The Washington Wizards haven't exactly created a reputation for themselves as a good developmental team.
In fact, Washington's recent stretch of swing and misses when it pertains to the NBA Draft has given the team the exact opposite reputation when it comes to the development of young prospects.
Considering the fact that former Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija blossomed when he departed the organization and the overwhelming fact that not a single draft pick has exactly blossomed since arriving in Washington don't exactly help the narrative that the team can't develop.
Unfortunately, those narratives may have to take a backseat after this season, especially after the recent emergence of sophomore players Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George.
Sarr, who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is a validation that the Wizards botched draft history could be a thing of the past moving forward.
Nonetheless, with the French product being considered a top prospect in his respective class, his emergence doesn't exactly factor into the team's outlook on development.
However, the emergence of Kyshawn George is exactly what can flip those narratives around, especially after the leaps across the board for the former first round pick.
When George was selected by the Wizards in the back half of the 2025 NBA Draft, the oversized guard was viewed as a raw prospect that could develop into a solid role player down the road.
The wing had the size, feel for the game and skillset that Washington felt like they could work with, but as a ball of clay, it would take some time for him to take those leaps for the Wizards; at least that's what the original expectations were.
To start the season, George hasn't just looked like a solid role player for the Wizards, but he looks like a cornerstone player that the team can build around moving forward.
George is averaging 17.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists, while shooting 50.3% from field goal range and 45.5% from beyond the arc.
The 6-foot-8 forward loks like not only one of the best young players on the Wizards, but the NBA as a whole.
Part of his leap could be due to the offseason work George put in, and while there's no reason to discredit the work put in by George, there is reason to credit the team's coaching staff and the work put in to develop the emerging wing.