The Washington Wizards might not be racking up wins just yet, but they’re stacking something just as valuable in a rebuild: promising young talent. That progress was on full display Monday night, when the NBA announced that three of Washington’s rising stars-center Alex Sarr, wing Kyshawn George, and rookie guard Tre Johnson-have been selected to compete in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend.
It’s a significant milestone for a franchise that’s been laser-focused on development. This marks only the second time in team history that three players will represent the Wizards in the Rising Stars game. More impressively, Washington becomes just the third team ever to send three or more players to the event in back-to-back seasons, joining the ranks of Philadelphia and Houston.
Let’s break down what this means-and why it matters.
Alex Sarr: The Defensive Anchor with Offensive Upside
Sarr is quickly becoming a household name for fans who appreciate rim protection and two-way versatility. Leading the NBA with 2.1 blocks per game, the 7-footer has anchored the Wizards’ defense while showing real growth on the offensive end.
He’s averaging 14.5 points per game in his career-second among the 2024 draft class-and has made strides in efficiency, shooting 50.5% from the field and 34.4% from three. That’s a jump of over 11 percentage points from his rookie field goal percentage and a 3.6-point bump from deep.
He’s also pulling down 7.3 rebounds per game, ranking 32nd in the league, and his 0.3 VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) places him ninth among his draft peers. For context, VORP is a stat that estimates a player's overall contribution to a team compared to a replacement-level player, adjusted for an 82-game season. In short: Sarr is producing like a top-tier sophomore.
This will be his second straight Rising Stars appearance, putting him in the company of former Wizards like Bradley Beal, John Wall, and Rui Hachimura as multi-time participants.
Kyshawn George: The Do-It-All Wing
George might not have had the same draft hype-he was picked 24th overall in 2025-but he’s playing like a lottery steal. At just 22 years old, he’s averaging 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and nearly a block per game, while shooting 45.3% from the field and 38.7% from three.
Only one other player aged 22 or younger-San Antonio’s Stephon Castle-can match George’s across-the-board production this season. Castle was a top-four pick.
George? He’s proving that value can be found deeper in the draft when you scout smart and develop right.
Tre Johnson: The Sharp-Shooting Rookie Making Noise
Then there’s Johnson, who’s quietly putting together one of the more efficient rookie campaigns in recent memory. Through 37 games, he’s hitting 39.3% from beyond the arc and joins only Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel as the lone rookies this season shooting over 40% from the field, 35% from three, and 85% from the line.
He’s also second among rookies with 27 games featuring multiple made threes. That’s not just volume-it’s consistency.
And when you add in his 88.1% free-throw shooting and 44.4% overall field goal clip, it’s clear he’s flirting with elite efficiency. The holy grail for shooters-the 50/40/90 club-might be just out of reach this season, but Johnson’s in the conversation, which is unheard of for a first-year player.
Development Over Wins-for Now
Washington’s rebuild hasn’t been shy about its priorities. The Wizards have finished near the bottom of the standings in each of the last three seasons-15-67 in 2023-24, 18-64 last year, and currently sitting at 10-34.
But that’s by design. The front office has leaned into giving their young core meaningful minutes, letting them learn by doing-even if it means living with the growing pains.
And it’s working.
Outside of rookie wing Will Riley (who’s averaging just 14.3 minutes per game), every first-round pick from the last three drafts has made the Rising Stars Challenge. That includes Bilal Coulibaly (No. 7 in 2023), Sarr (No. 2 in 2024), Bub Carrington (No. 14 in 2024), George (No. 24 in 2025), and Johnson (No. 6 in 2025).
These aren’t just token minutes either-Coulibaly, Carrington, George, and Sarr all rank in the top four in their draft classes in career minutes per game. Johnson is seventh among 2025 rookies in that stat.
That kind of floor time matters. It builds confidence, chemistry, and leadership. The Wizards aren’t chasing short-term wins-they’re building a foundation.
Eyes on the Future
The team’s current record puts them in position for another top-five pick in the upcoming draft, which features elite prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Add another high-upside talent to this already-deep young core, and suddenly the Wizards start to look less like a rebuilding team and more like a sleeping giant.
The Rising Stars Challenge, scheduled for Feb. 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, will be a national showcase for Washington’s youth movement. But inside the organization, the belief has been there for a while.
Monumental Praise
During his “State of Monumental Basketball” press conference, team president Michael Winger didn’t hold back in praising his young core.
“Alex Sarr is having an All-Star-type season,” Winger said. “He’s becoming one of the most dominant big men in the league at the rim on both ends of the floor.”
On George: “At just 22 years old, he’s already become one of the more well-rounded players in the NBA. He’s one of just 16 players in the league with his combination of points, rebounds, and assists-and he’s the youngest among them.”
And on Johnson: “Tre Johnson, a rookie, is having an unprecedented start to his NBA career. Not far from the revered 50/40/90 mark, he’s shown early signs of his development as a playmaker and as a defender, which comes as no surprise to those who have seen his work ethic.”
High praise, but well-earned.
The Next Step
For the Wizards, the challenge now is turning individual growth into team success. The Rising Stars selections are a sign that the rebuild is on the right track.
The next phase? Learning how to win.
That part starts next season.
But for now, Washington fans can enjoy watching the “Wiz Kids” light up All-Star Weekend-and maybe get a glimpse of the future they’ve been patiently waiting for.