The Washington Wizards are facing down their regular season opener without knowing if their No. 1 overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, will even be on the court. The rookie phenom went down with a left ankle injury during Friday’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans, a game the Wizards ultimately lost 107-106. Before exiting in the second quarter, Dybantsa still managed to put up 12 points, two rebounds, and a block in just 15 minutes, hitting four of his eight field goal attempts, including a three-pointer.
The Scare That Rocked Preseason
Man, you saw it happen, right? Dybantsa, just 19 years old, landed awkwardly after a midrange jump shot, fell to the court, and then limped off to the locker room. Your heart sinks when you see something like that, especially with a guy you’ve pegged as the future. Wizards head coach Brian Keefe was quick to call it a mild ankle sprain, emphasizing that pulling Dybantsa from the game was purely precautionary. Keefe even said, “We’ll look at it more when we get more information,” which honestly sounds like standard coach-speak when they’re holding their breath, but at least it wasn’t immediately called something catastrophic. This kid is supposed to be the spark that changes everything for Washington, and seeing him go down like that right before the real games start? Brutal.
Day-to-Day Outlook, Season-Long Stakes
Here’s the kicker: Keefe gave an update Sunday, confirming Dybantsa is officially “day-to-day” with that ankle sprain. That’s good news compared to, say, “out for weeks,” but it still leaves his availability for Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks totally up in the air. This isn’t just any rookie we’re talking about; Dybantsa led the entire nation in scoring at BYU with 25.5 points per game in his lone college season. The Wizards picked him first overall in June, banking on his insane offensive versatility and athleticism to actually transform the franchise. He flashed that potential in preseason, too, averaging around 12.8 points across four games while getting used to the NBA grind. Look, as much as everyone wants to see him debut Wednesday, the smart play has to be protecting their franchise cornerstone. Rushing him back for one game, even opening night, could lead to way bigger problems. Washington has poured too much into this young star to risk his long-term development just to get him on the court a few days early.
The Wizards are going to keep evaluating his recovery non-stop as Wednesday gets closer. His health is the absolute biggest priority. You’ve gotta hope they make the right call and don’t push him too hard, even if it means we have to wait a little longer to see Dybantsa officially kick off his NBA career.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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