News Wizards Team Notes

[Washington Wizards]

In “Best Chance to Win,” Wizards Collect 11th Straight Loss

Sure, the Wizards lost by 23 to a Brooklyn Nets squad sporting an identical 1-11 record, but it marked a resounding success — Washington snapped a six-game streak of allowing opponents at least 12 offensive rebounds, and a two-game streak giving up at least 20 offensive boards. This is the stuff dreams are made of.

I jest — ChatGPT tells me dreams are made of neural noise, memory fragments, emotional residue, and your brain’s best attempt to make sense of all that chaos. Why does that feel like ChatGPT is sub-tweeting this year’s Wizards?

So, I’ll take the blame for this one. I wrote a check-up article for yesterday that lauded the play of Alex Sarr and gestured at hope the rest of the team would get better. In grand #SoWizards tradition, Sarr played his worst game of the season, and the Wizards could not contain the NBA’s 24th ranked offense.

In what figured to be one of their better chances to get a win, they lost by 23. Their next opportunity to get blown out by a bad team is Nov. 28 at the Indiana Pacers. The Wizards have other chances to get blown out but those will be against good or mediocre teams, not one of the league’s worst. Plan accordingly.

Thougts & Observations​

• Kyshawn George had a strong overall game — 29 points with a 124 offensive rating (almost +9 relative to league average). He also fouled out for the third time in 12 games played this season. He’s had five or more fouls 9 times, and 4 or more in 11 games. At the risk of getting too technical, that’s too much.
• Sarr has played well so far this season, but was ineffective last night against Brooklyn. He joined George in fouling out.
• Bilal Coulibaly returned to the starting lineup after missing four games with some muscle tightness. He shot just 2-6, but contributed some rebounds, assists, and steals.
• CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton weren’t bad, I guess.
• Michael Porter Jr. played like a man trying to convince contending teams to trade for him — 34 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists. I’m sure he’d love to see Wizards defenders more often.

Four Factors​

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	NETS	WIZARDS	LGAVG
eFG%	63.9%	51.2%	54.3%
OREB%	18.9%	7.5%	26.4%
TOV%	14.1%	10.1%	13.3%
FTM/FGA	0.354	0.238	0.227
PACE	99	100.5
ORTG	130	107	115.6

Stats & Metrics​

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is 115.1. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Kyshawn George	32	66	124	34.6%	1.9	141	-15
CJ McCollum	32	67	126	19.9%	1.4	129	0
Khris Middleton	27	57	139	17.7%	2.4	128	3
Bilal Coulibaly	28	57	112	12.5%	-0.3	103	-1
Bub Carrington	20	42	119	12.0%	0.2	105	-25
Corey Kispert	15	31	95	10.6%	-0.7	54	-8
Cam Whitmore	13	27	101	23.3%	-1.0	46	-13
Marvin Bagley III	17	35	82	15.6%	-1.8	-5	-6
Alex Sarr	23	48	80	22.1%	-3.8	-41	-2
Tre Johnson	17	35	61	25.3%	-4.9	-110	-25
Tristan Vukcevic	7	14	81	14.3%	-0.7	70	-8
Justin Champagnie	7	13	108	25.9%	-0.3	38	-15
AJ Johnson	3	6	0	14.7%	-1.0	-95	0

NETS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Michael Porter Jr.	34	70	149	31.0%	7.2	264	17
Tyrese Martin	26	54	146	24.1%	4.0	296	26
Nic Claxton	30	63	147	21.3%	4.2	202	14
Noah Clowney	30	62	128	12.3%	1.0	107	16
Ziaire Williams	30	62	132	13.7%	1.4	77	13
Egor Demin	20	41	119	15.4%	0.2	102	-3
Terance Mann	29	60	106	18.4%	-1.1	66	10
Drake Powell	19	39	95	15.4%	-1.2	80	13
Day’Ron Sharpe	16	32	109	21.5%	-0.5	64	9
Jalen Wilson	2	5	302	16.0%	1.4	522	0
Tyson Etienne	2	5	101	48.0%	-0.3	0	0
E.J. Liddell	2	5	0	32.0%	-1.7	0	0

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...nce-to-win-wizards-collect-11th-straight-loss

 

[Washington Wizards]

Brian Keefe will NOT be fired just because the Wizards are bad this season

So, the Washington Wizards have the worst record in the NBA this season at 1-12 (tied with the Indiana Pacers) after losing to the Brooklyn Nets last night. It isn’t that the Wizards lost to the Nets. It’s also that the Nets had a then-identical 1-10 record as the Wizards yesterday. They also were humiliated on their home court by another bad team.

So you start seeing X posts like these where fans are laying out the pitchforks, demanding that Head Coach Brian Keefe be fired.

