AJ Dybantsa showed on his first possession of an NBA game that he wasn't going to shy away from the expectations that come with being the No. 1 pick. The Washington Wizards rookie got the ball at the top of the key, drove past Cleveland's James Harden to get to the lane and appeared headed for a dunk before being fouled by Jarrett Allen 16 seconds into the game. Dybantsa made both free throws to begin his pro career.
He ended up leading the Wizards with 19 points in a 121-111 loss Wednesday night. It was the most points by a Wizards rookie in his debut since Tom Gugliotta scored 20 against Charlotte in 1992.
Dybantsa -- selected first in June's NBA draft after one year at BYU -- was sidelined the first four games due to a sprained ankle. He played 27 minutes, which coach Brian Keefe said was about in the range they wanted."I thought he was terrific. You saw his ability to get to the basket, to make simple reads, great passing from him."
Dybantsa finished 8-of-12 from the field along with two assists, two rebounds and two turnovers. The Wizards are 2-3 after starting last season 1-15.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing