Wizards forward A. Ya. DybantsNo. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, was cleared to make his regular-season NBA debut Wednesday in Cleveland, the team announced (Link to Twitter).
After missing Washington’s first four games of the season with a sprained left ankle, DiBanza was initially listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Cavs before being upgraded to available.
DiBanza, 19, was selected first overall in a loaded draft after averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 35 games for BYU as a freshman last season. The 6-foot-9 forward continued to show his scoring acumen in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he scored 50 points in 51 total minutes of action, and in the preseason, where he averaged 12.8 ppg at 21.7 mpg.
Dibanca will add more firepower to a Wizards offense that ranks 16th in the NBA with a 111.2 rating through the first four games, which includes a pair of wins.
Dibanza is expected to unseat the former lottery pick Bilal Coulibaly in the Wizards lineup after Koulibaly started alongside Trey Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarand Kishon George in the club’s first four games. However, it’s unclear if the rookie will be immediately inserted into the starting five for his first game, given that he’s expected to be limited in minutes Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
Whether it’s Dibanca or Koulibaly coming off the bench, the added depth up front will be a boon for the underdog Wizards Justin Champagne before injuring his right leg on Monday. While Washington has yet to release an official statement on Champagne, he was ruled out of Wednesday’s game, and Robbins suggests the team is preparing for the possibility that he will face an extended absence.