{"id":938122,"date":"2026-10-18T22:44:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T22:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/938122\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T22:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T22:44:09","slug":"nbas-no-1-pick-aj-dybantsa-considered-day-to-day-following-preseason-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/938122\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA\u2019s No. 1 Pick AJ Dybantsa Considered \u201cDay-to-Day\u201d Following Preseason Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NBA has long awaited the debut of No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa<\/a>, dating back to days spent dominating preps and college basketball. Following a preseason injury, there\u2019s a chance fans will have to wait just a bit longer.<\/p>\n

In the Wizards\u2019 final preseason game, Dybantsa shot a left-fading jumper with his right hand and landed awkwardly. He would eventually walk back to the team\u2019s locker-room, with plenty of questions thrown around following the game as to the severity of the injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At practice on Sunday, Wizards\u2019 head coach Brian Keefe said that Dybantsa will be considered \u201cday-to-day,\u201d a big win for Washington. When asked by The Athletic\u2019s Josh Robbins if Dybantsa would be playing the team\u2019s opener, Keefe wouldn\u2019t commit.<\/p>\n

That’s a very fair, logical question! <\/p>\n

I posed a follow-up to Brian Keefe that went exactly like this. I said, “I heard you when you said AJ is ‘day-to-day.’ Do you know if he’ll play on Wednesday?” <\/p>\n

“We’re just going one day at a time,” Keefe answered. https:\/\/t.co\/vzXFHCULKQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) October 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Delaying Dybantsa\u2019s official start in the NBA by one or a couple games won\u2019t be earth-shattering, though fans certainly want to see him suited up against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Washington enters the season as one of the biggest wildcards in the league. They have a freshly-inked and hyper-talented No. 1 pick, added big-name stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis for the foreseeable future, and still have a bevy up up-and-coming young talents to pour into. The Wizards have finished near the bottom of the league for several seasons in a row, but could make waves this season, even in a competitive Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

Dybantsa will be crucial to that potential success on both ends. Scoring-wise, he hasn\u2019t been as potent as he was for the BYU Cougars through preseason, but still has great command of the ball for a wing. He can score at all three levels, has elite measurable, and only stands to improve as he gets more opportunities.<\/p>\n

Luckily for Washington, Dybantsa has already looked a better defensive prospect than he did with the Cougars. He\u2019s used his 6-foot-10 frame and unique movement skills to clog lanes, racking up far more steals per game than he did through college.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always knew I had defensive potential,\u201d Dybantsa said at a practice following his first preseason outing. \u201cIt was just me being lazy in college \u2014 I\u2019m definitely capable of [defending] at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n

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