Sports
**Published** October 18, 2026 4:05pm
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Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; NBA Commissioner poses with the first pick in the 2026 NBA draft selected by the Washington Wizards, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa at Barclays Center. Photo: Brad Penner-Imagn Images via Reuters
No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa sustained a mild ankle sprain during the Washington Wizards' preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, head coach Brian Keefe announced.
Keefe told sideline reporter Chase Hughes the rookie forward was removed from the game as a precaution and will undergo further testing.
"We'll look at it more when we get more information," Keefe said.
Dybantsa landed awkwardly and fell to the court following a midrange jumper and limped to the locker room. He scored 12 points in 15 minutes before exiting in the second quarter of the 107-106 setback to New Orleans.
The Wizards open the regular season Wednesday against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game during his lone college campaign at BYU.
**\--Field Level Media/Reuters**