We need to fire Keefe. I’m afraid we are stunting our young guys more than developing them. Some of the habits this team has is disgusting pic.twitter.com/ej4XiT2etn

— PlayoffWAS (@PlayoffWAS) November 17, 2025

We’re getting crushed by a team that’s horrible just like us!!

Brian Keefe do not have a good hold on this young squad. They need somebody to really coach and relate to them. That can get to them. He’s not it!! #Wizards #FireKeefe

— JJ Childs (@BigSargeJJ) November 17, 2025

Brian Keefe gotta go… I get you wanna keep him for the tank but guys aren’t developing properly..

— wizkidsforever (@wizkidsforever) November 17, 2025

And furthermore, the players had one of those notable … players only meetings in the locker room. Josh Robbins of the Athletic reported this last night.

The Wizards' players had a players-only meeting in their locker room after tonight's loss to the Nets, Kyshawn George said.

— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) November 17, 2025

So, first, is Keefe’s job on the line? And should he lose his job?

First, there is no indication that Keefe is on thin ice. He was hired to lead a team that is built to lose games in the hopes that a franchise savior is drafted in a year or two or … five. In short, Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and General Manager Will Dawkins are content with the Wizards tanking for awhile. Hell, Winger and Mystics General Manager Jamila Wideman even dismantled the Mystics right before the most critical offseason in WNBA history, and EVEN when there were three All-Stars on the team and they were in the playoff hunt.

Right now, Monumental Basketball’s philosophy is something to the effect of “we rebuild from the ground up by any means necessary.”

So in short, Keefe will NOT be fired because the Wizards are losing games, even to other bad teams. And since Keefe has some deeper connections with Monumental Basketball brass, he’ll be fine for a while.

It’s not happening folks. Brian Keefe isn’t getting fired. Not by fellow OKC alumni Will Dawkins and Michael Winger.

The #Wizards have the 2nd youngest roster in the NBA. They will lose and lose. They will give the 2023-24 #Pistons a run for their money with this losing streak! https://t.co/AFpDSl5I42

— Faisal Hassan (@Faazzla) November 17, 2025

So what are the reasons WHY Keefe would be fired in 2025-26?

Consider any notable HR scandal and its underlying causes. We’re talking about things like corporate stealing, being deeply involved in the NBA betting scandal (ex. Chauncey Billups’ days with the Portland Trail Blazers are definitely numbered) or office misconduct like harassment (ex. the NWSL firing and giving lifetime bans to several team coaches a few years ago). But again, there is no evidence of Keefe being accused of these things. So unless something crazy comes up, Keefe is staying this season, period.

Leading a bad team where management more or less wants the team to be bad in the standings is NOT going to get the coach fired in the short term.

At some point, Winger and Dawkins will have expectations for the Wizards to win more than … five games a year. Ted Leonsis will get impatient too. But until then, as Wizards fans, we’re in for a lot of Groundhog Days.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...n-keefe-should-he-be-fired-washington-wizards

 

[Washington Wizards]

The Wizards’ players-only meeting happened after Brian Keefe’s postgame remarks

The Washington Wizards are on an 11-game losing streak, and things are looking pessimistic. And some want head coach Brian Keefe fired. But we know that’s not happening.

When players hold players-only meetings, there seems to be an insinuation that something isn’t going right. Something along the lines of the head coach “losing the locker room.” Joshua Robbins of The Athletic provided more context on when the players-only meeting took place. It happened directly after Keefe gave his postgame remarks.

“We buckled to the adversity,” coach Brian Keefe said. “We fouled when we shouldn’t. We didn’t dig in when they made certain runs. This group has never done that. That was disappointing on all of our end. We have to own that. But that was the thing that was bothering me the most, is that after the initial start of the game, which I thought we came out with a necessary mindset and attitude, once we got hit, we didn’t respond well.”

It was a bad enough performance that, after Keefe spoke to the team following the final buzzer, the Wizards held a players-only meeting in their locker room.

“We needed that talk, I think,” Coulibaly said afterward. “The guys just stepped up, the vets, the guys that have been used to winning. That’s what we’re trying to do here in the next year. So they had to talk to us, and they did a great job about this and everybody was listening.”

No one is exactly sure what was said in the meeting itself, but it seems like sometimes, players-only meetings are just that. A reinforcement about what a team’s expectations are. It’s not necessarily some plot to get the coach fired or emasculated.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this meeting? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/late...-happened-after-brian-keefes-postgame-remarks

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards at Timberwolves preview: Washington looks to end 11 game losing streak on Wednesday

The Washington Wizards play the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night. Let’s get to it.

Game info​

When: Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injuries: For the Wizards, Alex Sarr is day-to-day. For the Timberwolves, Terrence Shannon is out, and Jaden McDaniels is day-to-day.

