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Is AJ Dybantsa An Underdog for 2026-27 Rookie of the Year?
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- Is AJ Dybantsa An Underdog for 2026-27 Rookie of the Year?
Is AJ Dybantsa An Underdog for 2026-27 Rookie of the Year?
(Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
With so many new pieces looking to gel with the young returning players, the Washington Wizards have been in the conversation for one of the more intriguing teams heading into the 2026-27 regular season. Yet a big piece of that is centered around AJ Dybantsa , the one who outlasted Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer to become the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The rationale for Dybantsa to Washington was always clear given the chance to add a different type of athlete with rare athleticism to a starting five that features reason to be optimistic in both the backcourt and frontcourt. The chance to serve as not only the foundational piece within the franchise, but also another difference maker to what may be Washington's most talented starting lineup of the 2000s.
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Could that be a hinderance for Dybantsa in an eventual pursuit of the Rookie of the Year? That's a possibility.
ESPN ranked Dybantsa third in their preseason Rookie of the Year projections for the upcoming 2026-27 regular season behind Boozer and Peterson, though the Jazz guard drew just two more points than Dybantsa. Caleb Wilson comfortably ranked fourth with 32 points while Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. rounded out the top five. Even though Wilson ranked fourth, ESPN pointed to his ability to become an impact piece right away with the roster allowing him to become a focal point of the on-court product. Boozer was the one pointed to who is likely to have the biggest role between he, Peterson and Dybantsa, while Peterson was recognized as one capable of leading the rookies in scoring.
The case for Dybantsa may not be as clear given his fit on the roster where the veteran experience, coupled with improved talent throughout the rotation, alleviates pressure on the rookie to be a game-changing piece in Washington right away.
Though Dybantsa's lone year of college basketball proved to show he's capable of becoming part of the next wave of NBA stars, year one won't command that from him.
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Dybantsa will have an opportunity to capitalize on maybe better floor spacing compared to the rest of the top rookies, allowing him to find space to attack downhill off the wing, while also getting a chance to be featured on the ball as general manager Will Dawkins previously pointed to.
What Dybantsa may be viewed to be among the top rookies is most likely to make the postseason first with the Wizards arguably best positioned to do so among a group including the Grizzlies, Jazz, Bulls and Kings. Still, Dybantsa will look pull off what's now viewed to be an upset to become the franchise's first Rookie of the Year selection since Wes Unseld did so with the Baltimore Bullets in 1968-69.
