And while I have absolutely NO problem with the Wizards being cautious...

I have a problem with the DAY-TO-DAY designation!

If Washington wasn't sure AJ would be back quickly, why create that expectation?

Now there's an unnecessary conversation surrounding his absence.

PLUS — I'M EXTREMELY ENCOURAGED BY WASHINGTON'S START TO THE SEASON!

The Wizards are 2–1 through their first three games!

But it's not just the record that has me excited.

It's the MENTALITY!

Washington took control in the second half against Milwaukee!

The Wizards trailed by 17 against Toronto but BATTLED BACK to make it a close game!

And against Chicago, Washington once again stepped up in the second half and earned a WIN!

This team is showing toughness, resilience, and a willingness to compete!

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But I LOVED THE FIGHT!

The Wizards trailed by 17 POINTS in the first half!

And instead of folding, they BATTLED BACK!

Washington cut the deficit to just ONE POINT in the third quarter!

That's the kind of resilience I want to see from this team!

Especially given the fact that it was a tough night for Anthony Davis and Trae Young.

PLUS — TRE JOHNSON WAS AWESOME OFF THE BENCH!

20 points with 4 triples.

He's confident, he's aggressive, and he's not afraid to look for his shot!

And I think that's going to be HUGE for the Wizards this season.

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FIRST — KYSHAWN GEORGE!

George has added a TON of muscle since Washington drafted him.

And that physical development was on FULL DISPLAY against Milwaukee!

PLUS — I CAN'T WAIT FOR AJ DYBANTSA!

Washington's No. 1 overall pick is expected to miss Friday's game against Toronto.

And while that's disappointing, the Wizards absolutely shouldn't rush him back from injury.

But after watching Washington beat Milwaukee?

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FIRST — TRAE YOUNG!

Trae wasn't particularly efficient shooting the basketball.

But I LOVED his mentality!

He was dropping DIMES all night!

And I thought he played with a toughness and passion that Washington's young players are going to appreciate.

PLUS — DEANDRE AYTON WAS AWESOME!

Ayton gave the Wizards a terrific contribution off the bench!

I know he's had problems at previous stops.

But I genuinely believe Washington could be a great opportunity for him to thrive.
 

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34 POINTS. 12 REBOUNDS.

AD set the tone in the FIRST QUARTER!

And when Washington needed someone to take over in the THIRD QUARTER, Davis delivered!!

THAT'S WHAT SUPERSTARS DO!

Trae Young wasn't particularly efficient shooting the basketball.

But I LOVED the mentality and toughness he showed!

Young finished with 20 points and 13 assists, despite struggling with his shot.

He continued to compete, made plays for his teammates, and helped Washington secure the victory!

PLUS — THE WIZARDS DON'T WIN THIS GAME WITHOUT BILAL COULIBALY AND BUB CARRINGTON!

Bub's efforts in the first half and Bilal's down the stretch were key factors in the Wizards pulling out the win on opening night. 

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But I DO think Washington is going to surprise a lot of people!

And I'm expecting the Wizards to take a HUGE step forward during the 2026–27 NBA season!

Will Dawkins has assembled a roster with an exciting mix of established veterans and young talent.

Trae Young. Anthony Davis. AJ Dybantsa. Alex Sarr. Kyshawn George. Tre Johnson. Bilal Coulibaly. AND MORE.

There's a LOT to like about this team!

But there's one area where the Wizards absolutely MUST improve if they're going to make that happen.

DEFENSE!

Washington has been one of the NBA's worst defensive teams over the last several seasons.

That simply cannot continue.

BUT, I think Will Dawkins has assembled a team with the TALENT and MENTALITY to improve at the defensive end. 

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And I think the Wizards might be a little UNDERRATED!

But I don't consider this ranking disrespectful.

There are LEGITIMATE questions about this team!

Can TRAE YOUNG lead Washington to more wins?

Can ANTHONY DAVIS stay healthy and make the impact the Wizards need?

And can a roster featuring so much young talent become a consistent, competitive NBA team?

Those are FAIR questions.

BUT... I BELIEVE in the talent Will Dawkins has assembled!

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And while that's DISAPPOINTING, I think it's absolutely the RIGHT DECISION!

There's ZERO reason to rush Dybantsa back if he's not completely healthy.

PLUS — I LOVE THIS STORY FROM ANTHONY DAVIS!

After a rough practice, Davis revealed that Tre Johnson told him:

"You weren't top-75 today!"

THAT IS AWESOME!

Here's a young player who's not afraid to challenge one of the most accomplished veterans in the NBA.

And I love the culture that could develop with this combination of youth and experience!

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That means Bilal is now on track to become a RESTRICTED FREE AGENT next offseason.

And I think this makes the 2026–27 season absolutely HUGE for him!

PLUS — MY THREE KEYS TO THE WIZARDS' SEASON!

1️⃣ HEALTH!

The Wizards have an exciting roster, but they NEED their most important players to stay healthy.

2️⃣ DEFENSE!

Washington MUST improve on the defensive end, and they have the pieces to do so.

3️⃣ AJ DYBANTSA!

The No. 1 overall pick is one of the biggest reasons Wizards fans are excited about the future.

The Wizards don't have to become championship contenders overnight.

But after years of tanking, it's time to start seeing REAL PROGRESS!

