Kyle Kuzma Mentors Wizards’ Rookies Amid Trade Rumors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the NBA trade deadline looms, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma remains a steady presence, mentoring the team’s young players despite swirling trade rumors. The 2020 NBA champion has taken a leadership role, offering guidance to rookies like Bub Carrington, who shared insights from Kuzma after Wednesday’s practice.

“Kuz told me to study guards’ early and late quarter tendencies,” Carrington, 19, said. “It helps because most of the guards are kind of rhythm guys who do the same thing most of the time, so when you kind of know that, you have an advantage in guarding them.”

Carrington, a rookie guard from Baltimore, has faced defensive challenges in his first NBA season. His defensive rating, which measures a player’s efficiency at preventing opponents from scoring, ranks second-worst on the Wizards (6-32). However, he has shown promise with 0.7 steals per game, the fifth-highest on the team.

Kuzma’s mentorship is invaluable for Carrington and other young Wizards players, including second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly and rookies Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George. The Wizards have fully embraced a youth movement, with Coulibaly leading the team in minutes per game (33.3), followed by Carrington (30.2). Sarr and George are also seeing significant playing time, averaging 27.2 and 25.2 minutes, respectively.

Washington’s trio of rookies—Sarr, Carrington, and George—has combined for 1,898 minutes this season, the most for any team’s rookie group. According to NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner, the Wizards are the first team since the 1997-98 season to deploy three or more rookies for at least 25 minutes per game.

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe praised the young players’ work ethic and development. “The main thing to me is I’ve liked how they’ve worked, and their process and how their habits have developed,” Keefe said. “They’ve been consistent with that since the Summer League. These guys have been terrific with their preparation and work in the gym.”

While the Wizards’ on-court results have been mixed, individual progress is evident. Coulibaly, 20, has made significant strides, averaging four more points, 1.7 more assists, and 0.5 more steals per game than last season. Sarr, a 7-foot center, has topped Aschburner’s NBA Rookie Ladder for two consecutive weeks and ranks seventh in the league with 1.6 blocks per game. Carrington and George have also shown flashes of potential, with Carrington scoring double-digit points in three of his first four January games and George recording multiple steals in three of the last five games.

Kuzma’s leadership and defensive advice could help the Wizards improve their league-worst defense, which allows 122.6 points per game. While the team’s rebuild is a long-term project, the presence of veterans like Kuzma provides a foundation for growth.

As the trade deadline approaches, Kuzma’s future with the Wizards remains uncertain. However, his impact on the team’s young core is undeniable, offering a glimpse of hope for a franchise focused on development and long-term success.