AJ Dybantsa's NBA Debut Delayed Again as Wizards Rule Rookie Out for Saturday
Underdog NBA reported: 'AJ Dybantsa (ankle) listed out Saturday.'
fans have been waiting since 2021 for a reason to care about late-April basketball, and the universe has responded by putting their shiny new savior in bubble wrap.
The highly anticipated NBA debut of No. 1 overall pick is officially on hold for at least one more night. Underdog NBA reported that the forward has been ruled out for Saturday's road matchup against the Chicago Bulls due to a lingering left ankle sprain.
originally tweaked the ankle during 's preseason finale against the . He landed awkwardly after pulling up for a midrange jumper over , which is a tough break, considering sharing airspace with Zion is basically an extreme sport.
This marks the third consecutive missed game to start the regular season for the prized . He already sat out Wednesday's season opener against the and Friday night's clash with the Toronto Raptors.
The Wizards are clearly playing the long game here, and the math backs them up. led the nation with 25.5 points per game as a freshman at BYU and was cruising through the preseason with 12.8 points a night. has zero incentive to rush their franchise cornerstone back onto the floor for the second night of a back-to-back in October.
With sidelined, continues to soak up the extra wing minutes. stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, four steals, and two blocks in the opener, making him the obvious pivot for anyone scrambling to fill a daily fantasy lineup or looking at defensive props this weekend.
Saturday's game in Chicago kicks off a three-game road trip for . If the ankle responds well to the extra rest, could finally make his debut next week. Until then, the will keep treating his left foot like a museum exhibit.