Kyshawn George has been a pleasant surprise for the Washington Wizards this season. Coming out of Miami, most analysts were intrigued by his scoring abilities. His jumper and hot shooting from the outside was his main calling-card. However, his defense went mostly under the radar, although it was hinted at by some analysts.
In his first year in the NBA, George has proved himself to be one of the more physical defenders in the league. He went viral earlier in the season during an encounter with Giannis Antetokounmpo, smothering the Greek Freak with a block.
George recognizes that his reputation might not be that of a quality defender. However, the Wizards rookie says he prefers it that way.
"I know what I can do," George said on "The Canadian Basketball Show". People are going to realize over time."
George has drawn high praise from his teammates with his defense, and for good reason. The Wizards rookie is utilizing all of his 6'8 frame to impose his will on opposing players. His physicality has helped deter his opponents, as they're shooting 3.6% worse while being guarded by George per NBA's Stats page.
Basketball-Reference's defensive estimators also show George's impact: he has 1.1 Defensive Win Shares, second on the Wizards behind Alex Sarr. His Defensive Box Plus-Minus of -0.2 is eighth-best on the team as well. There's clearly room for improvement, but his rookie season is an encouraging start.
Unfortunately, George's exploits on defense have been put on hold. The Wizards rookie suffered an ankle injury a few games ago, and the Wizards are expected to be cautious in managing his return this season.
Related: Kyshawn George Hits Career Milestone During Wizards-Knicks Game
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This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 11:24 AM.