No one really falls out of their chair at last place. Wizards in the Eastern Conference, and in the league overall. However, with only 3 wins for 19 losses, including a series of 16 losses in a row, the Washington players are hard to see. They lose by an average of 16.2 points, which could become the worst mark in NBA history…
We could therefore expect more and even Kyle Kuzma concedes it. “I tried to approach the season without a lot of expectations, because you never know how things will develop. I imagined that there would be difficulties, but never at the level we are currently experiencing”laments the former Lakers for The Athletic.
Think first and foremost about the long term
The leaders are also a little surprised by the mountain of defeats. They hoped that with the arrivals of veterans like Malcolm Brogdon, Jonas Valanciunas and Saddiq Bey, the Wizards would be tougher. Problem: the first was slowed down by injuries, while the third must still recover from a ruptured cruciate ligament. And even Kyle Kuzma had long stints in the infirmary.
“I told the players and the coach that I thought we would be better than people think. The reason it's not the case is injuries, unfortunately,” said franchise president Michael Winger. “We are in a very complicated period at the moment”adds GM Will Dawkins. The latter then specifies that the Wizards think “long term”.
“The staff and players must continue to work and progress. We will continue to accumulate positive progress in terms of progression and, at the end of the season, we will put things into perspective. Let's not talk about now. We will see at the end of the season what we have achieved”announces Will Dawkins in words echoed by Brian Keefe. “We work and develop a work rhythm, efforts and habits to prepare for long-term success”said the coach.
Players who give up too quickly
While waiting for this long term to happen, we have to accept the setbacks and it is not easy for the players. “What we are going through is trying for everyone, including me”Corey Kispert can only observe.
Is this why the Wizards give in so easily? Our colleagues explain that a source within the team notes that, in several matches, the group quickly gave up. While, normally, a time-out, a few words from the coach and the team wakes up, the Wizards seem to be in the match until the opponent pulls away. From then on, they give up. “This subject has been raised, I can say that. It's going to change.”says this anonymous source.
Accumulating defeats – “tanking” in NBA parlance – is rarely a good idea, even if we understand that the prospect of the Draft is always a good motivation. In 2025, the big prize could be Cooper Flagg. In 2026, it will surely be AJ Dybantsa. But the Wizards are not only losing completely on purpose, they are also weighed down by the limitations of the group, very young and inexperienced.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes
Alexandre Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Carlton Carrington, who all play more than 25 minutes on average, are not yet 22 years old and only the second – who is also in the tough – has more than one season in the legs. They are still cutting their teeth and learning, in a way, their trade.
“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That's the gist of what they're saying.”says Carlton Carrington, referring to the meetings that the players have every 10 matches with the technical staff, to take stock and monitor everyone's progress. Even if mistakes equal defeats.
“We can also be at 4-19 in the next match”continues the Wizards rookie. “There is always a match to play, the next day, that we can think about. That's what keeps my feet on the ground. Victory or defeat, good or bad performance, there is another match to play to change the course of the season. »
