Bub Carrington Hits Milestone, Shows Glimpse of Why the Wizards Bet Big on His Potential
Bub Carrington’s sophomore season hasn’t exactly started the way Wizards fans hoped. Expectations were high for the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft - a raw but tantalizing talent out of Pittsburgh - and his early struggles have sparked more than a few questions about whether he’s the long-term answer to one of Washington’s most glaring roster gaps.
But despite the growing pains, Carrington just gave us a reminder of why the Wizards were willing to roll the dice on his upside.
In Thursday’s 119-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Carrington quietly etched his name into the Wizards’ record books. He finished the night with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from deep. Not exactly a headline-grabbing stat line, but those 15 points pushed him past the 1,000-point mark for his NBA career - a milestone worth noting, especially considering his age.
More importantly, Carrington became the only player in Wizards franchise history to record 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, and 400 assists before turning 21. That’s not just a trivia nugget - that’s a meaningful indicator of the kind of all-around impact he’s capable of making.
The numbers speak to Carrington’s versatility. He’s not just a scorer, and he’s not just a facilitator. He’s a young guard with the size, instincts, and feel to impact the game in multiple ways - even when his shot isn’t falling.
And yes, the shooting has been a bit of a rollercoaster. His splits this season have been puzzling, especially when you consider how he ended his rookie campaign - capped off by a buzzer-beater to take down the Miami Heat in the regular season finale.
That moment felt like a launching pad. Instead, this season opened with inconsistency and questions.
Part of the scrutiny stems from the trade that brought Carrington to D.C. in the first place. He was part of the deal that sent Deni Avdija to Portland, and with Avdija thriving in a bigger role out west, it’s easy to look at the early returns and wonder who won the trade. That kind of comparison is inevitable in today’s NBA, but it also misses the bigger picture.
Carrington wasn’t drafted to be a finished product. He was drafted because of what he could become - a long-term playmaker with the tools to grow into a cornerstone. And while the early returns have been mixed, milestones like this one show that the foundation is being built.
He’s already producing at a historic rate for his age, and as the game continues to slow down for him, there’s real reason to believe he’ll start putting it all together. The shot mechanics are there.
The vision is there. The feel is there.
Now it’s about consistency and confidence.
This latest milestone might not change the trajectory of the Wizards’ season, but it’s a reminder that development isn’t always linear - especially for young guards in rebuilding situations. Carrington may not be lighting up the scoreboard every night, but he’s stacking meaningful reps, growing his game, and now, making history along the way.
Don’t let the slow start fool you - the potential that made him a top-15 pick is still very much alive. And if Thursday night is any indication, Bub Carrington might just be getting started.