What to watch for​

The Wizards are looking to snap an 11-game losing streak. Every NBA team player, coach, and their mother and their ancestors know that the Wizards want to win more than they do. However, I think we all know that the Wizards aren’t winning most of their games this season. That said, an 11-game losing streak is a lot, right? Maybe the Wolves will be a little complacent tomorrow at home and look like … Washington did last Sunday?

Hey, it can happen!

Minnesota is currently sixth in the Western Conference with a 9-5 record coming off a win against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 17. Let’s see if Washington can catch Minnesota off guard.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...zards-minnesota-timberwolves-nba-game-preveiw

 

[Washington Wizards]

Are the Wizards “too good” at tanking?

The last couple days have been a little trying for Washington Wizards fans. Sure, none of us expected to see the Wizards winning most of their games in the 2025-26 NBA season. But when is the effort to tank going to well?

Yesterday, I wrote on the same topic. But I’ll link to another article from earlier this week by Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. There are additional insights into the circumstances surrounding the players-only meeting that followed the Wizards’ blowout loss to the Brooklyn Nets last Sunday. From Shankar’s piece:

This loss felt different — and despite the coaches’ denials, it seems as if it was at least partially because of the opponent. Center Alex Sarr said the issues struck the team more after Sunday’s loss because it was a game Washington should have won; asked why, he pointed to the Nets’ record. Sarr also said the coaching staff was not a topic of discussion during the players-only meeting.

Asked about Keefe’s postgame message, forward Kyshawn George said: “Look at yourself in the mirror and answer the deeper questions. It’s more than basketball. What do you really want in life? What do you want to build? What do we want to do here as an organization? Just make sure you answer the question correctly and come up with the correct mindset the next day.”

As an organization, the Wizards want to build a long term contender through the NBA Draft. But to get prime draft position, the Wizards (or any team with such goals) will construct teams that are built to lose games in the short term. Players and coaches do not want to lose games and it takes a toll on them at some point. Still, I’d say that if the Wizards can be resilient and win their fair share of games for the rest of this season, then maybe we as fans will see at least some of the current players be part of Washington’s next playoff team and beyond. But if they are buckling regularly this season, then this rebuild will last longer than what the front office believes.

So do I think the Wizards are “too good” at tanking? No. Not yet. But losing endlessly won’t guarantee a franchise savior at some point.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...21/washington-wizards-tanking-losing-concerns

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards at Timberwolves: Washington loses battle in Minnesota, 120-109

The Washington Wizards saw their comeback efforts fall short on Wednesday in a 120-109 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

The Wizards followed a similar script in the first quarter. The Wiz Kids hung tough against a superior opponent, trading baskets and leads early. Cam Whitmore punctuated the quarter with a couple of And-1 finishes at the rim.

SHEEEEEESH CAM pic.twitter.com/COXfZWKMqC

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 20, 2025

The game, as has also been usually scripted, unraveled in the second quarter. Washington failed to score a single point until the six-minute mark of the period, as a CJ McCollum finger roll mercifully put an end to a 16-o onslaught to start the second.

Turnovers, a familiar adversary in the Wizards’ season-long struggle, doomed D.C. in the first half. Washington committed 12 turnovers, leading to 20 Minnesota points, while failing to score a single point off the Timberwolves’ two turnovers. Naz Reid by himself outscored the Wiz 18-17 in the quarter to give the T-Wolves a 71-46 lead at the break.

Brian Keefe more than likely had a stirring message at halftime, as the Wizards came out motivated in the third quarter. They forced more turnovers (3) in the first couple of minutes of the third than they did in the entire first half (2). The post-break Wiz began the quarter on a 17-4 run to make it a ballgame.

Kyshawn George left his fingerprints all over the floor in the third. The second-year wing scored 12 points and dished out three assists in the period, closing out the quarter with an isolation fadeaway jumper to get Washington within 94-82.

Ky to close out Q3 pic.twitter.com/Xw7Ykl8ewm

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 20, 2025

The Wizards had a chance to get within three as George headed to the free-throw line with 3:52 left in the game. But Kyshawn missed both attempts, and Mike Conley Jr. hit a three-pointer to swing the game back the other way. The Timberwolves held on for the 11-point victory.

The glass-half-full take on the contest is that the Wizards refused to roll over. After falling behind by as many as 27 points, Washington could have coasted the rest of the way, but instead battled to make things interesting down the stretch. Nonetheless, the final result dealt Washington its 12th straight loss.

With no Alex Sarr in this one, George led the way with 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Bilal Coulibaly, Khris Middleton, and Whitmore each had 13, while Tre Johnson tacked on 10 points off the bench.

The Wizards continue their road trip on Friday against the surging Toronto Raptors.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...-washington-loses-battle-in-minnesota-120-109

 

[Washington Wizards]

The Wizards Podcast: Wizards show improved effort but lose 12th straight

The Wizards lost their 12th straight game, but their improved effort was noticeable. Greg Finberg recapped a near-27-point comeback against the Timberwolves, highlighted the impressive play of Kyshawn George and discussed Tristan Vukcevic’s poor defense. Enjoy!

