Washington Wizards: What happened to Isaac Bonga?

The Washington Wizards used to have a defensive stopper named Isaac Bonga. Remember that guy? Where’d he go?

If you watched any of the Washington Wizards’ first five games of the season, you likely saw a long-armed 6’8 forward running around on the wing, locking opponents up. He probably had a couple of deflections on the defensive end, even knocked down a three-pointer here and there. What was his name? Isaac Bonga? He was starting, right?

Right. Don’t let the latest disappearing act fool you. Isaac Bonga is still on the Washington Wizards roster, but far too often lately, he’s been stuck on the bench.

Isaac Bonga, after starting 49 of 66 games last season, started the season in the starting lineup once again. He started each of the first four games and logged at least 15 minutes in each of those contests. In the four games since, Bonga has gotten less than five minutes total. All those minutes came in garbage time vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Unfortunately, the Wizards went 0-4, with Bonga as a starter. But Bonga actually played pretty well out there.

Through the first four games, Bonga averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. Those averages won’t blow anyone away, but Bonga isn’t out there to lead the team in scoring. How efficient he was with his offensive chances, though, was encouraging. Bonga shot 8-12 through the first four games and went 5-8 from three-point land, an area where he needed to improve coming into this season.

That was all icing on the cake, too. I repeat: Bonga is not on the floor to help the Wizards offensively. But even without Bonga’s below-average offensive contributions, the Wizards’ offense is doing just fine. As of January 8, the team ranks second in points per game (120.8) and first in pace despite their 2-6 record. Their defense is what is holding them back. No one is giving up more points per 48 minutes than the Wizards did through eight games (122.9). The Wizards don’t need Bonga to elevate their offense. That part is covered. But they sure need his help on the defensive end.

The Washington Wizards cannot afford to abandon Isaac Bonga.

Unfortunately, Bonga has disappeared from the rotation. Meanwhile, the defensive issues haven’t gone anywhere. Rui Hachimura has returned after missing the first four games of the season, meaning fewer frontcourt minutes to go around, but it’s surprising that Hachimura’s return has so quickly and so completely forced Isaac Bonga to the bench.

It makes especially little sense as the Wizards continue to hemorrhage points. Through eight games, the Wizards are surrendering an average of 115.5 points per 100 possessions. With Bonga on the floor, though, they’re giving up 100.0 points per possession!! Without him, that average jumps up to 118.2, per NBA.com.  NBA Math‘s early-season tracking of each Wizards player’s total points added showed Bonga among the team’s top defenders.

Nobody’s presence impacts the defensive rating more than Bonga’s.

Yet, Bonga sits. He sat while the Wizards couldn’t stop former Washington wing Otto Porter on their way to a 133-130 loss to the Chicago Bulls. He sat while the Philadelphia 76ers piled on 82 first-half points before defeating the Wizards 141-136. Why?!

As teams run up the score and put the Wizards in holes that are nearly impossible to dig out of, Brooks keeps one of the team’s most impactful stoppers on the bench. He’s useless there. If you’re not going to play Bonga when you need a stop, when are you going to play him?

To a degree, this is an issue the Wizards have created for themselves. With so many wings on the roster and none able to separate themselves from the pack, the Wizards don’t have a clear, go-to guy. Some nights Bonga gets the start, sometimes he gets a DNP. Sometimes Avdija gets the start just to disappear in the second half. Sometimes Jerome Robinson is the first off the bench. Sometimes it is Troy Brown Jr. It’s literally anybody’s guess at this point. Most of the wings in question are still trying to figure things out on the NBA stage. The uncertainty around minutes can’t be helping them.

Realistically, Isaac Bonga’s days in the starting lineup may be over. Brooks seems to like Avdija at the three (with good reason), and Hachimura has the starting four spot on lock. But the Wizards can’t afford to go away from Bonga completely. He brings too much to the table defensively, and that’s where the Wizards need to improve. It’s obvious they can score with anybody. They just hung 136 on the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of the NBA’s best defensive rating. The offense isn’t the issue. But can they stop anybody? That’s the question.

The numbers seem to suggest they’re a lot better at getting stops with Bonga on the floor. He won’t solve all their problems defensively, but he won’t stop anybody while he’s sitting on the bench.