Wizards Among Worst Defensive Teams in NBA

The Washington Wizards' recent trade for four-time All-Star Trae Young spotlit the current team - and overall franchise - in a positive light unfamiliar to their general trajectory this season. Though, as a result of Young not seeing playing time in light of preexisting injuries, the Wizards' dire standing in the Eastern Conference hasn't changed since the move.

If anything, in losing two active (and scoring) veterans in exchange for a hopeful star on the sideline, Washington may have actually gotten worse. After a midseason surge - spurred by the still-promising play of a band of determined first and second-year players - the Wizards have fallen all the way down to the bottom spot in the East.

Worse, at 10-34 and given the particularly weak state of their conference, the Wizards officially have the worst record in the league. This is due in large part, though not entirely, to the team's utter failure to form any sense of regulated identity on defense.

No Identity on Defense

Jan 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots over Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

As much success as D.C.'s aforementioned budding stars - see Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George, among others - have seen on offense, their inconsistency on the opposite side of the ball has cost the team dearly in almost every contest up to this point.

According to a recent set of statistics released by the BBall Index on X (Twitter) tracking steals and deflections for every team in the league, Washington finds themselves in the lowest quadrant of the graphic.

The Steal/Deflection landscape

⬆️More deflections and intercepted passes

➡️More on-ball steals pic.twitter.com/ioovf0rqYy
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) January 25, 2026

Between their rating in the passing lanes and ability (or lack thereof) to make a difference pickpocketing ball-handlers, the Wizards are, by the numbers, a bottom-tier defense.

Compared to the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder (defending NBA Champions) and Detroit Pistons (leaders in the Eastern Conference), who are both on the opposite, higher end of the graph, the Wizards clearly have their work cut out for them.

A Path to Improvement

What's worse? As much positivity as the Trae Young trade could bring to Washington, the guard's defense is perhaps the least of his known skills. If the Wizards want defense, they'll have to look elsewhere.

Whether by the incoming trade deadline or next year's NBA Draft - which is shaping up, as usual, promisingly for Washington - adding a hearty defender may be the final step in completing their rebuilding phase and becoming competitors in the East once more.

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