AJ Dybantsa to start Wizards debut Wednesday

AJ has made an effort to work on his defense and his off-ball ability, and it has paid off in a big way. He hasn’t been nearly as ball dominant as he was in college, and the shot looks much better than it was at BYU. He’s already the third best player on the team and he will continue to climb up the hierarchy. Outside of Trae, AD, and AJ tonight, it was pretty rough from the Wizards tonight despite the win.

Johnson did not play in Wednesday’s loss to the Cavaliers, which factored into Bilal Coulibaly playing 27 minutes. If Johnson remains out, Coulibaly’s playing time is unlikely to decrease.

Johnson missed Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers, but there is a chance he returns to take on Charlotte. With AJ Dybantsa making his debut, Bilal Coulibaly played 27 minutes off the bench. If Johnson is back, Coulibaly will likely take on a smaller role.

Just under two weeks after he sprained his ankle during a preseason game against the Pelicans, Dybantsa made his anticipated NBA debut on Wednesday. The Wizards rookie was ready for the moment, scoring nine points in his first stint, which spanned seven minutes. Dybantsa logged 27 minutes on the night, and he may hover around that number for a few more games. Bilal Coulibaly, who moved to the bench with AJ available, finished with 17 points, two rebounds, two steals, two blocks and one three-pointer in 27 minutes off the bench.

Champagnie had already been ruled out for Wednesday’s game, but he’s now on track to miss a lot more time than that. Bilal Coulibaly should be the primary reserve wing behind AJ Dybantsa when he moves into the starting unit, which could be as early as Wednesday night with him slated to make his NBA debut.

After missing Washington’s first four games of the season, Dybantsa will finally suit up for the Wizards. Assuming the ankle responds well to playing, he should make his home debut on Friday. Washington has already played this cautiously, so don’t expect Dybantsa to play 35 minutes immediately. He’ll likely be on a minutes restriction, and he may even come off the bench. Eventually, he’ll replace Bilal Coulibaly in the starting lineup, which could happen on Wednesday.

The 2026 No. 1 pick has yet to make his regular-season debut, but that could change against Cleveland. Justin Champagnie (foot) has already been ruled out, so Dybantsa’s return would be a welcome sight for the Wizards. If the top pick is ultimately ruled out, Bilal Coulibaly would likely remain with the first unit.

After spraining his left ankle in the Wizards’ preseason finale, Dybantsa has not made his official debut. He still doesn’t have a firm return timeline, but the rookie is making progress in his recovery. Keefe said it’s unclear whether Dybantsa will be available for Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers, but he will do more on-court work on Tuesday. Bilal Coulibaly has replaced Dybantsa in the starting lineup, and that should remain the case until the rookie is cleared to play.

Injured during the Wizards’ preseason finale, Dybantsa’s official NBA debut has been put on hold for another game. Bilal Coulibaly has started the first three games and should retain that role until Dybantsa is cleared to play.

Dybantsa is still yet to play this season due to a sprained left ankle. After being ruled out Saturday, his next chance to make his NBA debut is Monday against the Hornets.