Top NBA Draft pick Dybantsa to miss opener with ankle sprain

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — AJ Dybantsa, the top pick in this year's NBA Draft, will miss Washington's season opener Wednesday against visiting Milwaukee with a left ankle sprain, Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. The 19-year-old American forward, whose mother is from Hanover, Jamaica, is listed as day-to-day, and his next opportunity to make his NBA debut will come Friday when Toronto visits the United States (US) capital. Dybantsa, whose mother is from Jamaica and father is from the Republic of Congo, suffered the injury last Friday in the second quarter of Washington's pre-season finale against New Orleans after landing awkwardly following a jump shot. Dybantsa scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting with two rebounds and a blocked shot in 15 minutes against the Pelicans. He scored in double figures in all four Wizards pre-season games. The Wizards have not managed a winning season since 2017-18 and have not won more than 18 games in any of the past three campaigns. Washington, however, has rebuilt with centre Anthony Davis and guard Trae Young, who, along with Dybantsa, is expected to provide a spark for a franchise that has not won a playoff series since 2017 and has not captured an NBA title since 1978.