News Article
Published
Oct 20, 2026 at 01:07 PM EDT
The Washington Wizards will begin the 2026-27 NBA season without the player expected to become the centerpiece of their future.
Rookie forward AJ Dybantsa has been ruled out of Wednesday's season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks because of a left ankle injury, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
The news delays the highly anticipated NBA debut of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, who was expected to provide an immediate boost to a Washington franchise looking to turn things around.
Dybantsa suffered the injury during Friday's preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans after landing awkwardly following a midrange jump shot.
The 19-year-old immediately showed signs of discomfort and exited the game during the second quarter. He finished with 12 points in 15 minutes before being shut down for the remainder of Washington's 107-106 loss.
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe initially described the decision to remove Dybantsa as precautionary. However, the injury continued to affect the rookie throughout the following days.
Dybantsa participated in limited shooting activities during Monday's practice but remained day-to-day as the team evaluated his recovery.
According to Tuesday's update, he remained limited at practice, prompting Washington to rule him out of the opener rather than risk further injury.
The setback comes after Dybantsa delivered an encouraging preseason performance, averaging 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists across four appearances.
Before arriving in Washington, the 6-foot-9 forward established himself as one of college basketball's most exciting players during his lone season at BYU. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game, strengthening his status as the top prospect in his draft class.
His arrival generated significant excitement for a Wizards organization that finished last season with a 17-65 record.
Washington had hoped to begin its new campaign by showcasing Dybantsa alongside a revamped roster featuring veteran talent and several promising young players.
Instead, the Wizards will have to adjust their opening-night rotation.
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Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly and Will Riley could receive additional opportunities while Dybantsa remains sidelined.
Although his absence is disappointing, the team has not announced a timetable for his return, and the injury is still being evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
Washington opens its season Wednesday at Capital One Arena against Milwaukee, but the franchise's newest star will have to wait a little longer to make his official NBA debut.