Kyshawn George has been putting in work this summer.
George spent his first NBA offseason competing in AmeriCup with his Canadian national team. For NBA players, repping the national team is a huge honor, but it is also an opportunity to put into action skills they’re looking to improve on.
Getting extra reps against top-tier competition can pay dividends when the NBA regular season starts. The work that George put in this summer, as well as more opportunities to be a focal point of the team’s schemes, can push him to become a full-time starter for the Wizards’ future.
Kyshawn George Shined at AmeriCup
George was the one Wizard whose play this summer stood out the most. Playing for Canada in the FIBA AmeriCup, he made real strides in his game. George made the tournament’s All-Star Five while averaging 13.5 points over the six games. He also shot 46.2% from three-point range.
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George showed more flashes of being a Swiss-army knife on the court, doing it all for Canada, including being a playmaker. During his first year in the NBA, he showed a lot of potential to be that type of player.
Showing his diverse skill set on a world stage and being named to the All-Star Five shows that his hard work is paying off. He had the most promising offseason out of all the young Wizards players that played international ball this summer.
Further Developing His Defensive Ability
George has a great opportunity to solidify himself as a starting forward for the Wizards. With Coulibaly scheduled to miss some time in the regular season with an injury, George should be a lock as one of the starting forwards on opening night.
He showed a lot of potential to be a lockdown defender last year, which is why he will more than likely have the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s best scorer most nights. His versatility to guard on the perimeter and in the paint can make him a special defender in the league.
With the growth that George has shown as a defender and connector, he has plenty of upside. He is still developing as a scorer, but his impact goes beyond that. The little things he does will make him a foundational piece for the Wizards’ future.
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