The Washington Wizards have officially ruled out No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa, for their regular season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Oct. 21, after he suffered an ankle injury during the team’s final preseason game.

On Tuesday, Wizards head coach Brian Keefe confirmed that Dybantsa will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

AJ Dybantsa injury update

The injury occurred in the preseason matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. While attempting a mid-range jump shot, Dybantsa landed awkwardly on his right ankle, immediately collapsing to the court in visible pain. Medical staff quickly attended to him as he grasped his ankle before he managed to get up and limp off the floor to the locker room for further evaluation. Keefe said that Dybantsa had suffered a mild ankle sprain

Before the injury, Dybantsa tallied 12 points in just 15 minutes of action.

While the team has ruled him out for the season opener, Keefe did not provide further details regarding the severity of the injury or a potential timetable for Dybantsa’s return, leaving his status uncertain.