View Link

Watch on YouTube:

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...s-show-improved-effort-but-lose-12th-straight

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards at Raptors preview: Washington travels to Canada for NBA Cup

If you’re feeling like the Washington Wizards haven’t won in a month, you’re right! If the Wizards lose yet again, their 13-game losing streak will span a full 30 days. i

Game Info​

When: Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: ScotiaBank Arena, Toronto, Canada

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury Report​

Wizards: Alex Sarr (day-to-day, toe), Marvin Bagley III (day-to-day, hip contusion).

Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles (out, knee).

Pregame notes​

• Winless in NBA Cup play — The Wizards are the only team in the NBA to have never won NBA Cup game. Their all-time Cup record is 0-9.
• Bonus NBA Cup Fact — At -112, the Wizards have the worst cumulative scoring differential in NBA Cup play.
• A tale of two rebuilds — The Raptors and the Wizards have been rebuilding the past few years. The Raptors have made a quicker turnaround. This season they are playing (very) surprisingly (very) well! They have won 9 of their last 10 games and are sitting at 10-5 after 15 games. The Wizards are on a 12-game losing skid.
• Not all gloom — The Wizards have promising young pieces and a one or two trade chips (CJ McCollum might bring back a first-rounder).

Flashback: Double OT in the Arena​

Several years ago, while D.C. was snowed in, those who managed to make it to the game saw a fantastic showdown with Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal and a double-OT nail-biter.

It’s perhaps nice to watch again:

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...view-washington-travels-to-canada-for-nba-cup

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards possibly down two centers vs. Toronto

The Washington Wizards have listed Alex Sarr (left big toe soreness) as questionable for Friday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. Sarr missed Wednesday’s 120-109 loss with the same injury.

Additionally, Marvin Bagley III (right hip contusion) is listed as doubtful. Bagley briefly left Wednesday’s game but later returned.

The Wizards have listed Alex Sarr (left big toe soreness) as questionable for Friday’s game against Toronto.

Marvin Bagley III (right hip contusion) is listed as doubtful.

That possibly leaves Tristan Vukcevic as the team’s lone healthy big. Not ideal. pic.twitter.com/JtHsmKlOrf

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) November 20, 2025

If Sarr and Bagley miss Friday’s game, Tristan Vukcevic would be Washington’s lone big man. The 7-footer has flashed offensive potential in sporadic minutes this season but has also struggled on the defensive end. Vukcevic scored seven points on 2-for-8 shooting and was a -24 in 20 minutes against the Timberwolves.

Anthony Gill, Washington’s veteran power forward, is also an option in the frontcourt. Brian Keefe has experimented with Gill as a small-ball five in recent years.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash.../wizards-possibly-down-two-centers-vs-toronto

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards vs. Raptors final score: Washington battered by superior Toronto team, 140-110

Just last year, a Toronto Raptors versus Washington Wizards match-up would have been a battle of two rebuilding teams at the bottom of the NBA standings.

Not anymore after a 140-110 loss.

The Raptors are one of the hottest teams right now in the NBA. They have won 10 out of their last 11 games now.

On the other hand the Wizards have lost 13 in a row now. The Wizards are arguably THE worst team in the league.

This was was never close. The Wizards, as usual, struggle to put the basket inside the hoop. But they also struggle mightily in preventing the opponent from doing the same.

The first quarter ended 20-31 with the Wizards never really showing any resistance or fight. The Raptors played much of their bench in the second quarter, but then in the third quarter blew the game completely open.

Listen to this: the Wizards allowed 48 (forty eight) points in the third quarter. That is absurd and just shows of lack of energy/motivation/fight or whatever you want to call it. It is plain embarrassing to come out of the locker room with such low energy.

Or perhaps it is a coaching issue?

At any rate, the fourth quarter was complete and utter garbage time.

CJ McCollum stunk the floor the least with 20 points, to lead the Wizards. He is probably thinking about his next team. Tre Johnson had 14 and 3-from-5 from deep in 19 minutes.

For the Raptors, everyone had a night. Four players had over 23 points… They made 14-of-29 from deep and had 39 free throws…

The Wizards remain win-less in NBA Cup play.

The Wizards next face the Bulls in Chicago tomorrow on a back-to-back.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...ton-battered-by-superior-toronto-team-140-110

 

[Washington Wizards]

Preview: Wizards look to stop losing streak in second night of back-to-back in Chicago

The Washington Wizards just had their 13th consecutive loss last night in Canada.

They sit at the bottom of the NBA, at 1-14, with 13 of those L all in a row. They have not won in a MONTH.

Tonight they face the Chicago Bulls, who are enjoying a solid start to their season compared to previous years. The Bulls are 8-6, and 5-1 at home.

