The Washington Wizards have several young players on the roster with high expectations entering the regular season.
Between the sophomore leaps of Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington, the rookie debuts for multiple intriguing prospects headlined by Tre Johnson, and the potential impact from offseason additions like CJ McCollum and Cam Whitmore, Washington's front office and fanbase have plenty to look forward to.
However, arguably the most anticipated development for the coming season is the potential breakout for second-year man Kyshawn George, who has gained plenty of hype following his strong showing during Summer League and the preseason.
The former first-round pick showed flashes of his potential in year one as a rookie, but not many expected that he could develop into a potential cornerstone for the Wizards or even a building block for that matter.
George's ceiling seemed to be a high-end role player in Washington, but that ceiling was quickly elevated based on what he showed this offseason.
The Miami product has looked fluent on the court in training camp, taking charge of the offense and poising as a reliable ball handler for the Wizards.
Between his improving jumper, court vision, versatility on both ends of the floor and IQ of the game, he has everything needed to be a star player for the Wizards not only this season, but beyond.
However, arguably the biggest development in George's game is his confidence and how vocal he's been on the court.
At first, it seemed like just a player in the same system growing more comfortable in his own skin and in a new city continuing his basketball career.
And while that may be true, George made it clear that the coaching staff's request for him to be a leader may be the driving force behind that development.
Wizards coaches have told Kyshawn George that they want him to be a leader and take a more aggressive approach on the court.
— Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd) October 19, 2025
“As a young guy, not everybody gets a chance to be put in that situation, and I think I’ve earned it in some way.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/bzbKmJ1mkt
The Wizards' coaching staff making it a point of emphasis for George to take on a more aggressive role on the court is not only a sign of belief in his skillset, but also in his character.
Head coach Brian Keefe has raved about the versatile wing and considering the team's request for George to take on a leadership role, it's evident that the coaching staff and the front office believe that he could be a difference maker in the rebuilding process in the DMV.
George could be in store for a major leap this coming season and if he's able to take on the role the Wizards' coaches asked of him, there's no reason he can't be a leader in Washington for years to come.