Trae Young has never been mistaken for a stopper, and Washington still found a way to build a defense that can live with him on the floor.
That’s the strange part of the Wizards’ season. Even with Young starting at point guard, they’ve climbed to 10th in the NBA in defensive rating at 109.8. The number says a lot about the roster around him: this group has enough length, activity and rim protection to cover for the weak spots.
Anthony Davis has been the anchor, which is no surprise. At his best, he was a Defensive Player of the Year-level force, and while he may not be quite that player anymore, he still belongs in the conversation for an All-Defensive team vote.
Washington also has serious perimeter help. Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George have given them two elite defenders on the outside.
Coulibaly doesn’t bring much offensively beyond athleticism and transition play, but he has been a nuisance on the perimeter since entering the league. George has made major strides too, often taking the opponent’s top scorer to open games now that Coulibaly isn’t starting anymore with AJ Dybantsa back.
Dybantsa has raised the bar on defense since his debut. Opponents are shooting 35.1 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three when matched up with him, and they’ve also coughed up six turnovers. With his length and athleticism, he has the kind of tools that point toward All-Defense potential, and he’s already starting to put it together.
Inside, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton have also done their part protecting the rim, especially when Davis is off the floor.
That collective effort is what has allowed Washington to mask Young defensively. During his entire run with the Atlanta Hawks, the team never finished with a defensive rating better than 110. As a point guard, he’s hard to hide because he gets dragged into actions so often, but the rest of the roster has consistently covered for him.
And they have to. Young matters too much to the Wizards’ offense to trim his minutes in the playoffs. If Washington can keep playing elite team defense with him on the court, that gives them a much stronger ceiling than anyone expected.
In Other News...
Wizards Bench Talent Is Raising An Early Rotation Concern
The Wizards have spent the early part of the season sorting through what their second unit can be, and the answer has not come easily. Even with a mix of veterans and promising young players, the bench was overwhelmed in a recent matchup with Atlanta, a reminder that talent alone does not always translate into a functional rotation group.
Brian Keefe has treated this stretch as part of the process, with the staff still testing different combinations and looking for the right balance. One area that stands out is the need for a steadier backup point guard, the kind of organizer who can settle possessions and give the reserves more direction when the starters sit. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Sarr Faces An Early Wizards Question He Didn't Create
Early in the 2026-27 season, the Wizards are still sorting out who gets the first look and who has to wait for the next one. Even with multiple players capable of scoring in double figures, the offense has not settled into a clean hierarchy, and Alex Sarr has been one of the biggest examples of that adjustment. The young seven-footer, taken second overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, has seen his role change as Washington tries to fit together a new mix around Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
For Sarr, the transition has meant doing more of the quiet work that does not always show up in a box score. He is being asked to stay engaged off the ball, create spacing and take advantage of the chances that come his way rather than serving as a central hub every possession. The question for Washington is whether that approach can unlock the kind of impact it needs from him while he continues to work through some early issues on the glass and with his shooting touch. [Read more 🡒]
Kyshawn George Is Giving The Wizards A Bigger Offensive Question
Kyshawn Georges recent stretch has given the Wizards a different kind of offensive conversation, one that goes beyond simple development curves. Over his last two games, he has looked more assertive as a scorer and more comfortable as a playmaker, showing the kind of growth Washington has been waiting to see from a young wing trying to carve out a larger role.
The encouraging part is not just the production, but the way it has come with better efficiency and a stronger feel for creating for others. There is still a consistency piece for George to solve, and the next step may depend on how he handles bigger responsibilities when the offense runs through him more often, especially if he continues to find chances alongside Trae Young. [Read more 🡒]