Dybantsa tops 2026 NBA rookie rankings
SkimNews Take
Summer league samples are small and competition is uneven, so rankings built on them tend to reinforce draft-slot priors more than they forecast actual rookie-year impact.
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- AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 pick, Washington Wizards) tops the rookie rankings despite attempting too many low-efficiency midrange jumpers in Las Vegas summer league play.
- Cameron Boozer (No. 3 pick, Memphis Grizzlies) ranks second, averaging 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals while posting a true shooting mark north of 60%.
- Darryn Peterson (No. 2 pick, Utah Jazz) ranks third, tying Dybantsa for the Las Vegas lead in free throw attempts and flashing explosive drives to the rim, though turnovers and foul trouble plagued him.
- Caleb Wilson (No. 4 pick, Chicago Bulls) ranks fourth, taking 8.3 three-pointers per game after going just 7-for-27 from deep in 24 college games, but shot a shocking 23% (3-for-13) on free throws with 13 turnovers vs. 5 assists.
- Brayden Burries (No. 10 pick, Milwaukee Bucks) climbed to fifth after averaging 22.3 points on 50% shooting (44% on threes) with 12 assists against just one turnover in Las Vegas.
- Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 pick, Dallas Mavericks) made 75% (15-for-20) of his two-point attempts and recorded six blocks and five steals in just two summer league games, though he fouled out midway through his debut.
Why it matters: These summer league rankings will shape early-season expectations and Rookie of the Year debates, with Dybantsa, Boozer and Peterson positioned as the front-runners. Burries' efficient play as the No. 10 pick and Johnson's two-game standout suggest multiple late first-rounders could outplay their draft slot. The author repeatedly cautions that small-sample summer league stats — especially shooting percentages — rarely translate to regular-season performance.
