I’ve been quietly holding onto hope that the 2022-23 season will be different for the Washington Wizards. However, I’ll be realistic and say that I don’t expect immediate entry into the Eastern Conference Finals (or even the second round of the playoffs).

Still, I expect it to be the first of many seasons where the team grows stronger together. Individually, some players have already used this offseason to show just how talented and dedicated they are to the game of basketball.

Deni Avdija, a fan-favorite entering his third year in the NBA, has garnered praise from fans and reporters alike as videos from his workouts with NBA trainer Drew Hanlen made the rounds on social media. Hanlen has also worked with Avdija’s fellow Wizard Bradley Beal.

Avdija is known for predominantly shooting from his right side, but some Twitter users noticed that he focused on improving speed and strength on his left. In addition to training with Hanlen in LA and Atlanta earlier this summer, Avdija has even more recently been playing for the Israeli National Team in Eurobasket and putting his work to practical use. 

Though Avdija has only played with the Israeli National Team once (he has missed the team’s two most recent games due to COVID-19 but is back in practice as of August 15), his performance in their game against Auburn is concrete proof that his offseason conditioning is going to pay off. 

Avdija scored 25 points, shot well from right, continued to work on his left, and eventually fouled out of the game. Avdija also dunked at least four times throughout the game, which is especially interesting given that he only dunked seven times last season.

Overall, Avdija’s game showed increased aggression and confidence in himself, something he identified as a struggle last season. He also had the opportunity to step up as a leader on the team because although he’s younger than some of his teammates, he’s one of the most experienced by virtue of his time in the NBA. He was something of a Kyle Kuzma on the roster.

And speaking of Kuzma, the Wizards’ forward (and overall nice, supportive teammate) also recently showed off an incredible stat line. Kuzma and Delon Wright, teammates at the University of Utah and now teammates on the Wizards, recently played in a Powder League game in Utah against Scottie Barnes and former Wizard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. 

Kuzma scored 67 points in that game and got 14 rebounds and nine assists, which is honestly ridiculous compared to his scoring last season. Kuzma averaged 17.1 points per game in the 66 games he played in the 2021-22 season, and scoring doesn’t seem to be his main priority to help the Wizards thrive. 

Kuzma is a natural leader and undoubtedly a talented athlete; it’s time to combine both pieces. The Wizards are like a 1,000-piece puzzle. Most are where they should be, and the pieces can stand out just as well as they fit together.

With training camp fast approaching and games in Japan against the defending champion Warriors on the horizon, it’s time to put the pieces back together.