After several lean seasons, the Washington Wizards are poised to leap into playoff contention as soon as next season.
Acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis at the trade deadline signaled their desire to dig themselves out of the bottom of the league, but the Wizards also caught another lucky break in this year’s draft, which allowed them to select AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall. Dybantsa feels confident about his ability to slide next to both All-Stars.
“I think I can just fit in as like an off-ball guy that can score in different ways, score in transition, score off the catch, score off the dribble,” Dybantsa said. “But also they challenged me, when they talked to me, like, ‘If we pick you, we want you to play defense 94 feet and pick up.’ So I definitely bring that, too.
“Just coming into the league and not having any vets is probably tough. I mean, it is tough. But having vets, like All-Star guys like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, guys who have won chips like Anthony Davis, I think I can kind of pick their brains and just get some easy knowledge.”
Young is going to have the ball in his hands a lot of the time as the lead ball-handler, but he’s proven to be capable of averaging double-digit assists during any given season. Dybantsa knows he’s going to have to take an off-ball approach to best fit that setup.
“I think I can definitely find a balance,” Dybantsa said. “I can play off-ball. I mean, not a lot of people have seen that, obviously, going to BYU. But I can play off-ball. I’ve been playing off-ball with Prolific Prep. I played with Tyran Stokes and other No. 1 guys.
“When I go to USA [Basketball], I’m not the No. 1 option. So I can definitely play off-ball. Obviously, I have to pave my way. Obviously, I’m walking in with some vets. So definitely have to earn my spot.”
The flow of the game sometimes requires players to wear many different hats. The greatest ones know how to adapt to any situation and when to focus on one area over another, which Dybantsa prides himself on.
“My versatility,” Dybantsa said. “I think I can bring whatever they need me to do. So if they want me to be strictly like a defender, I think I can do that. If they want me to be strictly offensive, I can do that. But I think I can bring two-way abilities, being able to score off the catch [and] dribble.
“Been working on my catch-and-shoot three a lot. Trying to guard the best player. And obviously, me being able to fit in with other long wings they have there defensively, I think we can really mess things up.”
Dybantsa is likely to enter the season as a heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Given Washington’s current roster construction, Dybantsa should be afforded ample time to work on his all-around game rather than taking over as the No. 1 option right away.
