Wiz of Awes
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Health and consistency could help the Washington Wizards overachieve next season

By Cem Yolbulan

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards and Deni Avdija #9 talk with head coach Wes Unseld Jr. during the game against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on February 24, 2023 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. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards and Deni Avdija #9 talk with head coach Wes Unseld Jr. during the game against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on February 24, 2023 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. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) /
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One of the most underappreciated factors for team success in the NBA is the ability of their players to stay healthy throughout the 82-game season. In the current era of pace & space and load management, the age-old aphorism “best ability is availability” is truer than ever. The 2023-24 Washington Wizards are poised to have a significant edge on the availability front.

Outside of Bradley Beal, the 2022-23 Wizards were one of the healthier teams last season. The majority of the key role players played over 70 games last year. Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis could have also hit the 70 mark if they weren’t shut down early before the end of the season.

Now the Wizards not only kept all of their healthier players, but they also added consistent contributors.

Jordan Poole only missed 6 games out of possible 164 regular-season games in the past two seasons. He was one of a handful of players in the entire NBA who played in every single regular season and playoff game last season.

Another newcomer Tyus Jones has played over 70 games in each of the last three seasons. He only missed two games at the end of last year when the Memphis Grizzlies were taking it slow as they clinched their playoff seed.

The rest of the projected starters have had impressively healthy careers so far as well. Daniel Gafford played in 78, Deni Avdija in 76, and Corey Kispert in 74 games last season. Despite relative underachievement for the Washington Wizards of the past few seasons, their availability and consistency were never in question.

If the trend continues in the 2023-24 season, this could be one of the biggest strengths for the new-look Washington Wizards.

It is a rare phenomenon for teams to be able to play the same starting lineup for the majority of their games. Having that chemistry from playing with the same lineup night in and night out is a major advantage for any team. There is a chance the Washington Wizards will be one of the rare teams who accomplish that next year. And if they do, they may be much better than expected.

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