What Is the Preseason Outlook and Expectations for the Wizards This Season?
The preseason always serves as a first glimpse into what a team can become, and for the Washington Wizards, this year feels crucial. After back-to-back rebuilding seasons, the franchise enters a new campaign with a clearer identity, a promising young core, and the hope of finally turning potential into progress. With fresh draft talent, returning standouts looking to take another leap, and veterans tasked with steadying the group, the Wizards’ preseason will offer valuable clues about what to expect once the real games begin. The question now is whether Washington can translate flashes of growth into a more consistent product on the court.
For the 2025 NBA preseason, Washington is set to take on Toronto, New York, and Detroit. While preseason wins don’t carry weight in the standings, they play a huge role in setting the tone—boosting team morale, building chemistry, and giving fans their first glimpse of what the 2025–26 season might bring. The game to really keep an eye on is the matchup with Toronto. Like the Raptors, the Wizards are in the midst of a rebuild, and a strong performance against them could serve as a great measuring stick for how far the team has come. Even if it’s just preseason, competing hard and showing growth against a team on a similar path would give fans plenty to cheer about—and maybe even a little bragging rights to kick off the year.
There are also clear expectations for this Wizards young roster heading into the preseason. At the top of the list is Tre Johnson’s production. Fans will be eager to see how the rookie guard looks on an NBA floor alongside established talent, and matchups against players like Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and RJ Barrett will serve as an early measuring stick for just how ready he is. Just as important will be the continued growth of Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr. After spending the summer in the EuroCup—and with Sarr working his way back from injury—both players will have a chance to show how their games have developed after a long offseason of near year-round basketball.
Overall, there’s plenty for Wizards fans to watch, expect, and hope for in the preseason. While the games themselves don’t count in the standings and teams rarely unveil their full playbooks, the preseason offers a valuable preview of what’s to come—especially for a roster as young and unpredictable as Washington’s. It also gives players and coaches a much-needed tune-up before the grind of the regular season begins. For fans, the focus should be on growth and flashes of potential, with the understanding that an 82-game journey still lies ahead.
