The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas kicked off on July 9 with a highly anticipated matchup between the top two overall draft picks. AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick for the Washington Wizards, faced off against Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick for the Utah Jazz, at the Thomas & Mack Center [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Dybantsa scored a game-high 27 points, added 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 26 minutes to lead the Wizards to a 92-88 victory over Utah [3, 4, 5]. Peterson countered with 24 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, maintaining strong form from his prior Summer League performances with Utah in Salt Lake City [1, 3, 4, 5].
The rivalry between Dybantsa and Peterson dates back to their high school and college years, with Peterson having won all previous encounters. "Every time I play against him, it's a battle. He always comes out to compete. He beat me three times previous, so this was my first win. I was glad to come out on top," Dybantsa said after the game [2, 3, 4].
Peterson said, "I look forward to every game we play. Obviously, this one was a bigger one, so yeah, I was looking forward to it. The draft is over now. It is what it is. I am part of the Utah Jazz, and I'm super happy" [4].
This showdown drew attention from several NBA stars, including Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Cooper Flagg, and Jalen Williams, who attended the game in Las Vegas [4, 5]. The Summer League features all 30 NBA teams, each playing at least five games through July 19 to give rookies and young players a chance to showcase their skills and for teams to evaluate talent [1, 6, 7].
Other notable rookies in the league include No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer of the Memphis Grizzlies and No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls [2, 6]. The temperature in Las Vegas during the event reached 43 degrees Celsius, underscoring challenging conditions on the court [7].
The Summer League will conclude with the championship game scheduled for July 19 in Las Vegas [1, 6].
