Josh Robbins

As NBA teams ramp up their preseasons, there's inevitably a lot of analysis about lineups, how a team is playing, who has made a leap, etc. All of that has its place, but I think that tends to be overstated. The key to the NBA preseason is to stay healthy/avoid injuries.

This is such sad news. Craig Heist was a true gentleman who always took his duty to his listeners seriously and treated people with kindness. Everyone in the Wizards press corps (and in all DMV sports teams' press corps) respected him. We'll miss you, Heisty.

What NBA scouts are saying about Alex Sarr as he begins his second season The Athletic consulted with five NBA talent evaluators and asked them to assess the second pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Projecting the NBA futures of young players can be notoriously difficult — especially with lanky centers. Alex Sarr is a fascinating long-term prospect. I asked NBA scouts for their opinions about Sarr.

Here's a deep dive on Sarr published in @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

What NBA scouts are saying about Alex Sarr as he begins his second season The Athletic consulted with five NBA talent evaluators and asked them to assess the second pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Young, lanky centers historically require extra time to develop, and that makes projecting 20-year-old Alex Sarr's future difficult.

What do NBA scouts think of Sarr and of his potential? I asked them for this deep dive, published this morning in @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Alex Sarr participated in some of the non-contact work at the Wizards' practice today. That's the first time he's been a partial participant in a practice since he injured his left calf during EuroBasket, Brian Keefe said.

Here's a look at the shooting work at the end of the Wizards' practice today. Tre Johnson sinks a pair of 3-pointers:

The Wizards have unveiled their 2025-26 giveaway nights and promotion schedule, featuring a Kyshawn George bobblehead giveaway on Jan. 2 for the first 10,000 fans. Here's a look at some of the team's plans.

A scene from this afternoon's Wizards workout at Dunbar High:

Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr being introduced to the crowd at Dunbar High:

(2/2) The NBA requires teams that are not playing overseas during the preseason to hold an open practice.

(1/2) The Washington Wizards will hold their annual open practice this afternoon — this time, at Dunbar High School.

Wizards players have said rookie Will Riley has made a positive impression early in training camp.

“He’s a dawg,” Corey Kispert said. “He works his tail off. He plays at 110 percent every possession.”

“He’s everywhere,” Kyshawn George said of Riley.

Here's some video of Kyshawn George and Khris Middleton working on their shooting at the end of today's morning/early afternoon practice:

Khris Middleton is the old head the young Washington Wizards need right now The Wizards will have one of the NBA's youngest rosters this season. Middleton and CJ McCollum should provide a critical counterbalance.

Khris Middleton is a three-time All-Star who was the second-leading scorer on an NBA championship team. Now in Washington, he and CJ McCollum are the old heads a rebuilding team badly needs — wise vets who can still play well. Story for @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Wizards coach Brian Keefe: “I liked our pace today. That’s obviously something we want to play (like), get the ball up and down the court quickly, try to find shots early in the clock. The guys were moving today, and the ball was flying around. The body movement was great.”

The Wizards just finished their practice today. Here's are some looks at their individual shooting work:

This is Cam Whitmore’s second chance to prove he belongs in the NBA After a disappointing two seasons with Houston, Whitmore is getting a second chance with Washington.

The Washington Wizards' trade for Cam Whitmore was a classic low-cost, potentially high-reward move. So, what will be different from Whitmore's tenure with the Rockets? I asked him to find out. Story in @TheAthleticNBA:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

This is Cam Whitmore’s second chance to prove he belongs in the NBA After a disappointing two seasons with Houston, Whitmore is getting a second chance with Washington.

Cam Whitmore has a second chance to prove he belongs in the NBA, and that second chance is with his hometown team, the Washington Wizards. New at @theathletic.com, how Whitmore is approaching this opportunity and how it compares to his time in Houston:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

The Wizards will hold a second, non-contact practice later today, team officials said.

(2/2) McCollum (cont'd.): "... You want to work hard. You want to teach. You want to learn. You want to be challenged. I thought Coach did a great job of challenging us today."

(1/2) CJ McCollum when asked to describe today's Wizards practice: "Great group. A lot of energy. A lot of defensive focus: concepts, shell. Competitive, guys getting after it, and this is what you want. You want to embrace that youthful energy. ...

Rookie Tre Johnson speaking about his first training-camp practice: "I wouldn't say anything threw me off guard. I kind of knew going into it there was going to be a lot of defense. It was real competition toward the end. I kind of enjoyed that part."

(2/2) Keefe (cont'd.): "... how we want to play on that end, get some of that stuff in, and I thought it was a good, competitive practice."

(1/2) Brian Keefe on why he decided to make the first practice of training camp a defense-focused practice: "(It's) something we want to establish. Obviously, we need to make some improvement in those areas. But we just wanted to set the tone for ...

The Wizards are holding their first practice of training camp right now. Judging by the sounds that I just heard from outside the gym entrance, it sounds like a very spirited practice. A lot of cheering and reactions to whatever is occurring on the court.

This is Cam Whitmore’s second chance to prove he belongs in the NBA After a disappointing two seasons with Houston, Whitmore is getting a second chance with Washington.

Cam Whitmore expected a trade but not to his hometown Wizards. Now that he's in Washington, he has a second chance to prove he belongs in the NBA for the long term. He also sees some similarities between Brian Keefe and Ime Udoka. Story in
@theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Muscle watch: Kyshawn George said he added four pounds of lean muscle mass during the offseason.

Bub Carrington said he was 193 pounds at this time last year. This season, he expects to play at 200 pounds. He's 204 now.

Bub Carrington: