Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 17

AJ Dybantsa Scores 50 Points in 2 Games, Leads 2026 Lottery Picks With Summer League A

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 17

AJ Dybantsa Scores 50 Points in 2 Games, Leads 2026 Lottery Picks With Summer League A

Q: After a stellar Summer League, why is the No. 1 pick not favored for Rookie of the Year?

AJ Dybantsa is not the Rookie of the Year favorite mainly because his NBA situation is less favorable for big rookie numbers than some of his rivals, even after an excellent Summer League. Summer League reinforced Dybantsa’s talent. He scored 50 points in two games, drew fouls at a high rate, and looked every bit like the No. 1 pick. But Rookie of the Year usually follows usage and counting stats as much as pure talent. In Washington, Dybantsa is expected to share touches with established stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, which likely makes him a secondary or third offensive option rather than a day-one focal point. That matters because other top rookies appear set up for heavier workloads. Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick, is the early sportsbook favorite because Memphis offers a clearer path to major minutes, a featured offensive role, and the kind of points-rebounds-assists production voters reward. Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff Jr. are also viewed as strong candidates for similar reasons on teams where they may have more freedom and volume. There is also competition at the top of the class itself. Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick, matched Dybantsa’s Summer League impact and is seen as a strong contender because Utah can give him high usage on a rebuilding roster. So the issue is not Dybantsa’s ability. It is that his team context may suppress the raw production that typically drives Rookie of the Year voting.

Q: Beyond the box score, which rookie's performance addressed the biggest pre-draft concerns about their game?

Caleb Wilson most clearly answered a major pre-draft question about his game. The biggest concern around the Bulls’ No. 4 pick was his shooting. At North Carolina, Wilson made only seven 3-pointers all season and shot 25.9% from deep, so scouts viewed his jumper as the swing skill in determining whether he would become more than an athletic finisher and defender. In Summer League, he directly attacked that concern. He hit seven 3-pointers in his debut alone, matching his entire college total, and across his Vegas run he shot the ball with far more confidence and cleaner mechanics. The reporting around his performance emphasized not just the makes, but that his shot looked more fluid and simplified, which matters more than a hot week of percentages. That is why Wilson stands out beyond the box score. AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson were excellent, but they mostly reinforced strengths evaluators already believed in. Peterson did show encouraging progress as a rim-pressure creator and passer, which addressed real concerns about his playmaking. Darius Acuff Jr. also helped himself by competing better defensively than expected. Still, Wilson’s case was the strongest because he appeared to make the most dramatic visible improvement in a single weak area. For a player whose ceiling depends heavily on whether defenses must respect his jumper, that was arguably the most meaningful Summer League development of any rookie.

Q: Which late lottery pick's MVP-caliber play has front offices already regretting their draft choices?

Brayden Burries, the Milwaukee Bucks’ No. 10 overall pick, is the late lottery player drawing that kind of reaction. Across the Summer League coverage, Burries was described as a potential MVP candidate and one of the best rookies in Las Vegas. He combined scoring, defense and playmaking at a level that stood out even in a strong draft class, posting 67 points in three games, shooting 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from three, while recording 12 assists against just one turnover. That production matters because Burries was taken at the back end of the lottery, yet he looked more polished and impactful than many players drafted ahead of him. Evaluators highlighted his versatility, physical defense and ability to play on or off the ball, with some projecting him as an immediate contributor and even a possible All-Rookie candidate. So if the question is which late lottery pick has front offices wondering whether they missed, the clearest answer from Summer League is Burries.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 17

AJ Dybantsa earned an A after scoring 50 points in two Summer League games before Washington shut down the No. 1 pick, with his foul-drawing and rim pressure standing out most.
Darryn Peterson joined him with an A after playing a fourth Las Vegas game and showing more rim pressure and playmaking than he did at Kansas, though turnovers and fouls remain concerns.
Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson and Brayden Burries also landed top marks: Boozer capped his run with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, Wilson opened with 35 points and seven 3s, and Burries built an All-Summer League case.
The broader report cast the 2026 class as strong in Las Vegas, with most lottery picks grading in the B range or better and only Keaton Wagler and Nate Ament finishing at C+.