AJ Dybantsa’s first NBA game will have to wait a little longer.
The Washington Wizards opened their season with a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, but they did it without the No. 1 draft pick after he was ruled out because of an ankle injury. That update means Dybantsa still hasn’t made his official NBA debut.
The ankle issue traces back to the Wizards’ final preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, when Dybantsa landed awkwardly on Zion Williamson while going up for a jump shot.
Washington has kept describing the injury as not serious, which is encouraging news for a team that can afford to be patient early on. The Wizards have enough depth to cover the gap for now, and the expectation is that Dybantsa should be back sooner rather than later. His teammates, meanwhile, are ready for the day he gets on the floor.
That optimism lines up with the buzz around the rookie before the season even tipped off. Trae Young had plenty of praise for Dybantsa and didn’t hold back when talking about what he’s already seen.
“AJ, he’s one of one for sure. He’s definitely confident in himself, but he has all the reason to.
The work he puts in and what he does on the court, sometimes it’s crazy to even think about,” Young said. “You wouldn’t even think a player can get from one point to the next as fast as he can.
He’s so athletic and can score at all levels. He’s a very smart player, a cerebral player.
He’s gonna have such a long and amazing career. He’s gonna be one of the future faces of the league for sure for a long time coming, and I’m happy he’s a part of my team.”
In Other News...
Anthony Davis Just Changed What AJ Dybantsa Could Walk Into
Anthony Davis finally gave Washington a first look at the version of itself it has been trying to build around, and the debut came with plenty of reminders of why his presence changes everything. Against Milwaukee, Davis piled up 34 points and 12 rebounds while also filling the box score in other ways, giving the Wizards a true front-line focal point and forcing opponents to account for him every trip down the floor.
For a rookie like AJ Dybantsa, who sat out with an ankle injury and watched from the bench, that kind of gravitational pull matters. Washington has spent plenty of time searching for easier touches and cleaner spacing for its younger players, and Davis ability to command defensive attention could make Dybantsas eventual return a lot more comfortable than it would have been before this debut. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Opener Raised One Huge Question About This Teams Ceiling
The Wizards opened the season by knocking off the Bucks 128-116, a result that immediately gives this group a different kind of early-season buzz. Anthony Davis made the kind of first impression teams hope for when they bring in a centerpiece, powering Washington with 34 points and 12 rebounds in a debut that matched a franchise mark and gave the lineup a clear focal point on both ends.
Still, the performance also left one obvious question hanging over the win. Washington did enough to control the night, but the offense was choppy from deep, finishing under 30 percent from three and getting little help from key perimeter looks, which is the sort of issue that can travel from a feel-good opener into a much tougher conversation about how high this team can climb. [Read more 🡒]
Trae Young Already Changed What The Wizards Look Like
The Wizards opened their season with a win over the Bucks, and Trae Youngs arrival already looked like the kind of move that can change the feel of a team. In 38 minutes, the veteran point guard steadied Washingtons offense, got everyone organized, and helped spark the second-half scoring burst that turned a competitive opener into something more convincing. For a roster trying to move from rebuilding to contending, that kind of control can matter as much as raw production.
Youngs influence went beyond the box score, even if the numbers still told an important part of the story. Washington has spent plenty of time searching for a lead guard who can settle possessions and keep the offense from drifting, and Young fit that description from the start against Milwaukee. If the Wizards are going to make this next phase feel real, nights like this are a strong reminder of why they brought him in. [Read more 🡒]