Wizards’ Youth Movement Shines Bright in Win Over Blazers, Rising Stars Selections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington Wizards are still deep in the rebuild, but make no mistake - this young core is starting to turn heads. In a span of 48 hours, three of their rising stars earned spots in the Castrol Rising Stars Challenge, then followed it up with a gritty 115-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night.
Leading the charge was rookie big man Alex Sarr, who turned in a monster performance that felt more like a statement than just another game. The 20-year-old piled up 29 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks, three assists, and two steals in 36 minutes - a stat line that puts him in rare company.
He became just the seventh player aged 20 or younger to post 25+ points, 10+ boards, and 5+ blocks in a game, joining names like Shaq, Anthony Davis, and Victor Wembanyama. That’s not just good company - that’s future Hall of Fame-level company.
Alex Sarr on being selected as a Rising Star again, this time alongside Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson (thread):
— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) January 28, 2026
“Yeah, it’s exciting that I get to go there with two of my teammates again. We’re gonna have a good time, good experience, so I’m excited to play the game.” pic.twitter.com/8gbHlDYHe0
“Yeah, it’s exciting that I get to go there with two of my teammates again,” Sarr said of his Rising Stars selection. “We’re gonna have a good time, good experience, so I’m excited to play the game.”
This isn’t just about accolades, though. Sarr is already leading the NBA in blocks per game (2.2) and is one of only four players under 21 in league history to average at least 17 points, 2.5 assists, and 2 blocks in a season - the others being Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, and Wembanyama. That’s elite territory for a player who hasn’t even hit legal drinking age.
On Tuesday, he outplayed another talented young big in Portland’s Donovan Clingan. The 7-foot-2, 280-pound center - also a 2024 Rising Star and the No. 7 pick in the draft - grabbed 20 rebounds but struggled from the field, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
But this win wasn’t just about Sarr. Fellow Rising Stars honorees George and Johnson made their presence felt in a big way.
George filled up the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. Johnson added 18 points on efficient shooting (7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from deep), along with four boards and two assists.
And while the box score tells one story, the eye test told another - one of defensive grit and poise under pressure. Third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly and rookie Jamir Watkins brought the clamps all night, especially down the stretch. Watkins, in particular, came up huge by hounding Shaedon Sharpe into a missed jumper with under 10 seconds left, effectively sealing the game.
Head coach Brian Keefe pointed to the team’s growth in crunch time as a key takeaway.
“We’ve been in a lot of these close games lately,” Keefe said postgame. “And these are great lessons for us, because the margins are thin and you wanna be able to execute on both ends… Tonight, we had to execute to win the game.”
That execution is starting to show. After dropping five straight games by 13 points or more, the Wizards have now played five consecutive contests decided by 10 points or less. Tuesday’s win was their first since trading away CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in exchange for star guard Trae Young earlier this month - a move that signaled the end of the tanking era may be in sight.
Sarr’s defensive presence has been a catalyst for that shift, and his teammates know it.
“It helps a lot, allows us to pressure the ball, even full-court,” Johnson said. “Just knowing he’s down there, he can alter the shot or get the block. We just gotta make sure we box out his man so he doesn’t get the rebound.”
Biggest possession of the game, Blazers have a chance to tie.
— Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd) January 28, 2026
Jamir Watkins with textbook defense on Shaedon Sharpe. This is why he's here. pic.twitter.com/xi5moIXsXq
Johnson, who’s been quietly putting together an efficient rookie campaign - 13.1 points per game on 44.7% shooting, nearly 40% from three - is flirting with a historic shooting milestone. If he can push his free throw percentage just a bit higher (currently at 88.3%), he has a shot at becoming the first rookie ever to join the exclusive 50/40/90 club.
“Excited, just for the experience and to be out there, to be honest,” Johnson said of his Rising Stars selection. “It’s a blessing…”
For now, the focus in D.C. remains on development - getting these young guys reps, growing through mistakes, and building the kind of chemistry that can carry into next season and beyond. The wins may still be few and far between, but the foundation is starting to take shape - and it’s looking promising.
Tre Johnson on Alex Sarr’s impact (thread):
— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) January 28, 2026
“It helps a lot, allows us to pressure the ball, even fullcourt. Just knowing he’s down there, he can alter the shot or get the block. We just gotta make sure we box out his man so he doesn’t get the rebound.” pic.twitter.com/VVc5o6mVRe
Next up for the Wizards: a pair of home tests against the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and Friday. Another chance for the “Wiz Kids” to show they’re growing up fast.