Why Wizards Will Be Judged On Winning For the First Time in Years

It’s been over 190 days since the Wizards closed their final regular season of deconstruction.

196 losses later, it was finally over. That final buzzer was the sound of what the Washington Wizards hope is a rebirth of their franchise. No one knew what would happen on May 10th that day. The organization was prepared for even the worst. 

Finally, the Wizards got lucky.

14 percent odds were all Washington needed to land the top pick and eventually select AJ Dybantsa. Although he will miss Washington’s season opener against Milwaukee with an ankle sprain, it doesn’t dampen what feels like a brand new day.

“It’s like it’s the first day of school,” Anthony Davis said after the final practice before the regular season. Davis said it’s hard to not get a bit emotional about being back out on the floor with a chance to play in a meaningful game.

The Wizards plan on playing all meaningful games this year. That hasn’t been the case the last three. Davis, 33, aims to help Washington’s rise. 

The Wizards acquired Davis at February’s trade deadline, and despite countless noise from outside the building, they stuck true to their word that they acquired him to play games in Washington.

Davis brings a level of pedigree to the building the organization hasn’t had. The combination of he and Trae Young, who the organization paid handsomely to be their point guard for the foreseeable future, are here to help a crew of young players learn to do something they haven’t at the pro level, win.

That’s what this season is about for Washington. It’s not just about winning in totality. It’s making sure its young players learn the art of doing so.

Young players such as Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington have had plenty of opportunities to develop their individual skills in this league. This is the first time they’ll be judged on how that skill translates to winning.

For fans, they are thrilled to know their team is actively going to try and win games every night. Although the Wizards didn’t begin their deconstruction until three years ago, the previous administrations’ goals were always to win, but they often failed to be anything more than mediocre.

The organization needed a refresh badly, and plenty of fans were relieved to actually see it happen. Still, three years with only 50 wins isn’t easy to watch every night. Plenty of fans probably tuned out for periods of time. The Wizards knew the process would be painful, but they hope the wait will be worthwhile.

The Wizards proclaim this year as a “season of growth.” They also haven’t put any pressure on themselves. When players, coaches, and even the general manager were asked what the expectations are for the team, they’ve all been reluctant to put a number measuring success.

Maybe when it comes down to it, a number or final spot in the standings is irrelevant. Discovering who the building blocks of a winning organization is the most important. 

The goal is to win games, and the moves they’ve made show as much. However, the organization appears confident a future of sustainable success is built through its youth.

When one of the more highly-anticipated seasons in recent memory tips off for the Wizards, just remember, this season is only the first step forward toward the goal of building a sustainable winner. More wins are on the horizon for the Wizards. Just how many that ends up being in 2026 remains unknown.