MIL WAS TOR WAS WAS CHI WAS CHA WAS CLE CHA WAS WAS ORL ATL WAS WAS ATL WAS OKCHead Coach
Brian Keefe
Assistant Coach
Trainer
Founded
1961
City
Washington
Arena
Capital One Arena
G-League
Capital City Go-Go
Governor(s)
Ted Leonsis
General Manager
Will Dawkins
| Player | # | POS | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Age | Exp | School | How Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Reese | — | F | 6-9 | 230 lbs | Jun 30, 2003 | 23 | 1 | Maryland | Signed on 02/28/26 |
| Felix Okpara | — | C | 6-11 | 235 lbs | Apr 20, 2004 | 22 | R | Tennessee | Draft Rights Traded from ORL on 06/24/26 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 0 | G | 6-7 | 195 lbs | Jul 26, 2004 | 22 | 3 | Metropolitans 92 | Draft Rights Traded from IND on 06/23/23 |
| Tristan Vukcevic | 0 | F | 7-0 | 220 lbs | Mar 11, 2003 | 23 | 3 | Real Madrid | #42 Pick in 2023 Draft |
| Cam Whitmore | 1 | F | 6-6 | 230 lbs | Jul 08, 2004 | 22 | 3 | Villanova | Traded from HOU on 07/06/25 |
| Trae Young | 3 | G | 6-2 | 164 lbs | Sep 19, 1998 | 27 | 8 | Oklahoma | Traded from ATL on 01/09/26 |
| AJ Dybantsa | 4 | F | 6-9 | 210 lbs | Jan 29, 2007 | 19 | R | Brigham Young | #1 Pick in 2026 Draft |
| Jamir Watkins | 5 | F | 6-6 | 210 lbs | Jul 06, 2001 | 25 | 1 | Florida State | #43 Pick in 2025 Draft |
| Deandre Ayton | 5 | C | 7-0 | 252 lbs | Jul 23, 1998 | 28 | 8 | Arizona | Traded from LAL on 07/07/26 |
| Bub Carrington | 7 | G | 6-4 | 190 lbs | Jul 21, 2005 | 21 | 2 | Pittsburgh | Draft Rights Traded from POR on 07/06/24 |
| Justin Champagnie | 9 | G-F | 6-6 | 206 lbs | Jun 29, 2001 | 25 | 5 | Pittsburgh | Signed on 02/22/24 |
| Tre Johnson | 12 | G | 6-5 | 190 lbs | Mar 07, 2006 | 20 | 1 | Texas | #6 Pick in 2025 Draft |
| Sharife Cooper | 13 | G | 6-0 | 176 lbs | Jun 11, 2001 | 25 | 2 | Auburn | Signed on 09/19/25 |
| Anthony Gill | 16 | F | 6-7 | 230 lbs | Oct 17, 1992 | 33 | 6 | Virginia | Signed on 11/30/20 |
| Kyshawn George | 18 | F | 6-8 | 200 lbs | Dec 12, 2003 | 22 | 2 | Miami | Draft Rights Traded from NYK on 06/26/24 |
| Khris Middleton | 20 | F | 6-7 | 222 lbs | Aug 12, 1991 | 35 | 14 | Texas A&M | Traded from DAL on 07/08/26 |
| Alex Sarr | 20 | C | 7-0 | 205 lbs | Apr 26, 2005 | 21 | 2 | Washington Wizards | #2 Pick in 2024 Draft |
| Anthony Davis | 23 | F-C | 6-10 | 253 lbs | Mar 11, 1993 | 33 | 14 | Kentucky | Traded from DAL on 02/05/26 |
| Will Riley | 27 | F | 6-9 | 180 lbs | Feb 10, 2006 | 20 | 1 | Illinois-Urbana-Champaign | Draft Rights Traded from UTA on 06/25/25 |
Total Points
Elvin Hayes
15,551
Total Assists
John Wall
5,282
Total Rebounds
Wes Unseld
13,769
Total Blocks
Elvin Hayes
1,558
Total Steals
John Wall
976
Championship Wins
1978
Conference Titles
1971, 1975, 1978, 1979
Division Titles
1969, 1974, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 2017
The Washington Wizards 2026-27 NBA season as the team from the nation's capital, competing in the Southeast Division of the NBA. Two of the biggest offseason storylines for a rebuilding team are making headlines this season – Washington's No. 1 overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, and signing star point guard Trae Young after he left Atlanta in free agency. The Wizards also took over Deandre Ayton from the Lakers.
This is a two-sided piece, so here are some words for both sides; the Wizards as a franchise, and what's changed in 2026-27.
The franchise of the Washington Wizards dates back to 1961, when it was the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs, and has been playing in Washington, D.C since it became the Bullets, and then the Wizards in 1997. The team has long since become the team of the nation's capital and one of the league's longest running, albeit under various names, over the decades. The franchise has won one championship as the Washington Bullets in 1978 and remains one of the best teams in the entire history of the Southeast Division as a whole.
Some of the most prominent names in the franchise's history are Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes, who both played a significant role in shaping the image of the Washington Wizards for many years. For context: The franchise hasn't won a title since that '78 game, and a team this far from its first championship has a lot more to play off of than some incremental adjustment to their roster — and that's why a true No. 1 overall pick in AJ Dybantsa is a big deal in Washington today.
The Washington Wizards are the franchise of the nation's capital, and one of the oldest continuously active teams in the league, under the name of the franchise. It can affect free agency, trades, offensive and defensive schemes, and more.
Washington is expected to continue to grow around Trae Young, the team's high usage, pick-and-roll specialist, and also have Dybantsa as a two-way building block alongside him as the team enters 2026-27.
