AJ Dybantsa Limps Off With Ankle Sprain in Wizards Preseason Loss
The No. 1 overall pick dropped 12 points in 15 minutes before rolling his ankle. Brian Keefe called it a mild sprain — here's what it means for your dynasty stash.
Mild sprain in preseason — monitor, but no panic for dynasty rosters.
- 12 points in 15 minutes before exiting
- Keefe: mild ankle sprain, pulled as precaution
- Wizards fell 107-106 to the Pelicans
- No further update as of Saturday morning
- Dybantsa is the No. 1 overall pick
AJ Dybantsa's first real taste of NBA action ended on the floor. The No. 1 overall pick rolled his right ankle in the Wizards' preseason game against the Pelicans, landing awkwardly on a midrange jumper before crumpling to the court and grabbing at the joint. He got up under his own power but limped straight to the locker room and didn't return.
Before the exit, the rookie had been cooking — 12 points in just 15 minutes, the kind of efficient burst that gets dynasty managers daydreaming. Washington ultimately dropped a one-point thriller, 107-106. Coach Brian Keefe told reporters afterward it was a mild ankle sprain and that pulling Dybantsa was precautionary, with the staff planning to reassess once they have more information. As of Saturday morning, no further update had come down.
Why the Panic Meter Stays Low
Context matters here. This is preseason, the injury is being labeled mild, and the Wizards have zero incentive to rush a franchise cornerstone back for exhibition minutes. Teams routinely shut rookies down for a week over tweaks they'd play through in March. The read-between-the-lines version of Keefe's comments: there's no rush, and that's a good thing for Dybantsa's long-term value even if it costs you a few early games.
The Washington Pecking Order
Dybantsa isn't walking into a vacuum. Anthony Davis anchors this Wizards frontcourt as our No. 13 overall player, coming off a 44.2 fantasy points per game actual in 2025-26 — though he logged just 20 games and his last five games ran 7.3 below his season average. The usage is there for a rookie to carve out a role, but Davis remains the focal point when healthy, which tempers how quickly Dybantsa's numbers will spike regardless of this ankle.
For fantasy managers: this is a WATCH, not a worry. In redraft leagues Dybantsa was already a speculative late-round dart, and a mild preseason sprain doesn't change that math — just hold off on drafting him as anything but a stash. In dynasty, do absolutely nothing; you don't sell a No. 1 pick over a tweaked ankle in October. Keep an eye out for the next official update, and if it's confirmed minor, treat his debut timeline as business as usual.
