CLEVELAND (AP) — AJ Dybantsa showed on his first possession of an NBA game that he wasn’t going to shy away from the expectations that come with being the No. 1 pick.
The Washington Wizards rookie got the ball at the top of the key, drove past Cleveland’s James Harden to get to the lane and appeared headed for a dunk before being fouled by Jarrett Allen 16 seconds into the game.
Dybantsa made both free throws to begin his pro career. He would end up leading the Wizards with 19 points in a 121-111 loss Wednesday night.
It was the most points by a Wizards rookie in his debut 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.
“I was just trying to be aggressive from the jump. It’s kind of always been my game regardless of level that I got,” Dybantsa said. “I wanted my first basket to be a dunk so bad. I was telling my dad that, but I mean it’s cool, got fouled.”
Dybantsa — selected first in June’s NBA draft after one year at BYU — was sidelined the first four games due to a sprained ankle. He ended up playing 27 minutes, which coach Brian Keefe said was about in the range they wanted.
“I thought he was terrific. You saw his ability to get to the basket, to make simple reads, great passing from him. I thought his defensive activity was terrific. Pretty impressive for a first game,” Keefe said.
Dybantsa, whose family made the trip to Cleveland for his debut, said he had some butterflies coming into the game, but once he sank the free throws, it felt like another game.
Dybantsa, who led the nation with 25.5 points per game at BYU last season, is one of three No. 1 picks on Washington’s roster, along with Deandre Ayton (2018) and Anthony Davis (2012).
Davis said he told Dybantsa before the game not to overthink things and to have fun.
“He seemed like he was very calm, cool and collected,” said Davis, who had 18 points. “I think he came out with great energy and making his shots. It would’ve been good to get a win for him honestly, but I think he played really well.”
Dybantsa started at shooting guard. He had nine points in the first quarter, which according to Sportradar is the most first-quarter points by a Wizards rookie in a debut since at least 1996-97.
His first basket came on an alley-oop on a crosscourt pass from Trae Young with 8:56 remaining to give the Wizards an 11-6 lead.
“He scored from all three levels. He attacked the basket, mid-range, good defense as well. He did it all for a rookie,” Allen said.
Dybantsa finished 8 of 12 from the field along with two assists, two rebounds and two turnovers.
The Wizards are 2-3 after starting last season 1-15. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said it took a while before his team recognized this was a different Washington team.
The Cavaliers were down 13 in the third quarter before rallying to win.
“I think they’re going to surprise some people. We kind of came out like it was the old Wizards, I think. And before you know it, we could have been down 20 easy. So I’m glad we turned it around in the second half, respected them properly,” Atkinson said.
The Wizards also announced Wednesday that forward Justin Champagnie had surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot, which happened during the first quarter of Monday’s game against Charlotte. The team did not have a timetable on his return.
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By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
