The Washington Wizards are getting ready for the comeback of No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, who suffered an injury in their preseason finale.
While head coach Brian Keefe reiterated AJ Dybantsa's status as day-to-day, a video from the Wizards' practice showed the young forward taking free throws at the conlusion of a shooting session.
Washington concluded their preseason schedule with a narrow 107-106 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in an intensely contested exhibition matchup on Friday.
Dybantsa rolled his ankle after landing awkwardly following a mid-range pull-up jumper during the second quarter. The highly anticipated rookie immediately showed signs of discomfort and required assistance from the training staff to head back to the Wizards' locker room for further evaluation.
Dybantsa's solid preseason start
Dybantsa had a solid preseason debut with the Washington Wizards averaging 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per 21.7 minutes a game across 4 matchups.
Prior to his exit against the Pelicans, the young forward put on an impressive display, dropping 12 points on efficient shooting during his 15 minutes of action.
Dybantsa did not return to the floor for the remainder of the contest, sparking immediate concern among the Washington coaching staff and fans alike.