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Khris Middleton Makes Bold Statement About Wizards Future
Mar 21, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton (32) handles the ball against Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the third quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

When things are going wrong for you, it can be difficult to find optimism at that time. People tend to dwell on the negative and blind themselves into thinking there isn't a way out of the situation. Fortunately for the Washington Wizards, the presence of veteran leadership has already changed their culture and thinking ability.

Khris Middleton has been a breath of fresh air for the Wizards. He offers a veteran presence and leadership for the team. That is something that was somewhat foreign previously, as they haven't seen or had that in years.

With the lack of leadership, the Wizards have not had much success over the years. They have failed to develop talent that will continue to grow and excel in the NBA. Things seem to be turning a corner for the Wizards, however, and it more or less changed when Middleton arrived.

The Wizards' losing ways have continued throughout the season, even after the NBA All-Star break. However, they seem to be a different team. They appear to be more comfortable with one another and understand everyone's strengths and weaknesses. With that being said, there is hope for the near distant future with the Wizards.

As it has been quite a while since we have seen the Wizards make the playoffs, Middleton believes they are closer than what others may feel, as he thinks the Wizards can be a playoff team next season. That isn't too hard to believe, as they have had plenty of bright spots throughout the second half of the year.

Alex Sarr has really been impressive as he continues to make history in the league. Bub Carrington has shown the ability to be able to do a lot of impressive things outside of just scoring. Kyshawn George is one of the most versatile players in the league already, and Jordan Poole is a borderline NBA All-Star.

All of this has been done without Bilal Coulibaly, who is the team's best overall defender. Middleton is a player who has had a lot of success in the NBA, so his words hold extra weight in this case. Having a high NBA Draft pick, as expected, will help their odds of reaching the postseason as well.

This article first appeared on Washington Wizards on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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