Takeaways as Washington Wizards Conclude 2026 Preseason

It’s time. 

After months of waiting, and a few quick preseason games, real NBA basketball is back. 

With the regular season set to start Wednesday as the Washington Wizards take on the Milwaukee Bucks at home, let’s go through some quick-hitter takeaways from this preseason. 

1) This is a competitive basketball team 

Calling an NBA squad “competitive” is not exactly the highest compliment, but it is absolutely a step up from where the Wizards have found themselves in recent years. 

Throughout each of their preseason games, the Wizards showed real promise and connectivity. Through team defense, Trae Young’s passing (minus some turnover issues) and surprising three-point shooting, Washington showed it has built a team that can hang in any game, even if they’re not winning all of them. 

This may not yet be a high-level playoff team, but the roots are there. At bare minimum, this will be a fun team to watch. 

2) AJ Dybantsa looks at home on an NBA court 

It’s expected for a first overall pick to be an impact player, but it’s still heartening to see how immediately AJ Dybantsa has looked like he belongs on an NBA court. 

With his combination of elite physical tools and high-level skill and feel, Dybantsa has already found plenty of scoring opportunities. On the other end, he has been an energetic and willing defender, something the Wizards sorely needed. 

3) Anthony Davis looks locked in

As has become the norm for Anthony Davis, rumors swirled around the big man all offseason -- does Davis want to be in DC? Is he going to request a trade? Will he be okay playing with a rebuilding team?

If the preseason is any indication, Davis is locked in and looking like the version of himself that can be a dominant force on both sides of the ball. When he has been on, he has often looked like the best player on the floor, the exact type of two-way presence Washington needed.

4)  Washington needs a secondary playmaker

One glaring issue with Washington is that when Trae Young comes out of the game, it can feel like quality looks suddenly evaporate. 

Young is one of the best passers in the league — obviously, nobody on the bench is going to fully replace his playmaking production. But it feels like the Wizards don’t  have a true second facilitator or any player who can handle running an offense for long stretches of time. 

Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson, while possessing the skill to play that role, gravitate towards scoring first — which is what they were drafted to do. If the Wizards intend to compete this year, look for them to add another player, perhaps a veteran, to helm the second unit.