Game Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: United Center, Chicago

How to watch: LeaguePass

Injury Report​

Wizards: Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson, Alex Sarr (Out)

Bulls: Coby White, Zach Collins (Out)

Pregame notes​

Defense, please? — The Wizards are defending poorly on the perimeter. Last night they allowed 14-29 from downtown to the Raptors.

They also defend poorly in the paint, allowing 39 free throws last night.

It’s OK not to have a lot of talent, and to struggle with scoring. But defense is about effort, organization, and coaching. And being so consistently bad on that end, raises questions about these factors.

Flashback: The Wizards beat the Bulls on opening week some years ago…

The Beal Era… Or the Beal & Kuzma Era? Nostalgia. Well, some years ago, Beal hit a game-winning shot with about 8 seconds left in regulation to give the Wizards the win against the Bulls. Enjoy!

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...ak-in-second-night-of-back-to-back-in-chicago

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards at Bulls final score: Washington loses 14th straight game, 121-120

The Washington Wizards lost to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, 121-120. They now fall to 1-15 while the Bulls improve to 9-7.

Washington was looking real good in this game. They were leading 70-64 in the first half, shot 51.1 percent from the field while the Bulls shot under 41 percent themselves. The Wizards looked like they were in position to win, and everyone in that arena knew that the Wizards wanted to win more than the Bulls regardless of the outcome.

However, the Wizards still managed to give this one away. The Bulls were able to take a 5 point lead late in the fourth quarter even though Washington also led by 8 points themselves early in the fourth quarter after a Tristan Vukcevic score.

That said, Bilal Coulibaly was able to get the Wizards a 120-119 lead with just 37.1 seconds left in the game after a layup but Tre Jones got fouled on the next possession to drain the game winning free throws. The Wizards had a chance to sneak off with a win when there were just 1.7 seconds left, but they committed a turnover.

For Washington, Corey Kispert and Cam Whitmore led with 20 points each. For the Bulls, Nikola Vukcevic led with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

The Wizards’ next game is on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...shington-wizards-chicago-bulls-nba-game-recap

 

[Washington Wizards]

2026 NBA Draft Preview: Koa Peat

If the Washington Wizards end up with one of the first three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, they will almost certainly walk away with one of Darryn Peterson, the do-it-all freshman guard from Kansas, AJ Dybantsa, the elite scoring freshman wing from BYU, or Cameron Boozer, the skilled, versatile and physically dominant freshman forward from Duke. While Wizards fans do not want to imagine a world in which they fall outside the top three and miss out on one of these supposed “can’t-miss” prospects, there is a very real chance the ping pong balls once again do not bounce the Wizards’ way.

Here are the Wizards’ lottery odds if they end the regular season with the worst record in the NBA, which they are on pace to do: 1: 14.0%, 2: 13.4%, 3: 12.7%, 4: 12.0%, 5: 47.9%.

While he is a step down from the Peterson, Dybantsa Boozer trio, one very intriguing player who would almost certainly be available at the four or five slot is Arizona freshman forward Koa Peat.

Koa Peat, 6’8” freshman forward from Arizona​

Koa Peat went into this season as a somewhat polarizing draft prospect. The 6’8”, 235 pound Peat’s physical tools and finishing ability are undeniable, but there were, and still are legitimate concerns about his outside shooting. While he has not displayed a consistent three pointer yet this season, he has arguably been the best player on an Arizona team that has wins over Florida, UCLA and UConn and is looking like a legitimate national championship contender.

Through five games, Peat is averaging 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game while shooting 53.7% from the field. In his first game of the season against Florida, the reigning national champs, Peat scored 30 points against what many consider to be the best frontcourt in the country and put Arizona on his back in a 93-87 victory. That performance alone changed the way talent evaluators view Peat’s NBA future.

Arizona freshmen Koa Peat was unreal vs the defending National Champs in Florida:

30 points
7rebounds
5 assists
3 steals
1 block
11/18 FG

Absolutely dominated Florida on both ends was quite unbelievable to watch in real time. pic.twitter.com/YlnX802oDt

— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) November 4, 2025

What is most impressive about Peat’s game is that even as a freshman at the beginning of his collegiate career he is able to consistently score against the best competition in ways beyond just overpowering players physically. He has an especially effective turnaround jumper he uses about 10 to 15 feet from the hoop. Because his opponents have to respect that turnaround so much, Peat is able to use his advanced post moves and footwork to get easy baskets when a defender over-commits trying to stop his turnarounds.

While the three point shot is not really a part of Peat’s game, there is no reason to believe that is something that can not be developed. He is an elite mid-range scorer and is shooting 71.9% from the free throw line at a high volume. That is a clear indication that his shooting form is not broken, and that he should be able to extend his range. Even if he does not end up being the type of guy who makes multiple threes a game, Peat should be able to develop into at least a somewhat respectable three point shooter.

