TRAE YOUNG MAKES HIS ANTICIPATED DEBUT FOR THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS – 2025 NBA DRAFT STARS CLASH

March 6, 2026 by: Jordan Smolsky

Norfolk, VA – Utah Jazz defeats Washington Wizards in a matchup of young stars and new trade acquisitions at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. (122-112)

“I was really looking forward to today and just coming out here and shaking off whatever rust I have from missing a few months of basketball… just wanted to come out here and have some fun and get that first one out of the way.” – Washington Guard Trae Young

4x NBA All Star Trae Young made his highly anticipated debut for the Washington Wizards Thursday night in the nation’s capital. Young was acquired in a trade involving CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert on January 9th of this year. While nursing a right MCL sprain and on a minutes restriction, the veteran guard finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists in just under 20 minutes on the floor.

This matchup, despite including two of the worst teams in the NBA, was anticipated for reasons other than just Young making his Wizards debut. The 5th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Ace Bailey of the Jazz, went up against the 6th overall pick of the same draft, Tre Johnson of the Wizards. Both guards shined, but Bailey had the better night finishing with a career high 32 points.

Bailey and the Jazz started this matchup hot as they established a strong lead early in the first quarter. Ball movement was key for the Jazz as the finished with an outstanding 12 assists at the end of the first. An unlikely hero for the Jazz early was the recently signed guard, Blake Hinson, who totaled 8 points in the first including 2 threes. The Jazz led the Wizards by 14 heading into the second. (37-23)

Another recently signed player also shined early in this game, Julian Reese of the Wizards, led a defensive effort in the second to tighten this game up. With 9:51 left remaining in the 2nd quarter, Reese stole a pass from Brice Sensanaugh which led to a momentum shifting “And-1” basket by Washington forward, Anthony Gill. Despite the effort, Ace Bailey was just too much for the young Wizards squad. Bailey totaled 10 points in the 2nd quarter and had 21 points heading into halftime. (67-49)

Halftime adjustments seemed to work for the Wizards as they battled back in the third. Led by the 6th overall pick, Tre Johnson, the young squad were able to cut the deficit by shooting 50% from the three point line in this quarter. Johnson led the team in this quarter with 3 buckets from beyond the arc. The younger brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, Julian, was able to carry his momentum from earlier in the game as he was able to get 6 rebounds off the glass in this quarter. Reese ended the game with 20 rebounds, the most by Wizards rookie since Tom Guglitotta who accomplished the feat on January 29, 1993. (93-84)

Despite an offensive push from the Wizards, the Jazz were able to hold on in the fourth. The sophomore guard for the Jazz, Isiah Collier, scored a tough “And-1” basket with 1:09 remaining in the game. This bucket felt like the “dagger,” as it extended the lead to 9 with few opportunities left for the Wizards. The Jazz would go on to end their seven game losing streak and win this matchup 122-112.

The Jazz get their 19th win of the season while the Wizards fall to one of the league’s worst records at 16-46. We will see if this matchup had bigger implications when we get to the NBA draft lottery later this year in June.