Trae Young predicts Wizards will top Eastern Conference

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young has boldly predicted his team will finish atop the Eastern Conference next season, framing the ambitious forecast as a response to feeling overlooked after an injury-plagued year. The four-time All-Star made the comments during a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, expressing confidence in both his personal prime and the Wizards' revamped roster.

Young, who will be entering his ninth NBA season, described the current period as the most he has ever been "slept on" in his career, attributing it to media recency bias. "Even when I was in high school, I wasn't this slept on," Young said. He pointed to his limited playing time over the past 18 months due to multiple injuries and a mid-season trade as reasons for his diminished profile. "I haven't played very much in a year and a half because of some injuries and the trade and things like that, but trust me, I'm probably just entering my prime," he stated. "The way people talk about me is just funny, and I just can't wait to go out there and play. And I know that's what changes the narrative."

The 27-year-old guard was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards before the February...