標籤: Youngs

The Washington Wizards have the NBA’s second-worst record at 16-53 entering Saturday’s home date with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they are on pace to make the top six in this summer’s draft. They have no incentive to bring players back from injury before their last game on April 12, especially four-time All-Star guard Trae Young.

The Wizards announced an update on the injury to the 27-year-old, who missed Monday’s 125-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors due to quad contusion.

“Young re-injured his right quadriceps during the third quarter of the game against Golden State on March 16. Related imaging due to back pain confirmed lower back irritation,” the organization said. “Both injuries are being treated conservatively and will not require surgery at this time. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”

Washington officially acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks on January 9, but he did not play until the team’s 122–112 home loss to the Utah Jazz on March 5 due to quad and knee injuries. The former All-NBA honoree has played just five games since the trade after leading the league with 11.6 assists per game in 76 contests last year and 15 games overall this season.

The Wizards placed a minutes restriction on Young, as he averaged only 20.8 minutes in those five games. The 6-foot-2, 164-pounder is averaging 34.1 minutes in his career.

However, Young still put on a show, Producing highlights such as fake behind-the-back passes, deep threes, and his patented “ice tray” celebration.

Trae Young (19 PTS) was a handful on defense in the first half pic.twitter.com/bWmMJsXiYV

– NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) 17 March 2026

The Oklahoma native averaged 15.2 points on 59.5% shooting (42.9% 3-point) with 6.3 assists, three rebounds and 2.6 turnovers in those 20.8 minutes. He scored 21 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3-point) with five assists, two rebounds, one block and one steal in 21 minutes against the Warriors on Monday.

Young has a $49 million player option this summer. Assuming the former Oklahoma Sooner opts to extend and/or sign with Washington, he will likely be its point guard next season with star big man Anthony Davis and a young core including big man Alex Saar, sharpshooting guard Trey Johnson, wing Keyshawn George, wing Will Riley, guard Bilal Coulibaly and guard Bub Carrington. Additionally, whoever the team drafts this summer could be a superstar prospect like BYU’s AJ DiBuntsa, Kansas’ Darrin Peterson, or Duke’s Cameron Boozer, depending on which selection they get in May’s NBA Draft Lottery.

Trae Young showed how he can change the Wizards

If Young doesn’t return this season, the silver lining is that he showed why Washington chose him. The seriousness of the 2018 NCAA champion and assists leader on offense generated more open looks for its young core, making it easier for players like Johnson, Riley and Coulibaly to score. For example, Coulibaly is averaging 16.8 points on 45% shooting (41% 3-point) with Young, and he is averaging 11 points on 41.5% shooting (31% 3-point) in 47 games this season.

This story is being updated

Washington, DC – Entering Tuesday night’s home date with the Detroit Pistons, the Washington Wizards have the NBA’s second-longest losing streak at 12 games. They also have the second-worst record (16-51), but four-time All-Star Trae Young is showing why next season will be different.

After Monday’s 126-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors, rookie wing Will Riley told ClutchPoints how 27 years old He has transformed the Wizards’ offense since making his debut for the team on March 5.

I asked Will Riley how Trae Young has impacted him as a player and the offense in general:

“Yeah, he’s an amazing player. It’s crazy to see it in person, I used to watch him all the time. Seeing the reads he makes shows how much attention he brings. The attention he brings… pic.twitter.com/43TLFAsX4v

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 17 March 2026

“Yeah, he’s an amazing player. It’s crazy to see it in person, I used to watch him all the time,” said the 20-year-old. “Just seeing the reads he brings shows how much focus he brings. The focus he brings allows him to find us on time and on target, so it opens up a lot of opportunities for everyone. He’s an amazing person and great teammate, too.”

Young is averaging 6.2 assists in just 20.8 minutes for Washington, which equates to one assist every 3.35 minutes. The former All-NBA honoree averaged an assist every 3.1 minutes for the Atlanta Hawks as he led the NBA with 11.6 dimes in 36 minutes in the 2024-25 campaign.

Young’s work so far with the Wizards doesn’t guarantee he’ll lead the league in assists again next year, but it is a preview of things to come. The former Oklahoma Sooner is using his offensive toughness to create open looks for the “Wiz Kids,” which makes their job easier and helps their development.

Will Riley reveals Trae Young opened ‘doors’

Riley also talked about what he has learned from Young so far.

“Reading off ball screens has been a main point of emphasis… making reads, snaking, being aggressive, trying to score first… it’s opened up a lot of new doors for me…” he said.

