Imagine waiting your whole life for the first day at your dream job, then rolling your ankle at the office party the week before. That's roughly where AJ Dybantsa is right now.

The 2026 No. 1 overall pick left the Wizards' preseason finale in New Orleans on Friday after landing awkwardly on his left ankle following a midrange jumper. He limped to the locker room. Coach Brian Keefe called it a mild sprain and said keeping him out was more of a precaution. "We'll look at it more when we get more information," Keefe said, per ESPN.

Before he left, Dybantsa had 12 points in 15 minutes. The former BYU star scored in double figures in all four of his preseason games, Hoops Rumors noted, and he's projected to start at small forward. So yes, Washington would very much like him back.

Still, health first. A mild sprain in October beats a rushed return and a long winter.

What's next: The Wizards open at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. Whether Dybantsa plays is still up in the air.