Trae Young's First Season With Wizards May Be Finished

Wizards effectively shut down Trae Young following re-aggravation to right quad injury

Mar 16, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) on the court against the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Although it was fun while it lasted, it seems as if the Trae Young saga in D.C. has come to a momentary stop. Per a Washington Wizards release, Young has re-aggravated his right quad injury.

Along with that, he has been dealing with some lower back issues that have hindered his playing ability.

Young appeared in just five games with the team to this point, being used sparingly so as not to detract from the team’s long-term goals.

Trae Young re-aggravated his right quad injury and imaging also uncovered lower back irritation, the Wizards announced.

Young’s injuries won’t require surgery but will be treated “conservatively.”

Looks like we might’ve seen the last of Young this season. pic.twitter.com/1WZrpszI1S

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) March 21, 2026

The Washington Wizards will understandably be taking his recovery slow as to not further injure their franchise point guard, along with keeping the goal in mind of bottoming out and acquiring a top pick. Washington was very vocal about keeping Young’s leash short ever since he first landed in the Nation’s capital, so news of this approach shouldn’t come as any surprise.

Flashes of Greatness

Although his season may have come to an end, Young still flashed his advanced skill set in his limited time with the Wizards, posting averages of 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his five games with the team. Young played nearly every game on a minutes restriction, hence his somewhat underwhelming counting stats, but anyone who watched understood his undeniable impact.

Young gave the team a level of playmaking and shot creation that they haven’t seen since John Wall, constantly making plays for others and elevating the team’s offense in general. Guys like Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington, who were in slumps of sorts prior to Young’s arrival, almost instantly found their groove playing with the All-NBA guard.

Mar 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson (12) shoots over Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Moving Forward

Despite Young’s clear impact, his future with the franchise remains uncertain. If he chooses to, Young could leave in free agency as early as this offseason. Along with that, the Wizards could very well be in the market to draft a top point guard in this year’s draft, making his future with the team even more cloudy.

With that said, it’s clear that Washington wants to have him around for the time being, hinting that a contract extension could be right around the corner. Along with that, the Wizards are clearly itching to make a playoff push as soon as next season, something that Young could definitely help with. Either way, it’s likely that Young will appear in a Wizards uniform again, even if he isn’t expected to be with the team long term.

Trae Young is heading to the locker room after injuring his leg on this play 🙏

Trae exits with 21 points and 5 assists pic.twitter.com/VirL2ucD3t

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) March 17, 2026

If Young can return fully healthy next season, even a short stint with the Wizards could reshape the direction of the franchise moving forward. For now, the brief glimpse of what Trae Young looked like in a  Wizards uniform leaves fans hopeful for what's to come.

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