NEW ORLEANS, La. — Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa, the top pick in this year’s NBA draft, left Friday night’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans with a sprained left ankle, days before the regular season begins.
The injury happened in the closing minutes of the second quarter at Smoothie King Center, when the 19-year-old came down awkwardly after a pull-up jumper and rolled the ankle. He went to the locker room with the team’s medical staff before halftime and did not return.
Afterward, head coach Brian Keefe described it as a mild sprain and said the team held Dybantsa out as a precaution. He added that the club would learn more once Dybantsa is re-evaluated, which will decide whether he can play in Wednesday’s home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Before he got hurt, Dybantsa had scored 12 points in 15 minutes and added three rebounds and a blocked shot, making four of his eight shots, including one 3-pointer. Rookie guard Tre Johnson took his place in the starting lineup for the second half, and Washington went on to lose 107-106.
Washington selected Dybantsa, who played college ball at BYU, first overall in June. He scored between 11 and 14 points in each of his four preseason games and is set to play alongside veterans Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
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