AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, will miss the Washington Wizards' 2026-27 regular-season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an ankle injury.
Dybantsa suffered the injury during Washington's preseason finale on October 16. Head coach Brian Keefe described his status as day-to-day and expressed optimism that the rookie would not be sidelined for an extended period.
Across four preseason games, Dybantsa averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals, showing promising versatility on both ends of the court.
One of his standout performances came against the Detroit Pistons, when he recorded 14 points and 7 rebounds.
Considered a key part of Washington's future, Dybantsa will have to wait a little longer to make his official NBA regular-season debut.
No specific return date has been announced, although the Wizards remain optimistic about his recovery.