Bub Carrington’s Sophomore Slump Raises Questions About His Fit in Washington
When the season tipped off, there was real hope in Washington that Bub Carrington might take a leap. The Wizards handed him the keys-or at least left them on the table-and after a promising rookie campaign, it felt like the former lottery pick was ready to grab hold of the starting point guard role.
But through the early part of the season, Carrington hasn’t just stumbled-he’s slipped into a stretch that’s raising serious questions about his long-term future in D.C.
Let’s rewind for a second. Carrington closed out last season with a bang, hitting a game-winner to beat the Heat in the regular-season finale.
It was the kind of moment that makes a fanbase believe. He’d shown flashes all year-crafty mid-range work, poise beyond his years, and just enough playmaking to make you wonder if he could be the guy at the point.
Now? The picture’s gotten a lot murkier.
A Shooting Puzzle
What’s made Carrington’s sophomore slump so confounding is that, on paper, he’s improved in a key area: three-point shooting. After struggling from deep as a rookie, he’s come out firing this season, hitting 43.3% from beyond the arc-a dramatic jump and a clear sign of offseason work paying off.
But here’s the twist: while the three-ball is falling, everything else has fallen apart. Carrington’s overall field goal percentage has dipped to 35.2%, largely due to a sharp decline in his once-reliable mid-range game. That’s the area that made him such a tough cover last year, and without it, his offensive impact has taken a major hit.
And then there’s the issue of getting downhill. Carrington talked in the offseason about wanting to be more aggressive, more physical, more determined in getting to the rim and drawing contact. But so far, that part of his game hasn’t materialized.
The Free Throw Drought
NBA Draft analyst Sam Vecenie recently highlighted one stat that really puts Carrington’s struggles in perspective. As a rookie, Carrington attempted just 85 free throws across 82 games-a startlingly low number for a lead guard.
This season? He’s now at 99 free throws through 98 career games.
That’s not just a red flag-it’s a full-blown warning sign.
“If you’re a lead guard, that’s a real problem,” Vecenie said on The Game Theory Podcast. “That’s a real significant issue, unfortunately.”
Vecenie didn’t stop there. He suggested that Carrington might’ve been better off spending another year in college, continuing to build strength and refine his game before making the jump to the NBA. And looking at how things have unfolded so far, it’s hard to argue with that logic.
What This Means for Washington
For the Wizards, this isn’t just about one player going through a rough patch. It’s about a franchise trying to figure out if Carrington is worth building around-or if it’s time to start looking elsewhere for answers at point guard.
There’s still time for Carrington to turn things around. The shooting from deep is encouraging, and he’s clearly putting in the work. But if he can’t find a way to re-establish his mid-range game, get to the rim with more consistency, and start drawing fouls like a true lead guard, the Wizards may be forced to rethink how much runway they’re willing to give him.
Washington’s rebuild hinges on identifying real building blocks. Carrington still has the talent to be one of them-but the clock is ticking.