The 2023-24 NBA season is upon us. As always, the day that marks that occasion is the Media Day. Teams unveil their new players, and jerseys and talk about their hopes and dreams for the next season. The vibes are generally positive, and it was no different for the Washington Wizards. The press conferences were full of hope and optimism.
Amidst all the talk of retooling instead of rebuilding, and how happy everyone is to be there, there were plenty of takeaways about what the team will look like on-court. Kyle Kuzma provided the most important insight as he couldn’t contain his excitement about the new-look Wizards.
Admitting that the team wasn’t “fun to watch” last season, Kuzma hinted at the intention of changing that this year.
Kuzma on the Wizards playing with faster pace: “It’s gonna be fun to watch. I watched a lot of film last year and I know it probably wasn’t that fun to watch…”
— Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd) October 2, 2023
Kuzma is right about his assessment. The 2022-23 Washington Wizards weren’t particularly fun to watch. Only 14.3% of their possessions were in transition, ranking 21st in the league. They were 19th in overall pace in the NBA. They ranked 19th in three-point attempt frequency. They were basically below average in every metric that makes a team “fun”.
According to Kuzma, however, that is about to change. There is more youth, speed, and three-point shooting. This should lead to a more fun team to watch.
"It's going to be fun to watch."
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) October 2, 2023
Kyle Kuzma is thrilled the Wizards' new additions have infused the team with pace and 3-point shooting. He joked all the speed and youth on the team has led to him getting in shape faster. pic.twitter.com/KfArBuTD0z
Obviously, every coach and team wants to play fast. It is, however, easier said than done. High tempo requires motor, stamina, and connectedness. Playing with a fast pace could easily turn into more mistakes on both ends of the floor.
It will be up to coach Wes Unseld Jr. to make this a reality. Instilling the right style of play with the right rotation of players will be key. You need to get some stops on the defensive end to be able to push the pace and get easy buckets on the other way. Finding the right balance between mistake-prone but dynamic youth and sturdier but slower veterans will be a challenging task for the coaching staff.
If the Media Day is any indication, there will be a clear intention to play fast and have more fun on the court. Hopefully this results in a Washington Wizards team that fans are happy and proud to call their own.
Wizards decisionmakers are right to preach patience in press conference
The Washington Wizards team president and GM asked for patience to execute their vision in a press conference. They deserve all of it.