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Dybantsa Debuts for Wizards Oct. 28 vs Cavaliers

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

AJ Dybantsa makes his United States debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct 28, 2026.
The Wizards sit at 2-2, beating Milwaukee and Chicago but losing to Toronto and Charlotte.
Justin Champagnie misses the Cleveland game with a right foot injury.
Bilal Coulibaly likely loses starting minutes as Dybantsa joins the Wizards’ lineup.

Summary

Dybantsa becomes the first BYU player selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft.
He was born Jan. 29 2007 in Boston and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Dybantsa earned Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a high-school freshman.
At BYU he averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 51% from the field.
His NBA debut on Oct. 28 2024 mirrors John Wall’s debut exactly 16 years earlier.

History

Washington’s rebuilding strategy dates to 2010 when the Wizards chose point guard John Wall with the No. 1 overall pick, launching a franchise-changing era. In October 2024 the Wizards introduced another top selection, AJ Dybantsa, who debuted against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The repeat of a No. 1 pick starting his career highlights the team’s continued reliance on elite draftees to pursue playoff success.

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Washington’s rebuilding strategy dates to 2010 when the Wizards chose point guard John Wall with the No. 1 overall pick, launching a franchise-changing era. In October 2024 the Wizards introduced another top selection, AJ Dybantsa, who debuted against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The repeat of a No. 1 pick starting his career highlights the team’s continued reliance on elite draftees to pursue playoff success.

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