On the defensive end, Peat is strong enough to hold his own against centers and quick enough to stay on the perimeter against wings and guards. His defensive counting stats will likely never wow anyone, but he has already shown that he is an asset on that end of the floor. Peat should have no problems as an NBA defender.

A high-ceiling NBA comparison for Peat would be Orlando Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. If everything goes right, like Banchero, Peat has the ability to be a high-volume scorer at the forward position and contribute to winning basketball.

Peat is at his best with the ball in his hands, but he has shown at Arizona that he can play alongside other scorers, often deferring to the Wildcats’ leading scorer and point guard Jaden Bradley. That is very promising towards his NBA future. College stars who are the sole focal point of their offenses often have a difficult time transitioning to the NBA where they have to learn a new role and share the court with other supremely talented players.

Imagining a potential fit for Peat on the Wizards is easy. He would slide right in at the four and act as a perfect frontcourt complement to Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. Especially with the way Sarr has improved his three point shooting, Peat would be able to fill the more traditional role of a center on offense while still being able to guard smaller players on the defensive end. Arizona is one of the weaker three point shooting teams in the country right now, and Peat has still been able to get his buckets. Putting him on a team like the Wizards where there would be four shooters around him could unlock another level to his game.

Recent mock drafts have Peat in the 5-8 range. I am a bit higher on Peat than others, and believe that if he continues to impress on an elite Arizona team then his stock will continue to rise. He is firmly in the mix as one of the top players in the tier below the Peterson-Dybantsa-Boozer trio. Looking back to the 2023 NBA Draft, Peat would have been considered for the first overall pick.

Peat would not be “Plan A” for the Wizards. Or “Plan B.” Or even “Plan C.” But this is as deep of a draft class the NBA has seen. There is still loads of talent after the first three picks. Peat would be a perfect fit alongside this young Wizards core and is showing through five games the impact he can have.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/nba-draft/66365/2026-nba-draft-preview-koa-peat

 

[Washington Wizards]

WNBA Draft Lottery 2026: Mystics receive No. 4 pick

The Washington Mystics received the No. 4 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Sunday. Washington forward Kiki Iriafen represented the Mystics. The Dallas Wings received the No. 1 pick, the second consecutive season they won the honor.

Washington has the No. 4 pick for the second consecutive year. However, the Mystics also had the No. 6 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and traded that pick to the Chicago Sky for the No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, which they used to select Sonia Citron with. Washington then used the No. 4 pick to draft Iriafen.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/mystics/66380/wnba-draft-lottery-2026-mystics-receive-no-4-pick

 

[Washington Wizards]

Should the NBA Draft take into account a team’s cumulative two-year record instead of just one?

As Washington Wizards fans, we will be thinking more about the NBA Draft and the lottery than games at times. When the Wizards are on track to tie (and break) a franchise record losing streak, I can’t exactly blame ourselves for that. And with the Mystics likely using the same strategy as the Wizards for the foreseeable future, yesterday’s WNBA Draft Lottery got me thinking.

Yesterday, the WNBA had its draft lottery with the Washington Mystics getting the No. 4 pick. The Mystics had the fourth-best chance of getting the top pick, so ending up with the No. 4 pick wasn’t a surprise.

Now here is the surprise. The Connecticut Sun had the league’s worst record in 2025 but they made the 2024 WNBA semifinals. Because the WNBA Draft Lottery takes into account a team’s record over the last TWO years instead of the last ONE year, the Sun had a 39-45 record over two seasons and also the lowest chance of getting the top pick. The Dallas Wings received the top pick for the 2026 Draft and had the league’s worst two-year record with a combined 19-65. They had the highest chance of getting the top pick anyway and came out ahead.

Why does the WNBA take into account a team’s two-year record instead of one year? It was indirectly in response to the way the 2013 WNBA Draft lottery results came about. The Mystics had the worst record in the 2012 season with a 5-29 record and a near lock to get one of the Big Three franchise player-level talents for 2013: Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne or Skylar Diggins. Washington ended up with the No. 4 pick, which they used to draft Tayler Hill. The Phoenix Mercury won the lottery that year and were tanking despite their franchise player, Diana Taurasi, playing in the Olympics but playing very sparingly for Phoenix that season. The Chicago Sky took Delle Donne and the team now known as the Dallas Wings took Diggins.

The move set the Mystics back. And while their rebuild resulted in a 2019 championship, they had to make the most out of low draft picks and make savvy trades like trading for Delle Donne in 2017. Finally, that championship roster was also unsustainable in the long run because the Las Vegas Aces dynasty wasn’t at peak form yet, and other superstars suffered season-ending injuries around the time the Mystics were at their best.

