AJ Dybantsa’s NBA career is only three games deep, but the No. 1 pick is already turning heads and giving his team a massive jolt. This kid, just 19 years old, had an ankle injury keep him sidelined to start the season, but he wasted no time making an impact. He’s already got an NBA expert singing his praises.
Three Games In, Already Making Noise
Dybantsa came out swinging, hitting 8-of-12 shots in his NBA debut against the Cavaliers. That’s a ridiculously good start! He followed that up with some serious performances, including dropping his first 20-point game ever in a win over the Magic. He put up 21 points, snatched 5 rebounds, and swiped 3 steals in that game. Seriously, what a performance! It’s no wonder fans are thrilled, because when Dybantsa is on the floor, the team is 2-1. That’s immediate impact from your No. 1 overall pick, straight out of the gate.
Expert Praise and Surprising Defense
It’s not just the fans going wild, either. Sporting News’ Steph Noh gave Dybantsa an A- for his first three games, singling him out for having “the best debut of any rookie.” That’s high praise, especially when you consider he’s played about half as many games as some of the other top rookies. Noh currently ranks Dybantsa fourth among rookies, behind Yaxel Lendeborg, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, but that “slight ding” is purely due to the limited game time.
And get this, his defense, which was a big question mark coming into the league, has been way better than expected. Noh pointed out that Dybantsa is “giving more effort than he did in college” and is “using his tools to generate deflections.” His screen navigation still needs some work, sure, but the early returns are definitely promising. This kid isn’t just an offensive spark; he’s showing he can contribute on both ends of the floor.
The Rookie of the Year Race Just Got Real
The chase for Rookie of the Year is already looking like a battle, with Lendeborg and Boozer playing incredibly well early on. But Dybantsa is proving he belongs right in that conversation, even with fewer games under his belt. He’s already impacting winning, and that’s what matters most. We’re only three games into his career, but Dybantsa is showing he’s a force. You know we’ll be glued to our screens to see how he builds on this insane start. Can he keep this momentum going? We sure hope so!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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