The Washington Wizards aren’t expected to be in playoff contention, but they have a huge season ahead of them. They’re focused on develop their young talents and I hope Alex Sarr can start becoming a superstar. This is year two of a rebuild. The Wizards need more time, but seeing progress will be the goal.
It all starts with training camp. The annual season opener will give the Wizards three weeks to work on their game before the regular season begins on Oct. 24 against the defending champion Celtics. Training camp provides plenty of practice time and is important for this young team to develop strategy and cohesion.
Here’s a look at when events will begin, along with other key dates and what fans should watch for during this year’s camp.
Wizards Official Start Date
The Wizards begin training camp with their annual media day on September 30. Practices begin on October 1 as the team prepares for its first preseason game in Toronto on October 6.
Washington has just five days to prepare for its first game, so expect the franchise to quickly set up equipment and start training its young talent. Players will likely arrive early and begin working out unofficially before Oct. 1. Mandatory workouts won’t begin until October.
Training Camp Location
The Wizards are staying home and holding their training camp at the MedStar Health Performance Center in Washington DC. It is the training facility for the NBA team and its counterparts in the WNBA and G League. It opened in 2018 and is the only facility that houses all three teams in one location.
Training camp practices will be closed to the public, but follow your favorite media members for all the latest news.
Media Day
Media Day marks the start of training camp for all 30 NBA teams, with 28 of them having theirs on September 30. This is the first time you’ll hear from your favorite players and coaches after the offseason break. Team and individual photos will be taken and press sessions with each member of their 2024-25 roster will be held. The front office and head coach will also speak for the first time in the new campaign.
Fans should be on the lookout for their first look at Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon in a Wizards uniform and all the glimpses the team offers. This will be the first chance for fans to see Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George in their new jerseys for their rookie seasons.
Pre-season match schedule
|
Date |
Opponent |
How to watch |
|---|---|---|
|
October 6 |
at the Raptors |
To be determined |
|
October 9 |
to the Knicks |
To be determined |
|
October 11 |
against the Raptors |
To be determined |
|
October 14 |
to the Nets |
To be determined |
|
October 18 |
against the Knicks |
To be determined |
New Player Integrations
Second overall pick Alex Sarr is the new franchise anchor. The Wizards signed Jonas Valanciunas to start the five, meaning Sarr will likely begin his career as a power forward. Fans saw his defensive potential during Summer League and should be excited to see how his offensive game develops with more talent around him.
Bub Carrington is expected to play a key role this season. The Wizards are eager to give him reps on and off the ball, so fans should keep a close eye to see where he fits in best.
Valanciunas, Malcolm Brogdon and Kyshawn George are also new pieces who will look to integrate during training camp.
Health and Fitness Updates
The Wizards should be relatively healthy heading into training camp. New signing Saddiq Bey tore his anterior cruciate ligament in March and could miss the entire season. He will not participate in training camp, but updates on his status are worth monitoring.
The Washington Wizards are a young team with immense potential. Their focus will be on developing their rookies and Bilal Coulibaly. This won’t translate into wins, but the future is bright in the nation’s capital. Fans should keep a close eye on how this team evolves.
