Why the Washington Wizards have a stake in this NBA Finals
We head to Indiana for the next two games of the NBA Finals, and even though it’s the Pacers vs. Thunder, the Wizards are connected to this series.
Try and think back to the last time the Washington Wizards were actually competitive, or relevant in the NBA. They haven’t been close to whiffing the NBA Finals in almost 50 years, but it does seem that Washington is serving as a springboard to an NBA Title.
Pacers looking to keep streak alive
As strange as it might sound, the Washington Wizards have had a connection with the last eight NBA Champions. In those eight seasons the Wizards have only been to the playoffs three times, only had a winning record twice, and got through the first round just once.
Despite the team being well into their offseason once the NBA Finals roll around, ex Wizards players have been to, and won the NBA title for eight straight years. Washington now has a chance to stretch “their streak” to nine straight years, but they are going to need the Indiana Pacers to win the title.
Thomas Bryant and Quenton Jackson both played for the Wizards at one point in their NBA career, and they are hoping to keep this streak alive but more importantly lift their first Larry O’Brien Trophy. Bryant spent four years with the Wizards from 2018-2022 and Jackson spent time with the Wizards and their G-League team in his first year out of college.
Prozingis was the last Wizard to win
The streak of ex Wizards winning titles stretches back to the 2017 season when Shaun Livingston and JaVale McGee won consecutive championships with the Golden State Warriors. Then Jodie Meeks won it all with Toronto in that magical season led by Kawhi Leonard.
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Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee and Markieff Morris went to the Bubble and won it with the Lakers after separate stints in the nation’s capital. Bobby Portis got his first ring with Milwaukee the next year and then Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton and Chris Chiozza were crowned NBA Champs in the last title run for Golden State. Four different Denver Nuggets had spent time as a Wizard when they won their first title back in 2023, and last year it was Kristaps Porzingis who kept the streak alive.
The Wizards have had championship caliber talent come and go, but they haven’t been able to build a team that has even been close to competing in the Eastern Conference. Over the last two seasons they have just 33 wins, but the hope is they are building a team from the ground up like the OKC Thunder have done.