According to former Hawks G League scout Dylan Murphy, snacking is a pick-and-roll maneuver “in which the ball-handler moves away from his original direction between the screener and the screener’s defender.” Learning that move adds to Riley’s already deep bag of moves, like spins and fadeaways.

An example of how Young “opened new doors” for Riley was executing a hockey assist (pass for assist) on his three-point shot in the second quarter. Young brought the ball up the court before second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly set a screen on the logo and swung to the basket. During the roll, Young threw the ball towards Koulibaly, causing the defense to collapse inside. then the next player passed it A wide-open relay in the corner, who swept all three.

Beautiful sequence right here 🤌 pic.twitter.com/Uc02NxzIlr

– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) 17 March 2026

Head coach Brian Keefe referenced the game post-game when describing his favorite offensive moments from Young, Koulibaly and Riley, each of whom led the team with 21 points.

“I thought there were some good moments there. We had some good connections where the ball was moving, Trae was getting two, there was a play earlier when he hit Bilal on the short roll and he passed it to Will Riley,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons Trae is here, when he gets two he makes the right play. I thought we played him pretty well… You could see the passing skills of all three of them tonight.”

Young left Monday’s game with a quad contusion and was out on Tuesday, but he at least showed why Washington acquired him in five contests with the team in January. While no one knows how long he’ll last, giving the young core open looks and showing him new tricks provides invaluable experience.

For now, the Wizards are losing as much as possible to maximize their draft lottery odds as they try to get lucky in a class with superstar prospects Darin Peterson, AJ DiBuntsa and Cam Boozer. After hosting Detroit on Tuesday, they will do the same on Thursday before hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.

Someone stole the spotlight from Trae Young’s debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

And it’s none other than Julian Reese, brother of Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese.

In his third game in the NBA, Julian Reese accomplished a historic feat, as he finished with 18 points on 5/7 shooting from the field and a total of 20 rebounds – 10 defensive and 10 offensive. He also added two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of work, however, in a 122–112 loss to the visiting Jazz.

As of Thursday, it had been more than a decade since either of the Wizards was able to grab at least 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds in a game.

“He is the first Wizards player to have 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds in a game since Antawn Jamison on January 30, 2010,” Ax, formerly of ESPN Insights, shared via a social media post on Twitter.

On January 30, 2010, Jamison totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds in a 106–96 home win over the New York Knicks. He had 12 defensive boards and another 11 from the offensive side of the court.

Julian’s rebounding effort against the Houston Jazz was perfect for Reese. His sister is also known for her brilliant talent. In her first two seasons in the WNBA, Angel averaged 12.9 rebounds in 64 games.

A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Julian was signed by the Wizards to a two-way contract in February. Unless he’s called up to the G League, Julien will try to keep his momentum going against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Washington Wizards finally saw Trae Young on the field against the Utah Jazz, as his debut offered the first real glimpse of the trade that brought the star guard to Washington earlier this season. Young arrived with high expectations for the Wizards’ rebuild. Fans waited months to see him in action again. That wait ended with a 122–112 loss to the Jazz. Still, the atmosphere inside the ground felt different.

Young stepped onto the court as the new face of the Wizards’ future. His presence changed the atmosphere immediately. The attack proceeded with greater speed. Whenever the ball touched his hand, there was noise in the crowd.

The moment was crucial for a rebuilding team searching for identity. The Trae Young trade has already changed the direction of the franchise. Now the Wizards are finally seeing what their move could look like on the court.

Trae Young shares first impressions after Wizards debut

After the game, Young reflected on that moment and the reception he received from the crowd. The point guard immediately connected the energy of the arena to the bigger vision he hopes to create with the Wizards.

Trey after his first game with the Wizards:

“I definitely felt the energy from all the fans… That’s what I want here like I want the fans to feel included, to feel involved and be a part of our winning in the future… It’s a special group and I really believe in it… pic.twitter.com/TOi7jlI0q8

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 6 March 2026

“I definitely felt the energy from all the fans… That’s what I want here like I want the fans to feel included, to feel involved and be a part of our winning in the future… This is a special group and I really believe in the potential we’ve got with all the youth and the future we’ve got here.”

Young also talked about the adjustment period that comes with joining a new team in mid-season. Chemistry, timing and trust will take time. Yet he already sees the pieces being formed.

tray:

“I’m learning these guys and they’re learning me, too. I think there will be times where they’ll have some bullshit moments like I’m open and they get the ball when they’re not expecting it.” pic.twitter.com/KML59nR5A6

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 6 March 2026

“I’m learning these guys and they’re learning me. I think there will be times where they’ll have some lame moments like I’m wide open and they get the ball when they’re not expecting it.”

