The Washington Wizards will have several questions that will need their on-court play to answer, but can Kyshawn George prove himself as the most versatile along the roster?
One of the key primary leaders of this young Wizards team happens to be one of the most versatile weapons the Wizards have to offer.
Kyshawn George has quickly developed a into a favorite here in D.C., and it isn't difficult to understand why. He is the epitome of a Swiss Army knife. Whatever the Wizards need on any given night, Kyshawn has a skill that can potentially solve the problem.
Trae Young needs a defender next to him? Kyshawn.
AJ Dybantsa needs somebody who doesn't demand the basketball? Kyshawn.
The second unit needs a primary playmaker? Kyshawn.
Need shooting? Kyshawn shot 38.1% from three last year.
Need size? Kyshawn is a 6-foot-8 wing.
Need playmaking? Kyshawn averaged 4.5 assists per game last year.
Kyshawn is cemented in my closing lineup. He's in all of my defensive lineups. He's somebody I want on the floor during the most important possessions of games because there are simply so many different ways he can impact winning.
And after what he exhibited in Year 2, I believe we're only beginning to envision what his true ceiling could be.
The Year 2 Leap Was Big
Kyshawn nearly doubled some of his rookie production. His scoring increased from 8.7 to 14.8 points per game. His three-point percentage soared from 32.2% to 38.1%. His overall field goal percentage rose from 37.2% to 43.8%, while his assists increased from 2.5 to 4.5 per game. On the flip side, considering his rim percentages, Kyshawn went from shooting 60.9% at the rim to 73.1%, while his percentage from 10–16 feet took another step from 37.0% to 49.4%.
However, the main statistic that summarizes his entire sophomore leap better than anything else is his increased usage rate.
Kyshawn’s usage increased from 15.9% as a rookie to 22.8% in Year 2. The Wizards asked him to do substantially more with the ball, and instead of his efficiency deteriorating with more responsibility, his efficiency improved substantially. That’s a great indicator.
The Playmaking Stood Out
Coming into last season, there was reason to be bullish on Kyshawn’s defense and three point shooting. He shot the ball well during the second half of his rookie season, and I believed that those two skills alone gave him a safe NBA floor.
However, last season Kyshawn gave us more than improved efficiency, he also showcased his legitimate playmaking ability. His assist percentage jumped from 13.3% to 22.4%, meanwhile his 4.46 assists per game ranked in the 85th percentile league wide among players who logged at least 500 minutes.
As a matter of fact, there were a stretch of games where Kyshawn didn't merely look like a secondary playmaker as he instead functioned as a primary playmaker for a slew of games due to roster construction and a tanking season where development always came at the forefront.
Kyshawn certainly contains the ability to attack a scrambling defense, running a secondary pick and roll, initiating an offensive possession or perhaps taking over the primary playmaking duties with the second unit.
The Weaknesses
As his responsibilities increased, however, so did his mistakes. His turnover percentage rose from 14.2% to 16.5%. If he's going to become a more consistent creator, his decision making and ball handling must improve.
His fouling issues must be shored up as he averaged 4.4 fouls per 36 minutes. That becomes especially important if Kyshawn ends up being the point of attack defender in the starting unit.
Kyshawn also needs to put more pressure on the rim and get to the free throw line more often as he attempted only 2.7 free throws per game last season. His ball handling is another key factor. It's good enough to make him a secondary playmaker, but I'm not convinced it's currently good enough to make him a full time primary playmaker.
And while his finishing at the rim was above average,, there is still room to develop between the rim and midrange. He shot only 35.7% from 3–10 feet. Developing a reliable solid floater would do wonders for Kyshawn and his offensive game.
What Is Kyshawn's Role This Upcoming Season?
I think Kyshawn will enter the season as the Wizard’s starting shooting guard/big wing next to Trae Young.
With that position and with the starting lineup being Trae, AJ, AD, and Sarr, Kyshawn automatically absorbs an enormous responsibility, point of attack defender.
Can a 6-foot-8 Kyshawn consistently stay in front of the quicker, twitchier guards in this league?
Offensively, his role should actually become simpler with Trae and AJ carrying much of the creation burden. Kyshawn could immediately serve as an off ball spacer as last year he shot 42.5% on catch and shoot threes.
One sneaky role that I could envision the Wizards dishing out to Kyshawn is being the primary playmaker with the second unit as the bench does not currently contain someone with this ability.
Let him initiate possessions. Let him run pick and rolls. Let him continue developing those playmaking instincts with these valuable reps. His usage might decline with the starting lineup, but the Wizards can supplement that by giving him significantly more playmaking responsibility with the second unit by subbing him out early in each other and running him with the second unit.
What Can Kyshawn Prove This Year?
This season is about transforming last year's glimpses into established NBA skills.
Prove the 38.1% three-point shooting is real. He could also prove that he can become a legitimate primary playmaker for stretches with the second unit. Also, cut down the turnovers and stop fouling so much which should allow him more time to be more on the court frequently. Lastly, Kyshawn should showcase that he can become a true point of attack defender, especially considering the starting lineup that he could find himself in.
