AJ Dybantsa’s preseason ended on a worrying note Friday night when the No. 1 overall pick rolled his ankle and exited the Washington Wizards’ preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans. The 19-year-old forward did not return after landing awkwardly in the first quarter, casting early doubt over his availability for the regular-season opener.
The AJ Dybantsa injury occurred when the rookie elevated for a mid-range jumper and was bumped by Pelicans star Zion Williamson on the way up. Dybantsa landed on the side of his foot, crumpled to the floor and was slow to get back up. After a timeout, teammates helped him into the locker room, where he remained for the rest of the night. The team has not yet provided an update on the severity of the injury.
AJ Dybantsa Injury Overshadows Wizards’ Preseason Finale
Washington lost the game 107-106 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, falling in the final seconds of a contest that will be remembered almost entirely for the rookie’s exit. Dybantsa finished with 12 points, two rebounds and one blocked shot in 14 minutes as a starter alongside Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr — a new-look core the franchise hopes can lift it out of years near the bottom of the standings. The AJ Dybantsa injury immediately became the only storyline that mattered in a game the Wizards lost by a single point.
The scene drew immediate concern across the league. Dybantsa is the centerpiece of Washington’s rebuild after going first overall in the NBA Draft, and any absence would deflate a fan base that has spent the preseason dreaming of a playoff push. Until the AJ Dybantsa injury is fully evaluated, every practice report will be scrutinized for clues about opening night. According to reports from the arena, the 19-year-old walked to the locker room under his own power, an encouraging early sign before the medical evaluation.
AJ Dybantsa Injury Puts Opening Night in Doubt
The timing could hardly be worse. The Wizards open their 2026-27 regular-season campaign at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, October 21 — five days after the AJ Dybantsa injury. Ankle sprains can sideline players for days or weeks depending on severity, and teams routinely hold young stars out of early-season games as a precaution.
Washington has given no indication which end of that spectrum the rookie faces. His status will be one of the most closely watched storylines of the coming week.
Through his first three exhibitions, Dybantsa averaged 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals despite shooting just 1-for-8 from three-point range. The all-around production, particularly the defensive activity, suggested a player ready to contribute from day one rather than a project needing months of seasoning. If he cannot go Wednesday, Bilal Coulibaly stands as the most likely candidate to absorb the extra wing minutes, with Kyshawn George and veteran Khris Middleton also available to slide into larger roles.
AJ Dybantsa Injury: What Comes Next for Washington
Head coach Brian Keefe now faces his first real adversity of the season before it has even begun. The Wizards spent the summer assembling veteran talent around their prized rookie, adding Young and Davis to a young core featuring Sarr and George. The plan only works if Dybantsa is on the floor, and the franchise will be understandably cautious with a 19-year-old cornerstone — no preseason finale is worth risking a regular season, let alone a career.
Friday’s game itself offered a reminder of how thin the margins are: a one-point loss in which neither team played particularly well, decided in the closing seconds. But the final score is already an afterthought in Washington. All eyes are on the training room, where the evaluation of the AJ Dybantsa injury will determine whether the most anticipated Wizards debut in years arrives on schedule or on crutches. Washington’s medical staff will dictate the timeline from here.