AJ Dybantsa’s debut waits again: the No. 1 pick misses a third straight game with a left ankle sprain

AJ Dybantsa‘s NBA debut will have to wait at least one more game: the Washington Wizards ruled the No. 1 overall pick out of Saturday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls with a left ankle sprain, the third straight regular-season game he has missed.

The injury is not considered serious. Coach Brian Keefe has called the rookie day-to-day since the start of the week, and the club described the sprain as mild before the opener. But Washington has chosen caution with the centerpiece of its rebuild, and that caution has now cost Dybantsa the whole first week of the season.

How it happened

Dybantsa went down in the second quarter of the preseason finale in New Orleans on Friday, October 16. He came down awkwardly on his left foot after a midrange jumper, needed help to get up and limped to the locker room, finishing with 12 points in 15 minutes. “AJ’s got an ankle sprain,” Keefe said that night, calling the decision to keep him out a precaution.

The former BYU star had looked ready before that. Across four exhibition games he averaged 12.8 points in 21.5 minutes and shot 44.3 percent from the field.

What it means for the rotation

Without him, Washington has split the wing minutes. Bilal Coulibaly has held the starting spot and gave the Wizards 11 points, four steals and two blocks in 29 minutes in the 128-116 opening win over Milwaukee. Justin Champagnie and Khris Middleton have taken the rest, and Middleton’s role should keep growing until Dybantsa is cleared. The Wizards are 1-1 after Friday’s 112-102 loss in Toronto, with Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis projected to start in Chicago. Center Tristan Vukcevic is also out with a hip issue.

Chicago is short-handed for its home opener too. The official report lists Nic Claxton (hamstring), Patrick Williams (groin) and Noa Essengue (head contusion) as out. Essengue began the day probable before he was downgraded twice, and Williams has yet to play this season. That could open minutes for Zach Collins and rookie Dailyn Swain. Every status for the night is on our NBA injury report page.

What comes next

The Wizards and Bulls tip off at the United Center on Saturday, October 24, at 8 p.m. ET (3 a.m. Sunday in Cairo): Wizards at Bulls in the Game Center. Dybantsa’s next chance to debut is Monday, October 26, when Washington visits Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET (2 a.m. Tuesday in Cairo): Wizards at Hornets.