How the Former 24th Overall Pick’s Length and IQ Is Reshaping the Wizards Perimeter Defense
The Washington Wizards have spent the past two seasons building an identity around youth, versatility, and defensive grit. Few players embody that shift more than Kyshawn George. Standing at six-foot-eight with a seven-foot wingspan, George isn’t just another long body on the perimeter—he’s a cerebral defender whose instincts and anticipation consistently disrupt opposing offenses. His rare blend of length and basketball IQ allows him to close passing lanes, contest shots, and rotate seamlessly, giving Washington a new defensive anchor on the wing and reshaping how the team approaches perimeter coverage.
George, who flew under the radar before being selected 24th overall by Washington, quietly put together one of the more impressive rookie campaigns last season. While his offensive feel stood out—flashing court awareness, vision, and a reliable shooting touch—his greatest impact came on the defensive end. George led all rookies in steals per game at 1.0 and ranked near the top of the class in both deflections and contested shots, using his six-foot-eight frame and seven-foot wingspan to consistently disrupt passing lanes and pressure shooters. Opponents shot 4.2% worse when guarded by him, the third-best mark among rookies, and his defensive field goal percentage of 39.4% placed him behind only Jonathan Mogbo and Ryan Dunn. Since February, he graded out in the 100th percentile among wings in block percentage and the 73rd percentile in steal rate, proving that his instincts matched his physical tools. For a late first-round pick, George established himself not just as a capable rookie defender but as one of the most versatile and disruptive perimeter stoppers in his entire class.
It’s clear what Washington is trying to build: a defense-first core made up of long, quick, and athletic players who can block shots and wreak havoc in the passing lanes. The vision is to smother opposing scorers and playmakers with few, if any, defensive weaknesses on the floor. With players like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Jamir Watkins, and Kyshawn George, the Wizards already have a young core of individual defenders capable of holding their own. The issue, however, lies in cohesion—the team still finished near the bottom of the league in defensive rating last season, exposing a lack of collective discipline and structure on that end.
That said, improvement feels inevitable. With time and experience, Washington’s young defensive core should grow into a more unified unit, one capable of dictating games rather than just surviving them. Entering the 2025–26 campaign, the Wizards have every reason to believe that their defense will be their calling card. An 82-game season leaves plenty of room for growth, but the foundation is already strong. While the offense may take longer to develop, Washington’s gritty, relentless defense is here now—and the rest of the league should be on alert.
