Dybantsa Tops 2026 NBA Rookie Rankings After Summer League
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- AJ Dybantsa (Washington Wizards, No. 1 pick) claimed the top spot in early rookie rankings despite attempting too many low-efficiency midrange jumpers, with the source noting no other rookie produced as many highlight-worthy sequences in Las Vegas.
- Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies, No. 3 pick) ranked No. 2 by stuffing the stat sheet at 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, with his 6-8, 253-pound frame and lateral agility making him look NBA-ready.
- Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks, No. 10 pick) emerged as arguably the best rookie guard in Vegas, averaging 22.3 points on 50% shooting and 44% from three while recording 12 assists against just one turnover.
- Darryn Peterson (Utah Jazz, No. 2 pick) showed shooting range and explosive drives — including a dunk over a Clippers defender — and tied Dybantsa for the Vegas lead in free throw attempts, though turnovers and foul trouble dogged him in Las Vegas.
- Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls, No. 4 pick) is attempting 8.3 three-pointers per game in summer league after going just 7-for-27 from deep across 24 college games, potentially adding a new offensive dimension, though he shot a shocking 23% (3-for-13) on free throws.
- Morez Johnson Jr. (Dallas Mavericks, No. 9 pick) hit 75% of his two-point attempts (15-for-20) and posted six blocks and five steals in just two summer league games, easing doubts about his draft-night reach.
- Meleek Thomas (Cleveland Cavaliers) led all summer league scorers at 28.3 points per game, while Labaron Philon Jr. (Philadelphia) and Allen Graves (Toronto) also earned honorable mentions; Jayden Quaintance (No. 20) and Karim Lopez (No. 21) sat out with injuries.
Why it matters: Summer league performances are notoriously noisy, and the source explicitly warns that 3-point percentage in Vegas has almost no correlation to regular-season success. Still, the rankings preview the Rookie of the Year race — with Boozer, Peterson and Dybantsa already positioning themselves as front-runners before any of them have logged a regular-season minute, and the Bucks' Burries (No. 10 pick) making a case to crack the rotation over a crowded backcourt.
