Washington Wizards Are Discovering Best Role for Kyshawn George

It's not easy to find consistency in young NBA players. The Wizards know this well.

Three games into the season, the Wizards have lacked it overall. On Saturday, a forgettable first half was erased behind a 16-point performance from Kyshawn George.

George's second-half masterclass encapsulates a similar theme among him and the team. George finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks. For George, it's not just a great statistical output — it's a bounce-back he badly needed.

"You saw him being able to create and get into the paint," Wizards head coach Brian Keefe said after their win over the Bulls. "A lot more paint touches for us tonight, which we wanted to emphasize and he was a catalyst for that."

On Friday, George struggled mightily against Toronto, posting a career-high eight turnovers in the Wizards' loss. Two games into the season, he averaged six per game. What could those be attributed to? An extremely talented and physical Raptors defense? Maybe that's the case, but it could also be the role George played.

In the preseason and now the start of the regular season, Washington has let George run its offense on possessions when point guard Trae Young is off the floor. George, who ran the offense for a good portion of last season, has been up-and-down playing in that exact role. It's a fairly large ask for George, as he also picked up as one of the team's point-of-attack defenders as well.

This led to George getting into foul trouble early in the first two games, which happened often last year. Saturday was a big improvement in that department as he only amassed two fouls.

In 16 first-half minutes on Saturday night, George appeared on the way to another high-turnover-count game when he picked up three in the first half. Something changed in the second half, and he picked up four assists without committing another turnover.

What happened? The Wizards finally slowed the game down for George. Instead of rushing to initiate Washington's offense, George played off the wing and took a more methodical approach to his on-ball reps. With his improved strength, he can now pick his spots and attack the rim.

Keefe attributed George's eight-turnover game on Friday to "playing in crowds" too much and said it would be a great lesson for their team.

"[George] will bounce back," Keefe said.

George looks at his best playing off the wing as a connective piece that keeps the offense flowing. Through three games, George has taken care of the ball much better when Young is on the floor. George turns it over 4.3 times per 75 possessions with his point guard on the floor with him, compared to 8.5 times without, according to Hoopology.

George's usage with Young on the floor is around 25%. Without Young, it jumps to 31.6%. The sample size isn't huge yet, but it looks like George is more than capable with the ball in his hands when he has other ball handlers on the floor to initiate.

One thing to note is that the Wizards haven't had their top pick, AJ Dybantsa, take the floor yet. His return may ease the offensive workload for George. The Wizards list Dybantsa as a guard/forward, and Keefe and general manager Will Dawkins both said he could have opportunities to initiate Washington's offense this year.

Dybantsa's gravity and playmaking potential were very noticeable in the preseason, so that's something to look for when he eventually returns. He's still listed as day-to-day with a left ankle injury, according to the team.

For George, Saturday's performance was a reminder of the player he can become when put in positions to succeed. His versatility remains one of Washington's greatest assets, but finding the right balance between facilitating and scoring will be crucial to his development.

As the Wizards continue to navigate their revamped offensive hierarchy, George's role will likely evolve. Dybantsa's eventual return should provide more flexibility, allowing George to thrive without shouldering as much responsibility as a primary creator.

Consistency won't come overnight, but Saturday offered a glimpse of how effective George can be when Washington maximizes his strengths.

The Wizards return to the floor on Monday evening, when they take on the Charlotte Hornets on the road.