The AJ Dybantsa debut arrived 16 seconds into Wednesday night in Cleveland, and it arrived with a foul. The Washington Wizards rookie took the ball at the top of the key, drove past James Harden and drew a foul from Jarrett Allen on his way to the basket. He made both free throws for the first points of his professional career. The start set the tone for a night in which he led Washington with 19 points, even though the Cleveland Cavaliers won 121-111.
Cleveland trailed by 13 points in the third quarter before rallying in the second half. The Cavaliers tied the game at 92-92 after three quarters, then took control late. In the AJ Dybantsa debut, Washington moved back in front 105-104, but Cleveland scored the next nine points and closed out the win. The result moved Cleveland to 3-1 and dropped Washington to 2-3.
AJ Dybantsa debut starts with a fast first quarter
The AJ Dybantsa debut produced nine points in the first quarter, the most by a Wizards rookie in a debut in that quarter since at least the 1996-97 season, according to Sportradar. His first basket came on an alley-oop from Trae Young, a crosscourt pass that put Washington ahead 11-6 with 8:56 left in the quarter. Washington led 42-34 after the first quarter.
In the AJ Dybantsa debut, he finished 8 of 12 from the field, including 1 of 3 from three-point range, with two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in 27 minutes. He started at shooting guard. Coach Brian Keefe said the minutes were about in the range the team wanted, and he praised the rookie for getting to the basket and playing with defensive activity.
“I was just trying to be aggressive from the jump. It is kind of always been my game regardless of level that I got,” he said after the game. “I wanted my first basket to be a dunk so bad. I was telling my dad that, but I mean it is cool, got fouled.” He said the nerves faded once the first free throws went in.
AJ Dybantsa debut ends a wait caused by injury
The AJ Dybantsa debut came after he missed the first four games of the season with a sprained left ankle. He hurt the ankle in the final preseason game on Oct. 16 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Washington selected him first overall in the June draft after one year at BYU, where he led the nation with 25.5 points per game last season.
He is one of three No. 1 picks on the Washington roster, along with Deandre Ayton, taken first in 2018, and Anthony Davis, taken first in 2012. Davis had 18 points on Wednesday, and Alex Sarr also had 18. Young added 14 points. Washington finished with a season-high 31 assists as a team but shot 8 of 32 from three-point range.
Davis said he told the rookie before the game not to overthink things and to have fun. “He seemed like he was very calm, cool and collected,” Davis said. “I think he came out with great energy and making his shots. It would have been good to get a win for him, but I think he played really well.” Allen, who fouled him on the first possession, said he scored from all three levels and played good defense.
AJ Dybantsa debut ranks high in Wizards history
The AJ Dybantsa debut gave him the most points by a Wizards rookie in a first game since Tom Gugliotta scored 20 against Charlotte in 1992. It is tied for the fourth-most points in franchise history for a rookie in his first game. The NBA also noted that he became the seventh No. 1 overall pick since the 1982-83 season to lead his team in scoring in his NBA debut, a group that includes Paolo Banchero, Davis, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Cleveland had its own standouts in the comeback. Evan Mobley scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, including 10 points in the fourth quarter. Peyton Watson had a season-high 22 points. Donovan Mitchell posted 19 points and seven assists, and Allen had eight points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. The win was Cleveland’s 17th straight over Washington.
Washington also announced Wednesday that forward Justin Champagnie had surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot. The Wizards are 2-3 after starting last season 1-15. The AJ Dybantsa debut in front of the home crowd comes Friday, when Washington hosts Charlotte. Cleveland travels to face Atlanta on Thursday.