Kyshawn George Emerges as Wizards Point Guard Behind Trae Young

It didn't take long for the first answer to a question many have pondered this offseason: Who would run the Washington Wizards' offense when Trae Young was on the bench?

The answer didn't come from a player checking into the game. When Young exited for the first time, Kyshawn George stayed on the floor and took over point guard duties.

For George, initiating the offense is nothing new. He did so fairly often last season as Washington struggled to run an efficient offense. George struggled early but settled into his role as the game progressed.

"We saw that last year," Keefe said. "He just has a way of fitting in and getting his teammates the ball in the right places...we're definitely going to put the ball in his hands to make decisions."

In 21 minutes, George recorded 12 points, five assists, and seven rebounds. He also committed four turnovers, a few of which came during his early minutes.

During the offseason, general manager Will Dawkins referred to George as a "connector," and he essentially filled that role for long stretches. When asked what he expected his ball-handling workload to look like this season, George told reporters he anticipated a similar role, including initiating the offense for the second unit.

It will be interesting to see how that responsibility translates to a regular-season game, particularly if George plays upwards of 30 minutes.

Right out of the gate, George took on the responsibility of being the team's point-of-attack defender, drawing the early assignment against reigning Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.

Head coach Brian Keefe said George starting in the preseason opener doesn't necessarily mean he'll occupy that same spot on opening night.

"It's still early in camp, we're trying different combinations and seeing what's working," Keefe said at practice today.

George held his own defensively, but the prospect of playing heavy minutes raises a question: Will he have enough left in the tank to run the offense when Young rests?

"Everyone's got to defend, so it's no excuses for anybody," Keefe said. "I thought he was really solid last night; obviously he had a tough cover...that's part of the deal in this league; you've got to be able to two-way impact."

The Wizards also utilized other ball-handling options in the second half, including Bub Carrington and the recently acquired Tre Mann.

Carrington committed four turnovers but was efficient from beyond the arc, connecting on two of his four attempts.

Mann recorded four assists in 16 minutes. He's been known more for his scoring ability early in his career, but he said he's focused on becoming a more complete player to earn a spot in Washington's rotation.

George is certainly capable as a ball handler and secondary creator, but having another option emerge from Washington's crowded backcourt could help ease his workload.