Kyshawn George's explosive leap in Washington saw his stats soar and leadership emerge. Discover his remarkable "jump season" and impact.
In the 168 day period between the end of the season and fall training camp for the Washington Wizards, they refer to the summer as “jump season.”
For second-year wing Kyshawn George, his jump was arguably the largest in Washington. Here’s his year in review:
Comparing rookie to sophomore year stats:
PPG: 8.7 ➡️ 14.8
APG: 2.5 ➡️ 4.5
RPG: 4.2 ➡️ 5.1
FG: 37.2% ➡️ 43.8%
3PT: 32.2% ➡️ 38.1%
FT: 75.3% ➡️ 80.2%
George massively improved statistically in 2026. As his minutes increased with him becoming a consistent starter, his usage also skyrocketed. An 8% increase in usage sent him into the 91st percentile for his position, according to Cleaning the Glass.
The breakout for George was a nice early season mark for the Wizards. In the second game of the season, he took over in Dallas and erupted for a career-high 34 points in their win. Although George chased that performance all season, he got close on a few occasions.
George’s development as a threat on both sides of the basketball became one of the more compelling stories to watch. His steal/block numbers were almost identical to last season, which were an impressive 1.0 steal and 0.9 blocks.
Perhaps one area that needs improvement is George’s ability to defend without fouling. He found himself in foul trouble in games early in the season because of his aggressive approach to defense. Head coach Brian Keefe stated on numerous occasions they wanted him to play with that tenacity.
One area of major growth this season for George was his leadership. For a second-year player, it’s not always easy to find guys willing to make their voice heard or even lead by example for that matter. George discovered this trait within himself.
“Just establishing myself as a leader of the team and great young player in this league,” George said. “A lot of improvement to make, but I think the work that I put in last offseason showed up this season.”
Keefe and the Wizards’ front office told the media back in September that they expected a breakout from George because he had been consistently in the gym all summer. Additionally, George showed positive strides in his appearance in the FIBA AmeriCup, where he averaged 13.5 points for Team Canada.
George, entering year three, aspires for the Wizards’ organization to reach new heights.
“Many, many, great things,” George said when asked what the Wizards can accomplish next season. “I think we’ll still be playing this time next year for sure, and I think we're going to compete for something I’ve never competed for yet.”
In George’s 48 games, one thing that wavered at times was his consistency. Some nights he played extremely aggressively and focused on getting downhill off the dribble. Others, he was more passive. George likely will benefit from better floor spacing with Trae Young on the floor. George’s last game played was March 2nd, just days before Young debuted with the Wizards.
Young’s benefits for George will be an interesting development to watch. George showed flash off the basketball as well. On three-point attempts from the right corner, he knocked down 50% of his shots. A floor general in Young should open up the floor for more chances to take catch-and-shoot threes.
George’s playmaking evolution became a massive story early in the year. With his assist production nearly doubling, that doesn’t actually tell the entire story for George. Data suggests George actually missed out on higher assist numbers simply due to his teammates not scoring on looks he generated for them. George averaged 13.2 potential assists per 100 possessions, according to databallr. These are passes that would be assists if the teammate had made the shot. This mark put George in the 93rd percentile for his position.
Additionally, George finished in the 96th percentile in rim assists, assists that lead to made baskets at the rim. Adding 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the mix should only help bolster these numbers going forward.
At the end of the day, only 48 games makes the season feel somewhat incomplete for George. While it makes sense for slightly more to be desired, George improved across the board. He should massively benefit from a roster bolstered by Young and Davis. Also, with the Wizards signaling that their deconstruction phase is complete, the team’s play style may look vastly different.