At any rate, the team with the highest odds of winning the draft lottery cannot fall lower than No. 3, something Washington couldn’t take advantage of in the 2013 lottery.

As you all know, the Mystics aren’t the only team for Monumental Basketball. The Washington Wizards are also in the club and are rebuilding through the draft. They are in their worst two-year stretch in franchise history based on wins and losses. But the NBA Draft Lottery rules only take into account the record of the previous season, not the previous two like the WNBA.

So I just wanted to ask you all that question. Do you think the NBA Draft Lottery should be modified to take into account a non-playoff team’s two-year cumulative record instead of one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/nba-draft/66404/should-the-nba-draft-two-year-cumulative-record-rule

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards vs. Hawks preview: Washington hosts Atlanta on Tuesday

Game Info​

When: Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, NBA League Pass

Injury Report​

Hawks​

• Luke Kennard (Hip) — Questionable
• Kristaps Porzingis (Rest) — Questionable
• N’Faly Dante (Knee) — Out
• Trae Young (Knee) — Out

Wizards​

• Marvin Bagley III (Hip) — Questionable
• AJ Johnson (Ankle) — Questionable
• Tre Johnson (Hip) — Questionable
• Khris Middleton (Knee) — Questionable

Pregame notes​

The Wizards come back home after a disappointing loss in Chicago that featured the team giving up another double digit lead. Maybe this is the growing pains of a developing team or maybe it’s all part of the larger plan to acquire talent through the draft. Either way, there were moments where it looked like the Wizards were ready to pull off one of the bigger upsets of the season. The game ultimately came down to a turnover on the Wizards’ last possession that would have given them a chance at a game-winning shot.

• The matchup with the Hawks will be the Wizards’ third NBA Cup game. So far the team is 0-10 all-time in these games. They also have an active 14-game losing streak this season. Who says they’re not consistent?
• The Hawks come into this game a bit banged up, but still playing solid basketball. If the Wizards intend to win this game, it won’t be easy.
• Washington seems direction-less — A bunch of teams are evaluating their coaches based on performance. For the Wizards the standard has been particularly low in the Leonsis era. The Pelicans recently fired Willie Green for underperforming. But, for the Wizards losing 14 in a row and not showing effort or organization on defense is excusable. #SoWizards
• Can the Wizards finally get their first NBA cup win? Can they break both their NBA Cup and overall losing streak?

Flashback: Wizards and Hawks epic playoff moment​

One of the greatest moment in Wizards’ banking:

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...ington-wizards-atlanta-hawks-nba-game-preview

 

[Washington Wizards]

Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen named to USA Basketball training camp

On Monday, USA Basketball announced their roster of 18 players who will be in training camp from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14 at Duke University. Two Washington Mystics players, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, were named to the roster.

The training camp is intended to be a period for the women’s national team staff to prepare for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The team’s head coach is Duke women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson, who is also a former Mystics player herself.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/inte...iriafen-named-to-usa-basketball-training-camp

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards vs. Hawks final score: Washington ends losing streak with 132-113 win

The Washington Wizards snapped their 14-game losing streak with a 132-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night at Capital One Arena. It marked the team’s first win since Oct. 24 and first home win since April 2.

It was also the Wizards’ first Emirates NBA Cup win (they were previously 0-10).

Washington opened on an 11-2 run and never trailed. The team shot 57.1 percent from the field and led by as many as 33 points as it cruised to its second victory of the season.

CJ McCollum led all scorers with a season-high 46 points on an efficient 17-25 FG. The veteran guard made 10 of his 13 3-pointers and added five rebounds to an impressive showing.

Alex Sarr added 27 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 11-15 FG. Sarr shot just two triples and made one — another positive step in his development and improved shot diet. The 20-year-old protected the paint as well, tallying two blocks and two steals while finishing as a +30.

All five of Washington’s starters were a +19 or better as they dominated Atlanta’s starting unit, which featured former Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis.

The Wizards improved to 2-15. Their next game is on Friday against the Indiana Pacers on the road. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.ET. See you then.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...shington-wizards-atlanta-hawks-nba-game-recap

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards vs Hawks Discussion

The Washington Wizards play the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. tonight in another NBA Cup Group Matchup. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/washington-wizards-gamethreads/66442/wizards-vs-hawks-discussion

 

[Washington Wizards]

Wizards Blow Out Hawks to Snap Two Losing Streaks

The Wizards opened the game hitting seemingly every shot to take a 45-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. They grew the advantage to as much as 33 in the third quarter before letting the Atlanta Hawks trim the final margin to a semi-respectable 19. This must be what it’s like to watch Oklahoma City Thunder games.

With the victory, the Wizards snapped two losing streaks — the 14-game skid this season, and the 10 consecutive NBA Cup defeats dating back to the beginning of the in-season tournament. Now, every team in the NBA has at least one Cup win.

