The Washington Wizards are not expected to be in playoff contention, but a massive season lies ahead. They are focused on developing their young talent and hope Alex Sarr can start to blossom into a superstar. It is year two of a rebuild. The Wizards need more time, but seeing progress will be the goal.
It all starts with training camp. The annual season kickoff will give the Wizards three weeks to work on their games before the regular season begins on Oct. 24 against the defending champion Celtics. Training camp provides plenty of practice time and is important for this young squad to develop strategy and chemistry.
Here is a look at when things get underway, plus other key dates and what fans should watch for during this year’s camp.
Wizards training camp start date
Official start date for Wizards
The Wizards open training camp with their annual media day on Sept. 30. Practices begin on Oct. 1 as the team builds up for their first preseason game in Toronto on Oct. 6.
Washington has just five days to prepare for their first contest, so expect the franchise to quickly install sets and begin teaching their young talents. Players will likely arrive early and get in unofficial work before Oct. 1. The mandatory workouts will not begin until October.
Location of training camp
The Wizards are staying home and holding their training camp at the MedStar Health Performance Center in Washington D.C. It is the training facility for the NBA team and their WNBA and G League counterparts. It opened in 2018 and is the only facility that houses all three teams in one location.
Training camp practices will be closed to the public, but follow your favorite media members for all the latest.
Key dates surrounding training camp
Media Day
Media day begins training camp for all 30 NBA teams and 28 of them have theirs on Sept. 30. It is the first time to hear from your favorite players and coaches after the offseason break. There will be team and individual photos taken and media sessions with every member of their 2024-25 roster. The front office and head coach will also speak for the first time in the new campaign.
Fans should be on the lookout for their first glimpse of Jonas Valanciunas and Malcolm Brogdon wearing a Wizards uniform and any sneak peeks the team offers. It will be supporters' first chance to see Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George in their new threads for their rookie season.
Preseason Game Schedule
Date | Opponent | How to watch |
|---|---|---|
Oct. 6 | at Raptors | TBA |
Oct. 9 | at Knicks | TBA |
Oct. 11 | vs. Raptors | TBA |
Oct. 14 | at Nets | TBA |
Oct. 18 | vs. Knicks | TBA |
Storylines to watch during training camp
New player integrations
Number two overall pick Alex Sarr is the franchise’s new building block. The Wizards signed Jonas Valanciunas to start the five, which means Sarr will likely begin his career as a power forward. Fans saw his defensive potential in summer league and should be excited to see how his offensive game grows with more talent around him.
Bub Carrington figures to play a key role this season. The Wizards are eager to give him reps on and off the ball, so fans should be watching closely to see where he fits best.
Valanciunas, Malcolm Brogdon, and Kyshawn George are also new pieces who will look to fit in during training camp.
Health and conditioning updates
The Wizards should be relatively healthy entering training camp. New signing Saddiq Bey tore his ACL in March and may miss the entire season. He will not take part in training camp, but updates on his status are something to watch.
The Washington Wizards are a young squad with immense potential. Their focus will be developing their rookies and Bilal Coulibaly. It won’t result in wins, but the future is bright in the nation’s capital. Fans should be watching closely to see how this squad develops.