The Washington The Wizards could not have requested for a greater begin on the season. Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George, none of whom are sufficiently old to drinkall performed effectively, which is essential for the rebuilding franchise.
Head coach Brian Keefe is “not stunned” by their excellence.
“Nothing surprises me. We’re nonetheless studying and watching them, and seeing them develop, in order that they’ve executed some actually optimistic issues,” the 48-year-old mentioned Thursday. “Clearly, they nonetheless have to work on some issues, however they have been aggressive, that is the most important factor I favored about them, was they’d no concern, they went on the market and competed, made errors, however they proceed to play. It is an effective way to be taught.
Coulibaly, headliner of Washington’s final three video games. The French worldwide scored 67 factors on 59.5 p.c taking pictures throughout that span, together with a career-high 27 factors on 11-of-14 taking pictures in Wednesday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks. He added 9 rebounds and three steals for good measure, and in addition held star guard Trae Younger to 6 factors on 2-of-15 taking pictures when overlaying for him in back-to-back video games Monday and Wednesday.
Nonetheless, the Wizards’ rookie class additionally shined. Sarr, Carrington and George all began in Wednesday’s 133-120 win, with Carrington scoring 16 factors and George and Sarr every scoring 11. Sarr additionally added 4 blocks and a steal, whereas George had three of his personal. blows.
With Coulibaly solely in his second 12 months and the rookies solely 4 video games into their careers, they’ve nonetheless solely scratched the floor of their potential.
Wizards’ younger gamers have vibrant futures
It is a good signal when younger gamers can lead their crew to victory whereas studying on the job. It is nonetheless early, however there’s motive to be excited, particularly with younger gamers displaying totally different expertise.
George, for instance, efficiently transitioned threes whereas additionally having a defensive affect. The previous Miami participant smiled how cool it was to begin alongside Coulibaly, Sarr and Carrington on Wednesday evening, which was Washington’s youngest beginning lineup in franchise historical past.
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“I used to be actually trying ahead to it, I couldn’t wait to play,” the 20-year-old mentioned. “Even with BC, I feel we are the younger core, you noticed BC final 12 months and all three draft picks this 12 months. I used to be simply trying ahead to it and it was tremendous cool to share the sphere with them.
George began rather than veteran ahead Kyle Kuzma, who injured his groin in Monday’s 121-119 win over the Hawks. Along with his 11 factors and three steals, the 6-foot-8, 200-pounder additionally had 4 assists, displaying off his versatility over 32 minutes.
In the meantime, Sarr is already averaging eight factors, 6.3 rebounds and a pair of.5 blocks per sport, whereas Carrington is averaging 10.5 factors on 44.4 p.c taking pictures. Whereas these numbers might not bounce out at you, think about that these gamers have barely acclimated to the NBA sport after their respective tenures in France and the NCAA.
Moreover, Sarr’s rim safety is already at a excessive degree, as he’s tied for fourth within the league in blocks. Washington have to be enthusiastic about this, as they primarily chosen the 19-year-old for his defensive prowess.
This younger core offers Wizards followers extra motive to be excited than they’ve had in years, because of Will Dawkins and the brand new regime’s emphasis on rebuilding by way of the draft. The subsequent assembly is in Mexico with the Miami Warmth on Saturday.
