Washington Wizards veteran CJ McCollum boldly told reporters at Media Day that he expects to have a career year in 2025-26. It's a strong proclamation from one of the best shooting guards of his generation, but it's perhaps not the outrageous idea that one might think it is.
In processing McCollum's comments, a captivating reality was illuminated: The Wizards' roster isn't nearly as bad as many have made it out to be.
CJ McCollum: "I think this will be my best year yet."
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) September 29, 2025
Washington may not be knocking on the door of a championship, but it has a chance to play competitive basketball in 2025-26. McCollum will join forces with three-time All-Star and NBA champion Khris Middleton in attempting to lead the Wizards to improvement.
Whether or not that proves true, it's easy to understand why McCollum is so confident in his ability to turn in the best season of his career in 2025-26.
McCollum, 34, first secured meaningful minutes in 2015-16 and has never once looked back. Over the past 10 seasons, he's produced averages of 21.5 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 three-point field goals made per game while shooting at a clip of .454/.397/.805.
McCollum has averaged at least 20.0 points per game during each of those 10 seasons, including a 2024-25 campaign during which he overcame injuries to average 21.1 points per contest.
In the event that McCollum can keep that trend going, the Wizards' underrated roster could produce far more wins than anticipated.
CJ McCollum's "best year yet" would make Wizards a competitive team
Washington is admittedly short on proven players beyond McCollum and Middleton, which is the primary reason for skepticism. Corey Kispert rounds out a trio of players with experience and efficient jump shots, however, as a career 38.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
For a Wizards team that ranked No. 29 in three-point field goal percentage in 2024-25, their presence alone could prove transformative.
Washington also added productive young wing Cam Whitmore, who ranks among the more explosive and exciting players in the NBA. He's a career 35.7 percent three-point shooter in his own right, as well as a thrilling scorer who boasts an average of 22.3 points per 36 minutes through two seasons.
If Whitmore translates his production to a per-game basis, the Wizards would find themselves in a different position from a season ago with three high-level scoring options to play through.
Furthermore, Washington has been building toward a resurgence for years on end with several draft picks already showing signs of tremendous upside. That includes intriguing young defenders in Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, and Alex Sarr—all of whom should improve with a lighter offensive burden.
Bub Carrington has turned heads on the other end of the floor as a do-it-all point guard with the potential to rack up triple doubles, and Tristan Vukcevic is already an efficient floor-spacing big.
2025 first-round draft pick Tre Johnson adds yet another layer of intrigue as a catch-and-shoot specialist with three-level scoring potential. All of this is rounded into form by the simple fact that McCollum and Middleton will be able to provide invaluable leadership and mentorship, as well as deflect the criticism the younger players would've otherwise faced.
It's perhaps unrealistic to believe the Wizards will make the playoffs in 2025-26, but this is a young and talented team with two of the best veterans they could've asked for.