🪄 Hey, D.C. Mark here. A new Wizards era is loading, with AJ Dybantsa as the often-smiling face of it.

• The 19-year-old is no ordinary rookie.
• In a two-part series, we're examining how Dybantsa became a basketball superstar and burgeoning brand — and how he's giving fans a glimpse of his life in the spotlight.

📺 What's on the tube: Saturday is stacked, with four local teams in action.

• ⚽ Spirit vs. Gotham: Saturday, 12:30pm, CBS/Paramount+
• 🏈 Maryland vs. Rutgers: Saturday, 12:30pm, Big Ten Network
• 🏒 Capitals vs. Devils: Saturday, 1pm, Monumental
• ⚽️ D.C. United at Orlando: Saturday, 7:30pm, Apple TV

Today’s newsletter is 879 words — a 3.5-minute read.

AJ Dybantsa had just finished his first press conference of his rookie season when he made eye contact with a Wizards executive who helps coordinate the team's messaging.

• "Growth!" he exclaimed.
• Dybantsa celebrated hitting that buzzword as if he'd sunk a half-court buzzer-beater.

Reality check: Really, it was a layup. The 19-year-old has plenty of practice being a pro.

Why it matters: After years near the bottom of the NBA standings, the Wizards are counting on the No. 1 pick to become the face of their franchise — and help make them one of D.C.'s hottest tickets.

Flashback: Dybantsa — a big, athletic forward who can do it all — has been in the spotlight since middle school, with highlight tapes circulating before he was a teenager.

• At 16, he signed a name, image and likeness deal with Nike.

As a kid, AJ received an allowance from his parents, who encouraged him to save, his father, Anicet Sr., tells Axios.

• He'd occasionally spend some at McDonald's, his dad said, but not much else.
• "He hasn't bought a pair of sneakers since he was 16, since he had a Nike NIL. … He doesn't lose money on clothes, because he can get them for free."

Then came college: Dybantsa's choice of BYU might have seemed unusual for a Brockton, Massachusetts native.

• The reported payday made it easier to understand: More than $5 million in NIL money.
• His lone season there — when he led the nation with 25.5 points per game — cemented his status as a potential star.

By the time Dybantsa landed in Washington, he was already a big business.

• He had re-signed with Nike, which helped develop his "Starboy" logo, and has endorsements with Fanatics and Red Bull.

Behind the scenes: Rather than hire a traditional agent, Dybantsa relies on a team of roughly a dozen people overseen by his father, who goes by Ace.

• The group includes a business manager, adviser, life coach and a social media team.
• "I'm the CEO," Ace told Axios.

The bottom line: AJ came of age during a revolution: An athlete can be famous, sponsored and making millions before entering the league.

• Now comes the added pressure of being the face of a franchise.
• And perhaps an entire city.

What's next: Next week, we'll explore how Dybantsa learned to navigate life in the spotlight and control what fans see.

• Part of that is posting on LinkedIn, where Dybantsa lists one job under "Experience": "Professional Basketball Player — Washington Wizards — Full-time."

The start date is 2026. But in many ways, he's been a pro for years.

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Three days after her rocky debut, President Trump suggested today that White House press secretary Katie Zacharia should "reconsider" whether she wants the job. A senior Trump adviser tells Axios that Zacharia is expected to leave within "a few days." (Axios)

🛴 D.C. police are stepping up e-scooter and e-bike safety outreach starting today, following a deadly scooter crash this week. The citywide push will focus on U Street, Navy Yard and Chinatown, reminding riders to wear helmets, travel with traffic and ride solo.

• The campaign runs through year's end, as D.C. traffic deaths have risen 62% compared with the same period last year, according to MPD.

🌡️ Summer isn't done with D.C. yet: Wednesday's 90-degree heat broke a record dating to 1919 for the latest 90-degree day of the year. And the October heat lingers, with temperatures climbing into the 80s again today. (Washington Post)

Last week, Sportico released its valuations for every franchise in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS.

Here's how D.C.'s teams stack up:

• Commanders: $9.64 billion — 14th across the five leagues and 11th in the NFL. That's $3.59 billion more than what Josh Harris' group paid Daniel Snyder for the franchise in 2023.
• Wizards: $5.56 billion — 16th among 30 NBA teams.
• Capitals: $2.67 billion — 11th among 32 NHL teams.
• Nationals: $2.31 billion — 15th among 30 MLB teams.
• D.C. United: $750 million — 12th among 30 MLS teams.

Context: These are estimates based on revenue, market conditions and other financial factors.

• A franchise is ultimately worth what some billionaire will pay for it, like a piece of fine art.
• (If only the Mona Lisa had a media rights deal to line the pockets of the Louvre.)

The bottom line: D.C.'s teams are middle-of-the-pack in their respective leagues, if not quite in the actual standings.

• But they're wildly appreciating assets — worth far more today than when their owners bought them.

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🎂 I'm heading to Virginia wine country to celebrate my wife. (Happy birthday, Andrea!)

This newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia Orozco and Mike Szvetitz.