Jamir Watkins' first full Wizards season is already in doubt.
The Washington wing underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Robbins reported that Watkins could miss the entire 2026-27 season, a hard turn for a 25-year-old who had been trying to push for a role on a two-way contract.
The injury happened July 9 in Washington's NBA Summer League opener against the Utah Jazz. Watkins was guarding No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson in the first quarter when Peterson brought the ball up, crossed over and stepped back into a 3-point attempt. Watkins stayed with the play, but he appeared to slip on a wet spot and immediately grabbed his left knee.
The strange part is what happened next. Watkins left the game, then returned and still logged nearly 20 minutes. He did not play in any of the Wizards' four remaining Summer League games.
That detail makes the diagnosis feel even rougher. Watkins was not just a camp body for Washington. As a rookie last season, he had shown the kind of energy and physical perimeter defense that can keep a young player in a rotation conversation.
Now the timeline becomes the story. ACL recoveries vary, and the Wizards have no reason to rush a two-way player back before he is ready. If Watkins loses the season, Washington loses a low-cost defender who was supposed to compete for occasional bench minutes.
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