Grading the Washington Wizards at the Halfway Point

We're officially past the halfway point of the 2025-2026 Washington Wizards season. It's time to grade players individually based on stats, eye-test, development, and other factors.

Tristan Vukcevic: C-

2025 Stats: 30 GP, 6.9 PTS, 2.4 REB, 1 AST, 45.5% FG, 20.0% 3FG

Vukcevic is still a below-average defender at this point, but has revealed decent offensive instincts. On nights where he's seen significant minutes, he's had his share of flashes regarding his work on the low block. As a third-year player, he still has work to do.

Anthony Gil: A

Gil was brought back to the Wizards as a locker room presence. With that in mind, he's served the role everyone assumed he would take. The longest-tenured Wizard doesn't play much at all, but that's not where he brings his worth. 

Malakhi Branham: C-

2025 Stats: 24 GP, 4.1 PTS, 1.6 REB, 45.8% FG

The Washington Wizards chose to keep Branham over Dillon Jones before the start of the season. His minutes have been inconsistent in terms of where he stands in the rotation, but a few nights have seen him play significant ones. After scoring 13 points against Sacramento last Friday, he didn't play in the next two games. Branham can fill in as a backup guard, but it's unclear where he'll fit in the future.

Marvin Bagley III: A-

2025 Stats: 19.3 MPG, 10.0 PTS, 5.7 REB, 1.5 AST, 61.9% FG, 38.9% 3FG

After signing with Washington this summer for a second stint with the team, he's been one of the most impactful moves of the offseason. At 26-years-old, Bagley III's career has shifted to him taking on the role as a veteran leader. His activity on the offensive glass has been beneficial on numerous instances. His 2.6 offensive rebounds per game leads the team. Also, he's started 7 games in place of Alex Sarr, and he's done admirably.  With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, Bagley could see his efforts sought after by a contending team, as he's currently on an expiring contract.

Jamir Watkins: B-

2025 Stats: 17 GP, 3.0 PTS, 2.4 REB, 0.4 STL

 For not having tons of offensive ability right now, his defense has been excellent in the 17 games he’s played. His ability to read passing lanes, play help-side defense, and defend numbe one options has impressed many in the organization. His offense is a work in progress, but Wizards head coach Brian Keefe said Watkins will continue getting reps with the Capital City Go-Go.

Will Riley: C

2025 Stats: 34 GP, 5.1 PTS, 2.0 REB, 1.1 AST, 40.9% FG, 23.2% 3FG

Washington's first-round pick from 2025 needs time, but he has had some very promising performances to his credit. He’s just not exactly ready for the big step forward yet, and that’s okay.  The month of January hasn’t been great for him: 38% FG, 18% 3P, 1.1 AST to 1.6 TO. He's seen more minutes since the Wizards traded Corey Kispert, so there's a runway for Riley to show what he's got the rest of the way.

Positives for Riley: Shows good intelligence on the floor at times. Great effort and hustle. There's a good chance his outlook is very different this time next year.

AJ Johnson: C-

2025 Stats: 23 GP, 1.7 PTS, 0.6 AST, 25.8 FG%, 21.1% 3FG

Hasn’t really played enough to get a super fair assessment, in all honesty. His slight frame is an issue that limits his game on both ends. In limited actions at point guard, he hasn't flashed much outside of a quick first step, and his unbelievable athleticism. 

Cam Whitmore: INC

2025 Stats: 21 GP, 9.2 PTS, 2.8 REB, 45.6%, 28.6% 3FG

Whitmore's 2025 was short-lived after his unfortunate health concern of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.  He will miss the rest of the season, but that doesn't mean the book is closed on Whitmore. The team picked up his club option for next year, so he'll be with the team next year unless he's moved or waived. Just like his first two years in Houston, his campaign saw the highs and lows. His high-flying dunks and aggressiveness provided excitement. However, the situation regarding his benching before the injury was troublesome. Keefe said Whitmore received a DNP after failing to meet the team's internal standards. Due to the injury, Whitmore never had a chance to earn his way back into the rotation.

