Data, insights, and opinions
With only eight players available, the Washington Wizards fielded an extremely young and inexperienced lineup against the Chicago Bulls — making it clear this was a “must-lose” game for lottery position. The oldest player in the starting five was 23-year-old Justin Champagnie, who had been on a two-way contract just a month prior.
The Wizards’ starters included teenagers Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr, along with 20- and 21-year-olds AJ Johnson and Kyshawn George. Their bench featured similarly youthful players, bringing the average age of the team to just 21. Meanwhile, the Bulls countered with a seasoned lineup including Nikola Vucevic and Coby White and easily cruised to a 30-point win, 119–89.
Despite the lopsided result, there were some individual bright spots for the Wizards. Champagnie led with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Carrington added 18 points and 11 assists. George was the only player to post an offensive rating above league average, though he exited early with an ankle injury. Vukcevic showed flashes offensively but was invisible on the boards.
The loss cemented the Wizards among the league’s two worst records. Even with the Bulls shooting only 31.7% from deep, their experience and physicality overwhelmed the young Wizards. The team’s offensive rating of 88 was their fourth-worst of the season.
Statistically, the Wizards were outclassed across the board — trailing in shooting efficiency, offensive rebounds, turnover percentage, and free throws made. Their lack of size and cohesion showed, especially with a 44.0% eFG compared to Chicago’s 53.2%.
Justin Champagnie stood out with a PPA of 171, leading the team, while Alex Sarr and AJ Johnson struggled with offensive efficiency. For the Bulls, Julian Phillips posted a massive +7.4 in Plus Points with a game-high PPA of 395, showcasing their bench depth.
The Wizards wrap up their season Sunday against the Miami Heat.
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