Having weathered two extended injuries to their franchise player, and dealt with petty in-fighting and poor communication, the Wizards can come away from the first half of the season with at least one good takeaway: Tomas Satoransky can ball.

Passing by expected backup Tim Frazier and finally getting a chance to spread his wings, Satoransky has filled in better than any other point guard during the John Wall era.

Satoransky’s story has been discussed and hyped amongst die-hard fans. Drafted 32nd overall way back in 2012, he decided to stay in Europe to continue to develop his game. Following multiple flops from GM Ernie Grunfeld, the potential of Satoransky seemed like one of those glimmers of hope that desperate fans cling to, only to be disappointed again.

Reports out of Europe would trickle in on Wizards fan sites, along with highlight videos, and the measured excitement began to gradually build.

Here he displays a wide array of skills driving and dunking in traffic, displaying vision and quality playmaking, as well as excellent range.

When Satoransky signed a 3 year $9 million contract, Wiz fans were again surprised by the quality of the contract, when considering the awful spending spree that brought Mahinmi, Nicholson, and Jason Smith in the free-for-all that was the 2016 off-season. This was an extremely low-risk signing that had obvious potential. The excitement amongst hardcore Wizards fans was rising.

Satoransky’s rookie season was forgetful for the most part and a big let down to many Wizards fans. With Brooks coaching his first season, coming off of his reputation for developing young talent in OKC, there were hopes that he could help the seemingly well-versed and experienced rookie have a quick and effective transition into an obvious position of need. Instead, Brooks leaned on a never effective Trey Burke, and later, a washed up Brandon Jennings.

Neither player would provide positive contributions, and the Wizards bench was considered one of the worst in the league. This led to an overuse of Wall, leading to his body breaking down during crucial moments in the playoffs. While Satoransky received garbage minutes, he never was able to establish himself as a solid contributor.

Disregarding all of the drama stirred up over the last month while the Wizards went on a winning streak (against mostly bottom or injured teams), and it’s easy to lose focus and appreciation for a true bright spot to this season. We are witnessing the true potential of backup point guard Tomas Satoransky aka Sato aka Sneaky T aka Tomas the Tank Engine. During Wall’s first injury this season, Sato managed to wrestle minutes away from the established and assumed backup Tim Frazier. He flashed his potential with solid defense and versatility. Now with the current sidelining of Wall, Satoransky has taken the reigns and not looked back.

So far in February, the Wiz have kept the team’s offseason hopes alive going 5-2, with Satoransky starting all 7 games.

Min	Points	Reb	Assists	FG%	FT%	3P%	3PM	Steals	Blocks	TO
28.7	12.6	3	5.7	59.3	100	61.1	1.6	1.6	0.7	1.7

That’s about as well-rounded and efficient as you can get.

The amazing shooting will regress back to earth, but considering the hole left with an injured Wall, this has been an incredible display of stepping up. Also, note the excellent defensive numbers combined with a 3.4 assist to turnover ratio. The blocks have been electric, including a highlight rejection on a driving Russell Westbrook. The Wizards could not have asked for a better performance spot starting for an injured Wall. Looking deeper into some of his advanced stats for February, you can again see how Sato has shined. Displaying a 131 Offensive Rating and a +/- of 11.0, it's easy to see how his current hot streak has helped the team retain the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Wizards truly have a quality prospect and he is signed to an amazingly cheap deal. His electric athleticism, smart defense, quality playmaking, hot shooting, and efficiency have made him a fan favorite for casual and hardcore fans alike. His versatility and size could end up being useful beyond his role as the backup point guard as he can play and guard 3 positions. With the current situation with the Wizards frontcourt, his ability to fill in at multiple positions could help when the team goes small. Satoransky could actually be a solid starter in the NBA for a handful of teams (Orlando immediately comes to mind). He should have been part of this year’s Rising Stars game and don’t be surprised if he makes a name for himself in an upcoming dunk contest. While the Wizards bench remains a weak spot for the team, Satoransky’s development and play should go a long way towards bolstering the 2nd unit and contributing to a potential playoff run.