Alex Sarr is giving the Wizards an early defensive edge from the perimeter, and Washington’s numbers from deep are starting to stand out across the league.
Through the first six games of the season, the Wizards are allowing opponents to shoot just 28.7% from three-point range, the best mark in the NBA. They are one of only two teams, along with the Dallas Mavericks, holding opponents under 30% from beyond the arc so far.
That kind of start would matter on its own, but Washington’s work against above-the-break threes has been especially sharp. Teams are shooting only 25.2% on those looks when Sarr is the defender.
Among Wizards players, he’s one of three in the top four in that category, alongside Kyshawn George and Anthony Davis. Bilal Coulibaly sits eighth, and Trae Young is 10th.
The individual numbers tell the same story. George is holding opponents to 26.0% on above-the-break threes, Davis to 26.2%, Coulibaly to 27.0%, and Young to 29.1%.
Across the entire NBA, only 15 players have held opponents below 30% on above-the-break threes while facing at least 100 attempts, and Washington has five of them. No other team has more than two.
There’s a caveat here: the Wizards have done this against a schedule that hasn’t exactly been loaded with elite shooting teams. Their first six opponents were the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets twice, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Even so, the results are hard to ignore. Keeping teams under 30% from three over a six-game stretch is no small thing, and it gives Washington a clear area to build around if the trend holds. For now, three-point defense looks like one of the strongest early signs of what this Wizards team wants to be.
In Other News...
AJ Dybantsa Is Already Giving Wizards Fans Real Hope
AJ Dybantsas arrival has given Wizards fans a jolt of optimism that has been hard to come by in recent seasons. The No. 1 overall pick has wasted little time looking comfortable, fitting into the offense alongside Trae Young and showing the kind of two-way presence Washington hoped it was getting when it made him the centerpiece of the draft.
What stands out early is how complete his impact already looks. Dybantsa has been efficient with the ball, active on the glass and disruptive defensively, the sort of early return that can change the mood around a rebuilding team in a hurry. The bigger question now is how quickly that promise can turn into something more lasting once the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
AJ Dybantsa Just Gave Wizards Fans Another Reason To Feel Good
The Wizards have opened the 2026-27 season with a 3-3 start, and there are already a few reasons for optimism beyond the standings. Rookie AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick, has settled in quickly after missing the first stretch with an ankle injury, giving Washington another young piece to pair with the veteran presence of Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Early on, the group has shown enough chemistry to suggest the fit could come together faster than expected.
AJ Dybantsa also gave fans a little extra to smile about off the court, adding a lighthearted moment to a season that already feels like it has some momentum. For a team still trying to define itself, those small signs matter almost as much as the on-court results, especially with Orlando next on the schedule and the Wizards looking to keep building on their encouraging start. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards November Test Starts With A Frontcourt Problem In Orlando
November is bringing a real grind for the Wizards, with 15 games packed into 29 days and the first challenge coming against an Orlando team they will see more than once this month. Washington enters the stretch at 3-3, trying to turn a steady start into something more lasting while still sorting through the usual issues that come with a young roster, especially on the glass and in the frontcourt.
The matchup in Orlando already has a different feel because of the injuries on both sides, which shifts the focus toward how Washington handles the interior and whether its rotation can hold up over a heavy month. With multiple meetings against the Magic ahead, this is less about one night than about setting a tone for November, and the Wizards will need more than just effort if they want to keep building momentum through the schedule. [Read more 🡒]