Wizards’ Keyshaun George is making a case for All-Star weekend debut on NBA TV

Washington The Wizards probably won’t have an All-Star for the fifth consecutive season given the lack of wins, but the Rising Stars Challenge is a different story. Second-year forward Keyshon George visited an NBA TV panel on Tuesday and explained why he deserves it be selected for this second competition.

Kishawn George does it all 😤

The young star proves why he belongs at the NBA All-Star weekend! pic.twitter.com/TdSTV73Dbd

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 14, 2026

“I can guard multiple positions at a high level. I could shoot the ball at a very high level,” said the 22-year-old. “I can rebound the ball at a high level and I can create good shots for myself and my teammates at a very high level.”

Đorđe did all of the above in Washington lost 119-105 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, when he scored a game-high 23 points (9-15 FG, 2-7 3-pointer) with five rebounds, four assists and one steal in 32 minutes, all while expending energy guarding superstar forward Kawhi Leonard and helping the defense inside. The two-time NBA Finals MVP scored a career-high 33 points, but shot just 9-of-22 from the field (7-11 3-pointers).

George now has 13 games with 15 points and five rebounds this season, four more than he had as a rookie last year. The former Miami Hurricane also has eight 20-plus outings, five more than last season.

Now that veteran guard CJ McCollum is with the Atlanta Hawks because of the Tree Young tradeGeorge is currently the Wizards’ second best player on their roster this season. The 6-foot-8, 200-pounder trails only second-year center Alex Sara in scoring average (14.9), is tied for second with veteran forward Justin Champagne with 5.5 rebounds and leads with 4.9 assists. He is also second behind Sara in goals (5.5) and attempts (11.8), as well as field goals made among players averaging at least eight attempts (46.5 percent). He is also second to second-year guard Bub Carrington in three-point percentage among players with at least one average attempt (40), second to third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly in steals (one) and tied for second with Coulibaly in blocks (0.9).

George ranks third in the 2024 draft in points per game this season while leading the way with 31.4 minutes. The Swiss also ranks fourth in field goal percentage among players averaging at least 10 attempts and third in three-point percentage among those who average five attempts from downtown. On top of that, he’s fifth in assists, ninth in shooting (58.2 percent) and tied for fifth in steals.

In other words, George is worthy of participating in the Rising Stars Challenge, a game that highlights the NBA’s best rookies and rookies during All-Star Weekend. The Wizards sent Sarr, Koulibaly and Carrington to the competition last season, but George was not selected after a slow start to his rookie campaign. However, he along with Sarah, Carrington and starting point guard Treo Johnson could form a quartet of “Wiz Kids” to represent Washington at the event.

Keeshon George touts do-it-all skill set on national television

George has established himself as a master this season, contributing in every facet of the game, even on poor shooting nights. The young player needs the maturity to stay engaged at both ends when they aren’t always scoring, so that mindset and versatility bodes well for his future. It’s harder for coaches to consistently sit for a player when they always bring something positive to the table.

2006 eighth overall pick Rudy Gay asked George on an NBA TV segment what type of player imagines developing into.

“Man. I was a point guard growing up. I was really short, I grew up late,” he said. “I used to have the ball in my hands a lot, read the pick-and-roll. Playing against the pros in France, you learn different types of schemes. Being able to create for myself and my teammates at a super high level, whether it’s getting the ball off the pin, just being able to create that advantage and use my IQ and size to be able to make a good shot for our team.”

“So shooter, moderator, everything,” Gay replied.

“Everything,” George repeated.

It’s one thing for an NBA player to express confidence in interviews, and another to back it up with results. George’s NBA TV appearance and subsequent performance in the Clippers game were snapshots of how far he’s come since shooting just 34.7 percent from the field (27.8 percent from 3-point range) in November 2024. Back then, he was overlooked nationally as a struggling non-lottery rookie on a team that’s now impossible to beat and now impossible to miss. attention.

Next up for George and the Wizards are road games against the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets on Friday and Saturday, respectively. After that, there will be a rematch with the Clippers at home on Monday.