Veteran guard CJ McCollum couldn’t miss early, and couldn’t miss much later either. He knocked down 17-25 from the floor, including a torrid 10-13 from three. No, that’s not a new career high in threes for McCollum. He made 11 on Dec. 30, 2022 against the Philadelphia 76ers. McCollum finished the game with 46 points.

Alex Sarr, who’s been having a good season, played another stellar game — 27 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks. He put in considerable offseason work on his game. He has an array of moves to set defenders, pivot on his left shoulder, and put up a righty hook. When defenders think they’re ready for it, he counters comfortably with a fading jumper. His footwork often was off last season. This season, he’s smooth — even nimble.

Thoughts & Observations​

• One of my favorite things from this game was the Khris Middleton, Alex Sarr pick-and-roll action. Middleton is not reputed to be a quality setup man, but he made the right pass repeatedly when Sarr rolled, and the duo produced easy buckets. Better defensive units will game plan for this, which is okay — at least then the Wizards would be forcing the opposition to adjust, and then the Wizards can counter.
• Middleton tied his career high with 12 assists.
• Corey Kispert had an excellent shooting night (6-11 from the floor, 4-8 from deep) before leaving the game with a right thumb injury.
• Every opposition broadcast team raves about Bub Carrington’s three-point shooting this season. None mention his two-point shooting. Against the Hawks, Carrington made such considerations unnecessary, hitting 2-3 from two and 2-3 from three. He also produced six assists in just 22 minutes.
• Bilal Coulibaly disappeared from the offense aside from a couple first quarter dunks. He got a pair of three-point attempts blocked. He did a good job defensively on Atlanta star Jalen Johnson, who had one of his worst games of the season.
• The Hawks broadcast team seemed a bit puzzled by Brian Keefe leaving starters in the game until the final three minutes. It was clear that Keefe wanted to make sure the win was secure beyond any possible doubt before pulling the main guys.
• In classic, tell me you’re doing no preparation for these games without telling me you’re doing no preparation for these games, Dominique Wilkins said (repeatedly) that Kispert was missing threes because he was shooting too quickly. If you’ve watched Wizards games since Kispert arrived, you’d know that the lightning quick release — often of the no-dip variety — is a staple of Kispert’s game.
• Speaking of Kispert, by hitting 4-8 from deep last night, he boosted his three-point percentage for the season to 40.3%. The last time he surpassed 40% from deep for the season was 2022-23 — his second year in the league.

Four Factors​

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	HAWKS	WIZARDS	LGAVG
eFG%	53.2%	68.5%	54.3%
OREB%	31.8%	16.7%	26.4%
TOV%	17.6%	11.8%	13.1%
FTM/FGA	0.126	0.202	0.224
PACE	102	100.3
ORTG	111	129	115.7

Stats & Metrics​

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is 115.1. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 114, the league — on average — would produced 22.8 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -2.8.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
CJ McCollum	37	78	157	32.0%	10.4	386	19
Alex Sarr	38	80	137	22.0%	3.8	197	30
Corey Kispert	24	52	144	21.9%	3.3	286	23
Khris Middleton	31	66	129	20.7%	1.9	157	34
Justin Champagnie	17	37	151	7.9%	1.0	155	-7
Bub Carrington	22	47	122	20.7%	0.6	114	4
Bilal Coulibaly	34	73	113	13.5%	-0.2	50	29
Tristan Vukcevic	10	22	103	24.3%	-0.7	89	-11
Cam Whitmore	10	21	0	3.9%	-0.9	15	1
Malaki Branham	9	18	32	22.2%	-3.3	-121	-12
Sharife Cooper	3	5	0.0%	0.0	-122	-5
Will Riley	3	5	0	14.7%	-0.9	-154	-5
Jamir Watkins	3	6	0	13.6%	-0.9	-161	-5

HAWKS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Zaccharie Risacher	30	63	129	16.9%	1.4	143	-11
Kristaps Porzingis	22	46	151	27.7%	4.5	165	-4
Dyson Daniels	32	68	110	19.4%	-0.8	94	-23
Onyeka Okongwu	20	42	129	28.5%	1.6	132	-22
Vit Krejci	14	30	137	21.7%	1.4	147	-11
Mouhamed Gueye	18	38	110	18.3%	-0.4	77	1
Luke Kennard	15	32	109	26.8%	-0.6	45	-3
Keaton Wallace	14	29	91	9.0%	-0.6	11	4
Nickeil Alexander-Walker	32	69	81	14.7%	-3.6	-6	-20
Jalen Johnson	30	64	68	24.7%	-7.6	-20	-20
Asa Newell	7	14	101	8.4%	-0.2	105	7
Jacob Toppin	7	14	102	10.0%	-0.2	18	7

Source: https://www.bulletsforever.com/wash...rds-blow-out-hawks-to-snap-two-losing-streaks