and my teammates and the physicality of the game.” — A.J. Dybantsa
- “It's a culmination of camp all the way through the games,” — T.J. Sorrentine
- “It's not just what (everyone's) seen on TV. We've had a good camp, a lot of good practices and shootarounds, and a couple of good games.” — T.J. Sorrentine