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And while the injury isn't expected to be serious, I don't think the Wizards should take ANY unnecessary chances.

Obviously, I want to see AJ make his NBA debut in Wednesday's season opener against Milwaukee!

But this franchise has invested too much in Dybantsa's future to rush him back for ONE game.

PLUS — WHAT I'M WATCHING ON OPENING NIGHT!

1️⃣ How will the new-look Wizards come together?

2️⃣ Can Washington play better defense?

3️⃣ Show the NBA what you can do against a less-talented Bucks squad.

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Of course, Ayton has to buy in, embrace his role, and do what's best for the team.

But I'm not going to assume things will go wrong before we see how they play out.

I'm giving him a chance!

PLUS — WIZARDS LEGEND JOHN WALL IS BACK!

Wall will once again be part of Monumental Sports Network's Wizards broadcasts this season!

And I LOVE this news.

Wall is one of the most important players in modern Wizards history.

He helped bring excitement back to basketball in Washington, gave fans countless memorable moments, and remains one of the most beloved players to wear a Wizards uniform.

Having him involved with broadcasts is a GREAT way to keep him connected to the franchise and its fans.

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1️⃣ WHO WILL ACTUALLY PLAY?

It's the final preseason game, and I wouldn't be surprised if some — or even ALL — of Washington's starters get the night off.

But if the veterans sit, that creates a HUGE opportunity for the Wizards' younger players!

2️⃣ CAN BILAL COULIBALY KEEP IT GOING?

Bilal was IMPRESSIVE against the Brooklyn Nets!

19 POINTS.
7-of-11 shooting.
3-of-5 from THREE.
3 STEALS and a BLOCK.

We already know Coulibaly has the potential to become an ELITE defender, but he's gotta produce on offense consistently.

3️⃣ CAN FELIX OKPARA DELIVER AGAIN?

Washington's second-round pick has an opportunity to finish the preseason on a HIGH NOTE.

After a couple of encouraging outings, can Okpara put together another solid performance?

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Look, I'm not saying Washington is ready to compete for an NBA championship.

But take a look at this roster!

AJ DYBANTSA.
TRAE YOUNG.
ANTHONY DAVIS.
ALEX SARR.
TRE JOHNSON.
BILAL COULIBALY.
KYSH AWN GEORGE.

And more...!!

The Wizards have an exciting combination of established veterans and young talent.

Washington deserves MORE respect than it's getting!

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1️⃣ HEALTH

Anthony Davis and Trae Young are two of the biggest names on this roster.

But Washington needs its stars AVAILABLE.

If the Wizards can stay healthy, their ceiling is significantly higher.

2️⃣ DEFENSE

Washington has to improve defensively.

With Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and the team's length and athleticism, the Wizards have the pieces to become a MUCH better defensive team.

Now they have to prove it on the court.

3️⃣ AJ DYBANTSA

How much can Washington expect from its No. 1 overall pick RIGHT AWAY?

Dybantsa has tremendous potential, but he's still a rookie.

The Wizards don't necessarily need him to carry the team immediately.

But if AJ can make a major impact in Year 1, Washington becomes even more exciting.

HEALTH. DEFENSE. DYBANTSA.

Those are my THREE biggest keys to the Wizards' season!

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Okay, it's only preseason, and I'm not worried.

Washington has a TON of depth, and there's no reason to panic over an exhibition game.

Just stay healthy when the games actually count, AD!

PLUS — everybody is talking about AJ Dybantsa!

And understandably so. The Wizards just selected Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

But let's not forget about ANOTHER talented young player in Washington.

TRE JOHNSON.

The Wizards selected Johnson with the No. 6 overall pick last year.

And with all the excitement surrounding Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis, I think Johnson is getting overlooked.

Johnson's scoring ability and outside shooting could be incredibly valuable as Washington continues developing its young core.

AJ Dybantsa might be the biggest name in the rebuild.

But don't forget about TRE JOHNSON!

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That's the next step in his development.

PLUS — let's talk about the Wizards' DEPTH.

Washington has assembled a roster featuring AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, and MORE.

And I think this team has significantly more talent than most people around the NBA realize. The Wizards have established veterans, exciting young prospects, and legitimate competition for playing time.

That's a GREAT problem for head coach Brian Keefe to have. But it also creates some interesting questions. How will Keefe manage it all?

I think Washington is building something SPECIAL.
 

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And for our first episode, we're diving into a topic I am FIRED UP about.

THE NBA ISN'T READY FOR THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS!

Washington has added some SERIOUS star power:

🏀 AJ Dybantsa — The No. 1 overall pick and one of the most exciting young players in basketball.

🏀 Trae Young — An elite offensive talent who brings a new dimension to Washington's backcourt.

🏀 Anthony Davis — A proven NBA superstar who gives the Wizards a major presence on both ends of the floor.

But here's what makes this team REALLY exciting.

The Wizards already have an incredibly talented young core featuring Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and MORE!

I believe the rest of the NBA is SLEEPING on just how much talent Washington has assembled.

This team is building something SPECIAL, and I can't wait to cover every step of the journey.

SUBSCRIBE to Locked On Wizards Hit for daily Wizards coverage, and let me know in the comments:

How excited are YOU about the future of Washington basketball?

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