The Wizards still lost the game. The scoreboard did not support him. But in the arena lights something else began: belief. And if Trae Young’s vision comes together, this start could be remembered as the start of something big in Washington.

Someone stole the spotlight from Trae Young’s debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

And it’s none other than Julian Reese, brother of Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese.

In his third game in the NBA, Julian Reese accomplished a historic feat, as he finished with 18 points on 5/7 shooting from the field and a total of 20 rebounds – 10 defensive and 10 offensive. He also added two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of work, however, in a 122–112 loss to the visiting Jazz.

As of Thursday, it had been more than a decade since either of the Wizards was able to grab at least 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds in a game.

“He is the first Wizards player to have 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds in a game since Antawn Jamison on January 30, 2010,” Ax, formerly of ESPN Insights, shared via a social media post on Twitter.

On January 30, 2010, Jamison totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds in a 106–96 home win over the New York Knicks. He had 12 defensive boards and another 11 from the offensive side of the court.

Julian’s rebounding effort against the Houston Jazz was perfect for Reese. His sister is also known for her brilliant talent. In her first two seasons in the WNBA, Angel averaged 12.9 rebounds in 64 games.

A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Julian was signed by the Wizards to a two-way contract in February. Unless he’s called up to the G League, Julien will try to keep his momentum going against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Head coach Brian Keefe is excited about Trae Young’s debut with the Washington Wizards in Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

Keefe discussed who stands out According to Ben Strober of Locked On Wizards, he raved about Young’s play before the guard’s Wizards debut.

Keefe said, “I’ve played against him for many years. This guy makes other guys better. We see his own scoring ability, his ability to draw free throws, his ability to get into the paint.” “I think his best skill has always been his passing.”

Keefe was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder during the first two seasons of Young’s NBA career. Keefe also coached against Young for an additional two seasons during his time with the Brooklyn Nets before joining the Wizards’ coaching staff in 2023.

“This guy makes other people better…his best skill has always been his demise.”

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe meets with Trae Young ahead of his debut tonight

(via @strobersports)pic.twitter.com/xWOYYRd6dC

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 5 March 2026

Young will make his Wizards home debut in Thursday’s matchup.

Trae Young is set to make his Wizards debut

After nearly upsetting the Rockets in a 123–118 loss, the Wizards’ third-year guard Bilal Koulibaly led the way with 23 points on 9-16 shooting, including five threes. Wizards fans are excited to see Young paired with Koulibaly before his debut against the Jazz on Thursday.

According to Joshua Valdez of ClutchPoints, Koulibaly recently talked about the reason for his offensive streak for the Wizards.

“Just getting more reps, getting out there more,” Coulibaly said. “Finding my rhythm, and yeah, just my thing.”

Bilal Coulibaly scored a season-high 23 points tonight and went 5 of 7 from deep. His shot has improved significantly recently, and he attributes it to getting more reps and finding his rhythm. The oft-injured guard has been in the lineup consistently since late January, having… pic.twitter.com/EbxySnQcwl

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 3 March 2026

Koulibaly scored a season-high 23 points in the Wizards’ 123–118 win against the Rockets. He is averaging 10.4 points on 41.3% shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season.

The Washington Wizards have gone full force in their tanking efforts this season, with trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis both out of the lineup due to apparent injuries. Young was brought to the team by the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, with the hope that he, Davis and a blue-chip prospect from the 2026 NBA Draft vault would put Washington into contention next year.

Recently, NBA insider Marc Stein provided the latest information on when Young could potentially return from injury, as well as the status of his contract extension with the Wizards.

“Washington has said Young is moving toward making his Wizards debut at some point before the regular season ends, but there remains doubt in various corners of the league as to whether it will actually happen this season,” Stein reported on his Substack.

Stein also reported that “I have been repeatedly advised that Young and the Wizards agree to a contract extension this summer, which has been widely speculated to be a three-year deal.”

A big reason for the Hawks trading Young was believed to be around Atlanta’s reluctance to sign the star to a contract extension last offseason, a decision that reportedly alienated Young from the franchise that traded for him on draft night in 2018.

Young has only played a handful of games for the Hawks this year, missing significant time with an MCL sprain and has yet to make his debut for the Wizards this season.

The Wizards are one of several teams with their eyes on the 2026 NBA Draft class, and playing with Young this season could potentially hurt their chances of landing one of the top picks.

In any case, the Wizards are set to take the field on Monday evening for a home game against the Houston Rockets.