When the Washington Wizards announced the return of Anthony Gill on September 15, 2026, it would be fair for some fans to wonder what exactly the veteran forward brings to a roster already filled with a lot of young talent. Gill isn’t the type of player to be expected to suddenly become a major part of Washington’s rotation, so why bring him back for another season? So with all that being said, what does the return of Anthony Gill actually mean for the Wizards?

Well, for starters, let’s take a look at what Gill has done during his time in Washington. Gill has spent all six of his NBA seasons with the Washington Wizards, appearing in about 285 games with 23 starts while averaging 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. Last season was his most productive season with him being in Washington, as he averaged a career-high 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 62.8% from the field.

Obviously, those numbers aren’t going to stand out compared to some of the other players on Washington’s roster. However, Gill’s value to this team has never been just about scoring. He has become one of the more respected veterans in the Wizards’ locker room while also making an impact in the DMV community.

Gill has won the Wizards’ Dr. E.B. Henderson Team Award twice, first during the 2021-22 season and again in 2023-24. Introduced during the 2021-22 season, the award recognizes a Wizards player for making a meaningful impact in the D.C. community through charitable work. The award is named after Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson, a sports historian, educator, coach and civil rights activist known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball” in Washington, D.C. During the 2023-24 season, Gill also participated in several community initiatives, including a playground build in Southeast D.C., Thanksgiving meal distribution in Wards 7 and 8, a visit to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and holiday events for D.C. families.

But what really stands out is what Gill’s teammates and coaches have said about him.

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe once said, “You could write a book on how great of a teammate Anthony Gill is.” Wizards forward Justin Champagnie also described Gill as “one of the best teammates I’ve ever had in the NBA.” Wizards starting center Alex Sarr has also talked about Gill helping him during games, communicating with him during timeouts and pointing out areas where he could improve his game. Wizards guard Bub Carrington talked about Gill going out of his way to help him on and off the court as well and those are the types of things that don’t show up in the box score.

The Wizards have a very young roster with players such as Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, AJ Dybantsa and Will Riley still developing. While these players are expected to play some very important roles for Washington, having veterans around them who understand the NBA and can help them through the ups and downs of a long season can be just as important.

There is also research that supports the importance of team chemistry. Studies examining sports teams have found a strong relationship between team cohesion and team success, while other research suggests that the relationship can work both ways. In other words, better chemistry can contribute to better performances and better performances can contribute to more wins. 

That doesn’t mean having a great locker room automatically guarantees a winning season. Basketball still comes down to talent, health, coaching and execution. But for a young Wizards team who is trying to take the next step, having players who can help create a strong locker room environment could make a huge difference.

We’ve seen NBA teams value veteran leadership even when a veteran’s role isn’t centered around putting up big numbers. Not to say Gill is the same type of player as Udonis Haslem or Andre Iguodala, because those players have accomplished much more throughout their careers. But the larger idea is the same, sometimes a veteran’s value goes beyond what he can produce on the court.

Gill doesn’t need to average 15 points per game for his return to matter. If he can continue helping Washington’s younger players develop, communicate with their teammates, handle adversity and understand what it takes to be an NBA professional, his impact could be much bigger than his statistics suggest.

At the end of the day, Anthony Gill may not be one of the first names that comes to mind when you look at the Wizards’ roster. But for a team with this much young talent, having someone like Gill around could mean a lot more than simply filling another roster spot.