Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert will miss the next four to six weeks with a sprained left ankle, the team announced Wednesday.
Kispert suffered the injury in the first quarter during Sunday’s preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors in Japan. The injury is a blow to the 23-year-old, who was trying to build on a promising rookie year.
Last season, Kispert appeared in 77 games and started 36 games for Washington. The former first-rounder out of Gonzaga played more than expected as he entered the starting lineup for the final two months in wake of Bradley Beal’s season-ending wrist injury. But Kispert played well in the extended minutes down the stretch, averaging 11.6 points on 47.3% shooting — including 37.6% from deep in that span.
This year, with Beal returning, Kispert was still expected to provide shooting off the bench. But now, the Wizards will have to wait longer for Kispert to make his season debut.
Washington’s season begins Oct. 19 at Indiana.