After months of waiting, the Trae Young era has begun in Washington. Young made his season debut at home against Utah, finishing with 12 points, and 6 assists in 19 minutes.
It was an impressive debut from the star, coming off of an extended absence of 22 games. Even in limited minutes, it was easy to see how the guard could fit alongside the team’s young core.
After the inspiring debut, questions still remain for Young and the Wizards, however. How will he fit long-term on both ends? What can Washington do to maximize his talent? By diving into the star’s first game, we can get a glimpse at the answers to these questions, and the future of the franchise.
Young gives Washington organization on offense
Most casual NBA fans have learned to love Trae Young for his deep three-point shots. But Young’s actual greatest skill over the past few years has been his ability to serve as a playmaker, helping create for his teammates.
The guard led the league in assists a year ago, able to draw in the defense and create for his teammates with his crafty passing.
We saw flashes of this throughout the game against Utah, an encouraging sign for Washington. You could hear the gasps from Wizards fans as the star delivered a full court pass to Leaky Black for his first assist of the game, the ball skying through the air to Black for an open three-pointer.
Such creativity is something the Wizards really haven’t seen offensively, ranking 27th in the NBA in assist to turnover ratio. By running the offense through Young, Washington should find more consistency, with an experienced ball-handler making the correct reads.
Trae Young can still score in bunches
While Young’s greatest asset might be his passing, he still flashed some of the scoring abilities that have made him such a special talent. The guard was 4-9 from the floor, a pretty efficient night in limited minutes.
Most of the star’s points in his debut came at the rim, showing off his explosive driving ability. The threat of Young’s passing, along with his dangerous dribble moves, allowed him to create separation at a high level.
Trae’s scoring abilities give the Wizards a serious boost, a true go-to option in the half-court on offense. If he can continue to penetrate the paint efficiently, it should open up all kinds of opportunities for Washington, the threat he poses to opposing defenses allowing their young stars to shine.
Some of Young’s deficiencies stood out
Washington fans are certainly thrilled to have their superstar back on the court and healthy. But, as expected, his debut wasn’t perfect. Many of Trae’s areas of struggle over the years showed up on the court in this game, potentially a future cause for concern.
Young’s size has always limited him as a defender, making him an easy target for opposing defenses. Playing alongside other smaller, weaker defenders like Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington only reiterated this issue. Young was beat off the dribble multiple times in isolation, a cause for concern.
This problem will be easier to navigate for the Wizards once Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr return, pieces that can provide great help defense. But for now, Young’s defensive woes are likely to stand out.
Trae’s ability to move without the ball was another previous concern in Atlanta, one he did little to dissuade from on Thursday night. Rarely did you see any off-ball motion from the guard, leading the offense to feel stagnant at times when he didn’t have the ball.
The Wizards certainly hope that with a scenery change, Young will work on contributing in a greater variety of ways. If Washington wants to get the most out of this experiment, they will need the star to learn to work without the ball, opening up opportunities for young players like Johnson and Carrington to succeed.
Overall, despite some negative moments, Young’s first night as a Wizard was a positive one, both for the team and their passionate fan base. As the season goes on, Washington hopes to see even more from the star, giving the team hope for the 2026-27 season.