Top Pick AJ Dybantsa to Miss Second Straight Game as Wizards Host Raptors

Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa will miss his second straight game to start the season, ruled out of Friday's home game against the Toronto Raptors with a sprained left ankle.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, just 19 years old, has not yet made his regular-season debut. He injured the ankle in the Oct. 16 preseason finale against New Orleans after landing awkwardly, managing 12 points and two rebounds in 15 minutes before leaving as a precaution. He also sat out Wednesday's season-opening win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Head coach Brian Keefe said Thursday that Dybantsa remains day-to-day. He has been shooting in practice as he works toward a debut, and the Wizards are being careful with the centerpiece of their rebuild.

Dybantsa showed plenty of promise in the preseason, averaging 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals across four games, scoring 11 or more in every appearance. He led the nation in scoring last season with 25.5 points per game in his lone college campaign at BYU.

The rookie joins a reshaped Wizards roster featuring Anthony Davis and Trae Young, with offseason additions Deandre Ayton and Khris Middleton brought in to surround the young core. After Friday's Raptors game, Washington begins a three-game road trip Saturday against the Chicago Bulls.