AJ Dybantsa was upgraded to questionable for Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, per the Wizards’ injury report.
Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has missed Washington’s first four games after spraining his left ankle in the team’s preseason finale.
The 6-foot-9 wing led all NCAA Division I scorers with 25.0 points per game as a freshman at BYU last season. His elite athleticism, 42.5-inch maximum vertical and efficient scoring at the rim made him the top prospect in a talented
draft class.
Dybantsa is expected to start alongside Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr upon his return. Bilal Coulibaly, who started and played well in Dybantsa’s place, will move to the bench.
Champagnie injury update
Justin Champagnie suffered a “right foot injury” in the Wizards’ 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, per the team’s injury report.
Champagnie appeared to injure his foot late in the first quarter. He attempted to play through it, but the injury overruled that determination. The 6-foot-7 wing intentionally fouled to stop the game and hobbled to the Wizards bench, where Khris Middleton and a team staffer helped him to the locker room.
The Wizards quickly ruled him out with a right foot injury. Champagnie was one of Washington’s best players through the first three games. The Wizards were a +36 with him on the floor and a -30 with him off. He tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds and was a +18 in the team’s win over the Bulls.
“[Justin] is going to recover, and whatever he’s going through, we’re going to be right there with him, and he’s going to be right there with us throughout his recovery,” Trae Young said. “We’re going to make sure he’s right. We’ll hold down the fort while he’s gone.”
Davis not on injury report
Anthony Davis was not listed on the Wizards’ injury report after he was seen shaking out his right hand toward the end of the fourth quarter.
Brian Keefe said postgame he thought Davis got hit in the hand and had no update. Davis took a more sarcastic approach postgame when asked about the potential injury.
“Oh no, I was hitting too many shots, and I was just shaking it out — it was kind of hot,” Davis said.
