The Washington Wizards held their 2026-27 Media Day on Monday, and while most of the attention went to the faces of the team like All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis or 2026 No.1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, the answers from the role players on the team were arguably more eye-opening.
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Despite still wanting to make their mark in the league, young players like Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and Bilal Coulibaly, as well as veterans like Khris Middleton and Tre Mann, spoke in a way that shows they know what needs to be done for Washington to reach its potential.
Wizards players already understand their roles
While stars like Young and future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis will obviously play heavy minutes, the situation is more complex for young players.
When asked about how he can solidify himself in the rotation, Carrington said, “Being a winning basketball player, that’s the goal.” While this sounds like a standard answer, the fact is that he understands that despite being one of the longest-tenured Wizards, he has to work to get consistent minutes, and nothing will be given.
The newest Wizard, sixth-year guard Tre Mann, also made it clear that he understands what is expected of him. When asked how he'll approach nights in which he doesn't play due to the roster logjam, Mann said, “I’m always gonna be team first, so if I’m not playing that night, it doesn’t change how I’ll treat my teammates; whatever I see that can help, I’m gonna let them know." That's a 25-year-old player, wise beyond his years.
Khris Middleton was the perfect veteran to bring back
Someone of Middleton’s stature willingly returning to a team that hasn’t made the postseason in five years and coming off of a 17-win season shows that he believes in the vision and the roster that general manager Will Dawkins and the Wizards brass are building.
When the topic was broached about what inspired him to return to Washington, the 15-year vet said, “It was a lot of the stuff I saw last year. Just the daily habits, the way the organization is run from top to bottom. Then once I got in the locker room, being around those guys, even though they’re young and some may be inexperienced, just knowing they want to reach the top at some point and I can help them get there.”
He also said, “The East is tough, but this is a team that can definitely compete.” That statement from a former NBA champion like Middleton holds weight, and now it’s time for the team to prove him right.
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