Dybantsa vs Peterson opens 2026 NBA Summer League Thursday
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- Las Vegas Summer League tips off Thursday with a seven-game slate, headlined by No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa leading the Wizards against No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson and the Jazz at 8 p.m. ET
- Dybantsa and Peterson carry a built-in rivalry dating to high school — they met earlier this calendar year when Peterson's Kansas faced Dybantsa's BYU, with Peterson erupting for 19 first-half points before cramping forced him out of the second half
- Day 2 (July 10) features No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer's Grizzlies against No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson's Bulls, while Day 4 (July 12) sends Dybantsa's Wizards against the Kings and No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr.
- Each team plays at least five games; the top four teams after the first four advance to playoff semifinals on July 18 (both on Prime Video), with the championship tipping off July 19 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Last summer, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Sacramento Kings for the Vegas Summer League championship
- All games are played at Thomas & Mack Center or UNLV's Pavilion, with ESPN and ESPN2 broadcasts available for streaming on fubo
Why it matters: The summer league is the NBA's first live look at this draft class under pro rules, and the marquee matchup carries real history — Peterson dropped 19 first-half points on Dybantsa's BYU before cramps ended that college showdown. Whoever wins Vegas claims bragging rights in a rivalry that's only getting started, and a title is decided July 19 on ESPN.
