AJ Dybantsa Injured, Latest on Wizards Star's Timeline to Return Ahead of NBA Season Opener

Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa suffered a sprained ankle six days before he is scheduled to make his regular-season NBA debut.

Wizards coach Brian Keefe provided the injury update Friday to sideline reporter Chase Hughes (h/t ESPN).

"AJ's got an ankle sprain. We just took him out of the game for a precaution," Keefe told reporters after the game. "We'll look at it more, get more information when we get back."

Dybantsa appeared to roll his left ankle in the second quarter of Friday's preseason loss at the New Orleans Pelicans. He had recorded 12 points in 15 minutes of play before exiting the game.

The Wizards are preparing to open the regular season Wednesday against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.

The 19-year-old was helped up by teammates before limping off the court and sitting out the rest of the game.

Dybantsa finished the preseason having appeared in four exibition games for the Wizards, averaging 12.8 points in 21.5 minutes per game on the court thanks to 44.3 percent shooting from the field.

The Wizards haven't made the playoffs since 2021. Washington has recorded 18 or fewer wins in each of the last three seasons, a span during which Bub Carrington recently said his team was "held back" by trying to secure high draft picks.

Washington selected Alex Sarr with the 2024 No. 2 pick, then drafted Tre Johnson at No. 6 in 2025 before securing former BYU star Dybantsa with the top selection of the 2026 draft.

The Wizards are hoping to finally take the next step after adding Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Khris Middleton to surround their young core. Dybantsa recently told 7News' Scott Abraham (h/t 7News' Aidan Currie) the Wizards are "trying to make it to the playoffs" this season.

"Teams or fans looking in from the outside are like, 'It's just the Wizards' — which we're totally cool with... We're cool being the underdog, and we'll gun for these other teams," Dybantsa told Abraham.

The Wizards will hope to get good news about Dybantsa as the franchise looks to remain optimistic about beginning a more competitive season next week.