Rivalries also influence the national attitude towards the franchise. The biggest rivalry the Washington Wizards will have will be against the Philadelphia 76ers, as it often garners a higher level of attention on the schedule and should be highlighted on any Wizards fan's calendar.
The Washington Wizards 2026-27 season is home to two of the biggest storylines in the offseason for a rebuild team: The Wizards picked up point guard AJ Dybantsa at the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, and the Wizards re-signed veteran point guard Trae Young following his departure from Atlanta. The Wizards also picked up Deandre Ayton off the Lakers. This is the first time in the season that Washington has a legitimate No. 1 overall pick and an established point guard.
The Wizards have been on a long rebuild and have focused on drafting and developing young talent. It's a sign of true urgency to get back on course for competitiveness if they put the No. 1 pick with a veteran like Young.
Development vs. new competitiveness is a key factor in how the season will be defined, as will be the chemistry that Dybantsa and Young build during the process.
First-Round Pick: AJ Dybantsa (No. 1 overall) Strengths: Elite two-way wing with advanced scoring ability and defensive versatility Seasoned role: Immediate starter, will be a franchise cornerstone hit this season forward.
Dybantsa is looked upon as a generational wing prospect and is a solid base for Washington to build the next generation of the franchise around.
| Move | Type | Expected Impact |
| Trae Young (from Atlanta) | Free Agent | All-Star-caliber point guard and playmaking |
| Deandre Ayton (from Lakers) | Trade | Starting center and interior scoring |
| Khris Middleton (sign-and-trade) | Trade | Veteran wing scoring |
Roster-fit analysis: When you throw in Young and Ayton with the 1st overall pick, you've got a team that has a ton of pieces that just have more potential for actually being competitive, albeit at a younger age.
Felix Okpara, Anthony Gill and Sharife Cooper are the other three names making the cut.
AJ Dybantsa The No. 1 overall pick has high expectations for impact on day one.
Trae Young Must now demonstrate his ability to be a steadying force for a young, rebuilding team in a new setting.
AJ Dybantsa will be an important component of Washington's offensive ceiling this season, as he'll be expected to adapt to the NBA game alongside Trae Young's ball dominance.
The Washington Wizards are a Southeast Division team and a part of one of the most competitive rosters in the East. Playoff seeding, home-court advantage, and, since the addition of the play-in tournament, playoff guarantees or fighting for the final seeds are all determined by division and conference standings. If they're just looking at the overall record, it's difficult to see how the new-look line-up is working out compared to the teams that they play more frequently; specifically, their divisional record.
Dybantsa is a clear-cut star, Young offers steady experience and Washington has more competition than anticipated.
Despite the addition of stars, another challenging season due to defensive shortcomings and rookie growing pains.
No — Washington is still in a developmental period, but with the addition of Dybantsa and Young, the franchise has the long-term direction it's had in years.
Each NBA season is marked by changes in roster, coaching style and health that influence a team's trajectory well before the playoffs. The Washington Wizards' storylines to follow are:
Rosters, coaching staffs and injuries fluctuate throughout the year, so any preseason prediction should be taken with a grain of salt, and the best way to know what form the Wizards are in is by watching the live schedule and box scores as the season unfolds.
As with all NBA teams, the Washington Wizards will face an 82-game regular season before the playoffs bracket is drawn. That load is divided between conference opponents (plus an additional game against the Southeastern Division foes, like the Philadelphia 76ers) and a rotating series of interconference games. This year, the win count isn't as significant for a franchise that has only one championship banner since 1978, but real chemistry playing Dybantsa and Young.
The season breaks into recognizable stretches:
If you're a new longtime fan of the Washington Wizards in 2026-27, knowing the team's history is more than just trivia — it helps you understand how the current team is covered and discussed. The franchise that has won one NBA title since 1978 (as the Washington Bullets) has a ridiculously massive run of almost 50 years without another championship. The presence of a proven No. 1 All-Star in Trae Young and AJ Dybantsa being a clear No. 1 overall pick is being viewed as a clear direction for the franchise in a generation.
It also makes for a more significant Philadelphia 76ers rivalry for Wizards fans, seeing as how rivalries created over 30 years of basketball history have a greater impact on a fan's attitude than newer ones, even in the midst of a complete rebuild.
Sports OKBet, a top sports betting site in the Philippines, features Rookie of the Year futures for AJ Dybantsa, win total markets for the rebuild of Washington and game by game lines all season long.
They have the biggest direction in years heading into the Wizards' 2026-27 season, minding the No. 1 overall pick of AJ Dybantsa and veteran All-Star Trae Young, a true reset for a team that's been five decades without winning a championship. This season is focused on establishing a new identity and foundation rather than competing in the playoffs. Keep up to date on Washington's season and the current odds and insight at Sports OKBet.
It was established in 1961 as the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs, relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1973 as the Washington Bullets, and renamed the Washington Wizards in 1997.
The Washington Wizards have won one NBA title (as the Washington Bullets in 1978).
Capital One Arena is the home court of the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
The greatest rivalry in the history of the Washington Wizards will undoubtedly be against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Washington made the No. 1 overall selection in AJ Dybantsa.
Yes, Young picked up his own contract after leaving Atlanta.
Washington has both Deandre Ayton (Lakers) and Khris Middleton (sign-and-trade) on their bench.
Unlikely in year one of this new core, but the long-term outlook is much more positive than recent seasons.
All historical information (founded year, championships won, arena name, rivalries, etc.) are drawn from official NBA franchise information through the OKSports Editorial Team's franchise guide series. The following trade, draft and free agency information is from NBA.com and Wikipedia's 2026-27 NBA transactions log as of August 2026. Lineup order, win totals, and scenarios are projections that show what can be projected.
