When will Trae Young return? Star guard set to make Wizards debut amid extension talks

When will Trae Young return? Star guard set to make Wizards debut amid extension talks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young is close to making his debut with the franchise. 

Young has been sidelined since Dec. 27 with a sprained knee and a quad contusion. While he was rehabbing his injuries, the Atlanta Hawks traded him to the Wizards. 

Young has yet to make his debut with his new team, and there were reports that his check-in at the All-Star break went well. While it seemed that the point guard would be able to return soon, many didn't expect it to be the first week of March. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday, March 2, that Young is expected to make his debut for Washington at home against the Utah Jazz. 

Here is more on when Young is expected to debut for the Wizards. 

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When will Trae Young return?

Young is set to make his Wizards debut on Thursday, March 5. Washington will be at home and hosting the Utah Jazz. If he is able to return as planned, this will not only be Young's debut with his new team since being traded, but also his first game action since Dec. 27.

Trae Young injury update

Young has been dealing with a knee sprain and a quad contusion. He was sidelined for a month when Atlanta traded him to Washington. The Wizards had Young re-evaluated at the All-Star break and found that he was close to being able to return. After being out for more than two months, Young appears ready to return to the court, but in a different jersey than when fans last saw him play. 

MORE: Grading the trade that saw the Wizards acquire Trae Young

Trae Young contract

Young signed a five-year extension worth $215,159,700 ahead of the 2022 NBA season. He is currently in the fourth year of the deal, and the fifth year of the contract is a player option. Young would make $48,967,380 if he opts in, which is expected to happen. Still, Washington could try to sign the guard to an extension to give him some long-term security and lessen the cap hit over time. 

Trae Young season stats

Here are Young's 2025-2026 per-game season stats before he was injured.