Khris Middleton: C+

2025 Stats: 29 GS, 9.8 PTS, 4.0 REB, 3.3 AST, 42.9% FG, 32.5% 3FG

Middleton has surged as of late, and maybe that benefits Washington because he becomes a potential trade candidate. His large contract expires this year, so he could be an option for teams looking to dump a multi-year salary. Washington hasn't asked him to do a ton, but he's been a serviceable veteran trying to mentor the young core of players. 

Justin Champagnie: B+

2025 Stats:  7.2 PTS, 5.7 REB, 0.8 STL, 50.2%FG, 30.8% 3FG

Champagnie continues to be a winning basketball player for the Wizards. His 1.7 Win shares this year is no surprise. He’s been a starter, a role player, and even some nights a big scorer. He’s got room to polish his game offensively, including his three-point shot, which is down to 30.8% after he was around 38% last season. His energy is infectious, and has typically led to more team success.

Bub Carrington: B-

2025 Stats: 9.7 PTS, 3.9 REB, 4.6 AST, 40.3 FG%, 41.4 3FG%

After a tough 21-game stretch to begin the season, Carrington has bounced back to resembling his rookie season form. He leads the team in 3P%, which is excellent for his outlook long-term in Washington. He has taken on the role as the team's lead point guard while Trae Young recovers from injury. The Carrington point guard experience has been up-and-down, but he's put together encouraging performances as of late. He'll need to continue learning to make his reads quickly and avoid turning the ball over.

Bilal Coulibaly: C

2025 Stats: 10.1 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.4 STL, 39.2 FG%, 27.3% 3FG

It's been another year where health has negatively impacted the first draft pick of Washington's new front office. He's missed 19 games this year with various injuries. He's struggled to find consistency on offense. Since his rookie year, his three-point percentage has dropped -- this year to a concerning 27.3%. Washington is still high on his two-way potential, and he's put together some excellent defensive performances this year. He hopes to get healthy and pick up his offensive production. He's eligible for a rookie extension in October.

Alex Sarr: A

2025 Stats: 33 GP, 17.2 PTS, 7.4 REB, 2.8 AST, 2.2 BLK, 50.6% FG, 34.8% 3FG

The second overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft is having a STELLAR start to his sophomore season. Sarr has already proven that he is one of the best defenders in the league, as he currently ranks third in stocks per game. Sarr has also improved his shooting efficiency, jumping 11.2% from the field and 4.0% from three. The year two leap is legit people, and Washington has a legitimate franchise cornerstone in Sarr. 

Tre Johnson: B+

2025 Stats: 35 GP, 12.4 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.0 STK, 44.6% FG, 39.1% 3FG

The sixth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has shown flashes of superstar upside this season. From his 30 foot three pointers to his improved playmaking skills, Johnson is looking like everything Washington fans have expected and more. At the young age of 19 years-old, Johnson has already established himself as one of the best shooters in the NBA. The next step for Johnson is to establish himself more as a shot creator on this Washington team, and with an increased role to end the season, Johnson will put his name on the map.

Kyshawn George: A-

2025 Stats: 33 GP, 15.5 PTS, 5.6 REB, 4.9 AST, 2.0 STK, 46.4% FG, 39.9% 3FG

Every contending team in the NBA needs a swiss-army-knife – luckily for Washington, they found theirs 24th overall in 2024 with Kyshawn George. In only his second season, George has proven that he can do EVERYTHING at a high level. With his active hands and strong frame, George can defend all positions at an elite level, proving to be one of Washington’s better defenders. The sophomore has also improved his offensive game, as he looks much more comfortable as the team's primary ball handler, often using his size and strength to put pressure on the paint, where he has an array of counters to score the basketball. George is a household name by now, and could arguably be Washington’s best player of their young core.