The key facts

  • A.J. Dybantsa, the NBA draft's first overall pick, will miss Washington's season opener due to a left ankle sprain
  • He suffered the injury in a preseason game against New Orleans, landing awkwardly after a shot
  • His status is day-to-day; a possible debut is Friday against Toronto

The first overall pick's debut is postponed

A.J. Dybantsa, selected first overall in this year's NBA draft, will miss the season opener, in which Washington hosts Milwaukee on Wednesday. Wizards head coach Brian Keefe announced this: the 19-year-old American forward suffered a left ankle sprain and is listed as day-to-day. His next chance to play his first NBA game will come on Friday, when Toronto visits the US capital.

How the injury happened

The injury occurred last Friday in Washington's second quarterfinal — or rather, final — preseason game against New Orleans: Dybantsa landed awkwardly after a jump shot. In that game he scored 12 points, going 4-of-8 from the field, and added two rebounds and one block in 15 minutes. In all four of the Wizards' preseason games, he scored at least ten points.

Context: Washington's rebuild

According to AFP, the Wizards have not finished a season with a winning record since the 2017/18 season, and over the last three campaigns they have never won more than 18 games. The club, however, is rebuilding its roster around center Anthony Davis and guard Trae Young, who together with Dybantsa are expected to give a boost to a team that has not won a playoff series since 2017 and has not won an NBA title since 1978. Dybantsa's mother is from Jamaica, his father from the Republic of the Congo.