Inside The Wizards

Three Reasons Wizards Have To Be Thankful This Thanksgiving

In a season that hasn't offered too many gifts, this trio of blessings can offer the Washington Wizards a better Thanksgiving than expected.
Scott Conrad|
Nov 25, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) dunks the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) looks on in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Nov 25, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) dunks the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) looks on in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Washington Wizards

Thanksgiving is a time to bring loved ones together. This year, the Washington Wizards have a little more to be thankful for than one might expect. With a record of 2-15, the team is on pace to have one of the worst seasons in NBA history.

Their defense not only struggles to prevent teams from scoring 125 points a game, but could also fail in preventing another group of English settlers coming to Plymouth Rock. Yet, even in a season that has offered little excitement and been underwhelming to say the least, Washington has these three reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

Behind the growth and development of their young stars, as well as a pair of veterans, the Washington Wizards are just 2-15.
Nov 3, 2025; New York, New York, USA; The Washington Wizards bench celebrates a three pointer from Washington forward Corey Kispert (24) during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images | Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

1. First-ever NBA Cup win

The Wizards are off until the day after Thanksgiving. After a 132-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks at the Capital One Arena, Washington won for the first time during NBA Cup play.

Since the tournament was introduced by the league in 2023, the Wizards have failed to win a game during pool play. With four losses in each of the past two seasons, Washington hasn't experience a victory.... until now.

Head coach Brian Keefe and his team have ended a ten-game losing streak since the inaugural NBA Cup Tournament began two seasons ago.

Beating one of the stronger defensive teams in the NBA (at least when playing without their star Trae Young), the Wizards are now 1-2 in Group A.

Teams like the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and fellow Southeast Division foe, the Charlotte Hornets, are winless in the NBA Cup Tournament entering Thanksgiving. Washington will face Indiana on the road with the hopes of winning their second game in a row and keeping the Pacers winless, as well.

The Washington Wizards are among one of the league's best three-point shooting teams (38.3%) in the NBA this season.
Nov 16, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) dribbles the ball up court against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

2. Improvements have been made to the Wizards' three-point shooting.

A season ago, Washington had the second-lowest percentage from behind the arc. Going 33.5% from deep helped prevent the Wizards' offense from ever finding its footing.

Now, the team is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA. Entering Thanksgiving, Washington is connecting on 38.3% of their attempts from downtown. Only the Houston Rockets (42%) and the Milwaukee Bucks (41.3%) have better averages than the Wizards.

In his first season with Washington, veteran guard CJ McCollum attempts the most threes. He also makes the most, averaging three makes a game. On his third NBA in his career, McCollum is shooting 42.1% from deep.

Teammates Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Corey Kispert are also all shooting at least 40% from behind the arc. Going 19-for-38 as a unit, the Wizards were led by McCollum making 10 of his 13 shots from three. He finished the game with a season-high 46 points against the Hawks.

Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr is averaging more than 18 points and eight rebounds while swatting two shots a game.
Nov 25, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) holds the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward Jacob Toppin (0) defends in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

3. The growth and second-year leap of Alex Sarr.

Washington may not have the wins to show for it, but their young big in the starting lineup has accelerated his game this season. Sarr averaged 13 points and 6.5 rebounds per game during his rookie season last year.

The 20-year-old athlete scored 27 points in the win against Atlanta. Sarr has scored a season-high of 31 points on two different occasions this season.

Now, he has elevated those marks by averaging 18.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. Sarr is among one of the NBA's best shot blockers this season.

His 2.0 blocks per game is up there with the Pacers' Jay Huff and the Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart. Only Victor Wembanyana of the San Antonio Spurs is averaging more blocks than those three entering Thanksgiving.

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Scott Conrad
SCOTT CONRAD

My name is Scott Conrad and I am a Contributor for the Chicago Sky with Sports Illustrated.com. I am also a Contributor with FanSided on NinerNoise, as well as Da Windy City. In addition, I am the Site Editor/Expert for The View from Avalon. I spent two seasons (2015 & 2016) with the Tampa Bay Times as a Correspondent covering high school football. I am a two-time published author with more work to come. In my teenage years, I started watching both MLS and WNBA start in 1996 and grow to be the juggernauts they are in their respective sports. Much love to the career on and off the court for fellow-Napervillian and former Sky forward Candace Parker. Outside of the sports journalism world, I am a travel volleyball coach. I accepted the Head Coach position with Greater Cincinnati Volleyball Club for their U13-2 team. In terms of active sports, I play volleyball, soccer, softball, kickball and train in mixed martial arts.

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