AJ Dybantsa’s ankle injury put a jolt through the Washington Wizards’ preseason finale, and now the team’s season opener is carrying an extra layer of uncertainty.
Washington fell 107-106 to the New Orleans Pelicans, and Dybantsa’s night ended early after he went down on the court at Smoothie King Center just 15 minutes into another strong performance. He limped to the locker room, leaving the Wizards and their fans waiting for answers with Wednesday’s opener against the Milwaukee Bucks closing in fast.
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe told Monumental Sports Network sideline reporter Chase Hughes that Dybantsa will be re-evaluated, which means there’s no immediate clarity on whether he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season. That looming uncertainty now hangs over what had been shaping up to be a major moment for Washington’s fan base.
Dybantsa has been one of the bright spots over the last two weeks, even if the jumper still looks like a work in progress. His athletic finish at the rim, his burst in transition and his unexpected defensive impact have all stood out. He looked on his way to another productive outing before the ankle roll cut it short, ending a 12-point performance.
The injury itself doesn’t sound like the kind of setback that should define his season, especially since he was able to walk off under his own power. Still, the possibility of the Wizards being cautious is real, and if they decide to hold him out against Milwaukee, it would be a tough pill for everyone who was waiting to see him make his regular-season debut.
Washington has shown it is not interested in rushing things with Dybantsa. That much was clear when he appeared in only two games during his Las Vegas Summer League run.
At the same time, the organization knows exactly what he represents. He has quickly become one of the clearest symbols of where this franchise is headed.
The Wizards already had a young core in Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson and others, but Dybantsa now sits at the center of that group as the player with the best chance to become the face of what comes next.
For the moment, the best course is simply to wait for more information. Anyone already holding tickets for game one will be watching the updates closely over the next few days.
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