AJ Dybantsa’s start to the season is on hold a little longer.
The Wizards have ruled him out for tomorrow night’s game against Charlotte, extending his absence to four straight games to open the year as he continues to deal with an ankle injury, according to Siegel on X, formerly Twitter.
Dybantsa picked up the injury in the final preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans after landing awkwardly on Zion Williamson. Head coach Brian Keefe said the injury wasn’t serious, which has kept hope alive that the rookie could return soon. Even so, Washington is taking the cautious route early in the season and doesn’t want to risk turning a manageable issue into something bigger.
While Dybantsa sits, the Wizards are leaning on the rest of their roster to pick up the minutes. That includes the team’s young players, along with veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
Young and Davis have already been active in helping bring the younger players along, and Young recently shared the message he’s been giving Dybantsa as he adjusts to the expectations that come with being a No. 1 pick.
“Obviously, it's easy to focus on yourself and try to make your mark. But I think the easiest way to find success early is focusing on the team's success.
Finding out where you fit in and where you can stand out too,” Young said. “So I think coming in and just finding your ways to fit in with the team is the best way to be the best version of yourself.
So that would be the best advice I could give.”
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Trae Young Has Lifted The Wizards But One Problem Still Lingers
Trae Young has given the Wizards an immediate jolt to open the season, bringing the kind of creation and shot-making Washington has been searching for. He has been in full command as a playmaker, setting the tone for the offense while also scoring enough to keep defenses from overloading on his passing game.
Even with a win over the Bulls in hand, the closing stretch showed there is still work to do. Washington built a comfortable fourth-quarter lead, then had to sweat out a late Chicago push before escaping, a reminder that the teams improved offense will need cleaner late-game execution if it wants this fast start to translate into something more durable. [Read more 🡒]