Trae Young Grades His Wizards Debut, Explains 'Why I Love It Here' After Loss to Jazz
Trae Young knows there's room for improvement after making his long-awaited debut for the Washington Wizards in Thursday's 122-112 loss to the Utah Jazz.
After putting up 12 points and six assists in 19 minutes, Young told reporters he "played decent" but his shot wasn't falling because he's still getting his body back up to game speed.
"I think I played decent," Young said after the game. "My shots were on line. I just didn't have any legs under me."
Young went on to say one reason "why I love it here" in Washington right now is the opportunity to be part of what the organization is building:
"That's why I love it here right now. That's what we're preaching is the daily habits and making sure that you're getting better each and every day, whether you're in the gym or not, you can get better, and whether it's your body or your mind. Those daily habits are going to carry on to us hopefully [having] long-term success."
Thursday marked Young's first game action since Dec. 27 due to knee and quad injuries. It also came two months after the Wizards acquired him in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
Appearing on SportsCenter following his Wizards debut, Young explained that it's "gonna be better just me showing y'all than just telling y'all" why Washington is the right fit for him.
This has turned into something of a lost season for Young due to the injuries. He has only played in 11 games after Thursday night, but he has been durable for most of his career that it shouldn't be a huge concern going forward.
Young does have some things at stake over the Wizards' final 20 games. He will likely be looking for a long-term extension this summer, though he has a $49 million player option for 2026-27 that gives him some insurance if he wants to buy time.
NBA insider Marc Stein has reported the Wizards are expected to sign Young to a three-year deal this summer. He could potentially increase his value and the amount he signs for with a strong finish.
The Wizards are also in a good position to potentially land another impact player in the draft.
They currently have the fourth-best lottery odds with a 16-46 record, and they are only one game behind the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers to get in the top three of the lottery that would give them a 12.5 percent chance for the No. 1 overall pick.
