Entering the season, the Washington Wizards made it a point of emphasis to prioritize the development of their young roster as the franchise heads towards a full rebuild.
Among the young players on the roster, the hype seemed to be centered around reigning No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr. The French product put together an abysmal summer league performance and fans of the Wizards and the NBA as a whole seemed interested to see if the 19-year-old could turn things around. Following his NBA Rookie of the Month award in December, it appears the forward has.
In addition to Sarr, Carlton "Bub" Carrington seemed to be another Wizards first round pick that fans were excited to see play. The young guard quickly gained high praise from members of the Wizards, and even drew comparisons to a Wizards legend. As a result, it's understandable for fans to be intrigued with Carrington as a prospect for the team's future.
Nonetheless, another rookie that quickly turned heads for Washington with his performance for the team early on is Kyshawn George.
Kyshawn George's versatility offers plenty to be excited about
Kyshawn George was drafted with the No. 24 overall pick in this year's draft. Rounding out the first round for the Wizards in the NBA Draft, the Miami product seemed to be a raw talent that had plenty to offer if he could ever put it altogether.
Early on, George showed flashes of why his versatility could be a strength that could give Brian Keefe plenty of options with how to utilize his abilities on the court. At 6-foot-8, the forward has the size to square off with any wing in the league, but he also has the ball-handling skills to serve as a guard in certain situations.
Between his height and versatility on the floor, the 21-year-old has all the tools to develop into more than just a reliable star on the court. So far this season, George is averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while shooting 33.2% from field goal range and 24.5% from beyond the arc.
With an improved jumper, more development mixed with the chance that the game slows down for the rookie, he could be a vital piece for the Wizards team moving forward.
Despite his early season struggles, there's plenty for fans of the Wizards to be excited about moving forward with not just George, but the team's future as a whole.