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Washington Wizards: Kelly Oubre is set for a breakout season in 2019

By Montel Davis

WASHINGTON, DC -  APRIL 22: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against the Toronto Raptors in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  APRIL 22: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against the Toronto Raptors in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2018 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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While expecting the first big pay-day of his career, Kelly Oubre Jr. is set to have a breakout season for the Washington Wizards in 2019.

In a surprising turn of events, the Washington Wizards dropped their preseason opener in a 124-121 overtime loss to the New York Knicks, Monday, in the Capital One Arena.

As the team shot 21.1 percent from behind the arc and Markieff Morris getting ejected after an altercation with a rookie, there were little to no positives to take away in Washington’s first outing of the season.

However, living up to the title of one of the deepest benches in the league, the play from the Wizards’ second unit was a silver lining in Washington’s defeat.

The Wizards’ second until played exceptionally well as four of their six players who scored in double-figures came off the bench. Both Tomas Satoransky (12 points) and Jason Smith (14 points) played a huge factor in the Wizards’ second unit success, but it was the play of Kelly Oubre Jr. that stole the show.

In his first game of the season, Oubre scored a game-high 15 points, eight rebounds, and recorded the Wizards’ highest plus/minus of the game ( +7) to lead the way in Washington.

He looked faster running the floor in transition, and his lateral quickness seemed to have improved on the defensive side of the ball. And despite shooting 38.4 percent from the field, Oubre looked to have more confidence with every shot he took in Monday’s game.

As one of the Wizards’ go-to players off the bench, Oubre’s production on the court will play a huge factor in Washington’s success throughout the 2019 season. With hopes of receiving the first huge payday of his career next summer, Oubre is poised to have a breakout season in 2019.

While averaging 7.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, Oubre has established himself as a respectable and solid NBA player over the course of his first three seasons, and there should be no added pressure for the fourth-year forward from the University of Kansas to perform at a high level.

Since he entered the league in 2015, Oubre has continuously made improvements throughout his career that turned him into a respectable NBA player.

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Last season, Oubre took his game to another level, as he averaged a career-best 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and becoming an above-average free-throw shooter, as his percentage increased to 82.0 percent from the charity stripe. Oubre’s play improved so much so that he placing third in total minutes played at 27.5 per game for the Wizards.

Although Obure has improved over the crouse of his career, it is safe to say that he has yet to reach his full potential as a player. For Oubre to take the next step in his career, he must find a way to improve the consistency of his play.

Throughout his career, Oubre has shown flashes of what could be an all-star in the league, to at times, a player who should be starting for the Capital City Go-Go. His inconsistency may have been the primary reason why Oubre failed to crack FanSided’s Meet the 2018 NBA 25-under-25 list for the 2019 season.

Another factor for Oubre to have a break a season is to improve his three-point shot. With Scott Brooks focusing on 3-point shooting this season, in this day in age, it is nearly impossible for an NBA player to have an impact on the court without a solid shot from behind the arc, and Obure has yet to establish one.

Averaging a career 32.2 percent, Oubre is a mediocre shooter from downtown. But if he can improve his three-point percentage to above 40 percent, the sky is the limit not only for Oubre’s career but also for the Wizards as a whole.

Next. Why it’s a critical year for Scott Brooks. dark

However, given his work ethic and desire to become an NBA all-star, Kelly Oubre’s consistency on the court and ability to hit threes will improve with each development throughout the season.

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