More Washington Wizards News

Isiah Thomas, Kendrick Perkins, and Other NBA Greats Pour Praises on Wizards’ Russell Westbrook’s New Record

The Wizards outpaced the Pacers and reached #9 spot in EC. NBA greats could not stop themselves from praising Russell Westbrook. Take a look!
NBA: Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers

Mavericks’ Luka Doncic Jumps Over Michael Jordan in a Unique Triple-Double Record

The Mavericks defeated the Wizards in a hard fought game where Luka Doncic broke Michael Jordan's rare record and matched other NBA greats.
NBA: Washington Wizards at Dallas Mavericks

‘Playing MVP Basketball’: Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson Heaps Praise on Wizards’ Russell Westbrook

Despite receiving criticism from everyone else, Russell Westbrook was praised by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in a recent podcast.
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards

Will Russell Westbrook Play Tonight? Dallas Mavericks vs Washington Wizards – Predictions, Injury Updates & Lineups

The Washington Wizards face off against the Dallas Mavericks tonight. Let's look at probable lineups and injury reports of both the teams.
NBA: Washington Wizards at Houston Rockets

NBA Stars Name Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook as Players You Shouldn’t Trash Talk

NBA stars Duncan Robinson and Joe Ingles spoke about which NBA players you shouldn't talk trash to; the list includes Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard.
NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors

‘Nothing We Could Do’: Richard Jefferson Recalls Michael Jordan Destroying Him During His Rookie Season

Former NBA champion Richard Jefferson spoke about his first few games playing against Michael Jordan when he returned to the NBA in 2001.
SLUG: SP/WIZARDS4 DATE:12/03/02 PHOTO BY : JOEL RICHARDSON D

WATCH: Lakers’ LeBron James Goes ‘Caw-Caw’ When a Wizards Fan Tried to Mock Him

It is not easy to irritate Lakers' LeBron James but a Washington Wizards fan tried his best to do that. However, Bron won the mocking game!
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Charlotte Hornets

WATCH: Wizards Forward Punishes Lakers’ Anthony Davis at the Rim and Leaves Him Embarrassed

The Lakers lost yet another game and faced humiliation at the hands of Wizards in their loss. Watch how the DC players punished Anthony Davis
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Washington Wizards

Will LeBron James & Anthony Davis Play Tonight? Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington Wizards: Injury Updates, Expected Lineups, and Game Prediction

The Washington Wizards face the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. Take a look at the injury list, probable lineups and predictions for the same.
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks

‘Kobe Bryant Said at an Interview…’: Former Teammate Reveals What Makes Russell Westbrook Special

Former OKC Thunder teammate Kendrick Perkins recently revealed how Kobe Bryant recognized Russell Westbrook's greatness.

‘Too Great For That’: Stephen A Smith Refuses to Give Credit to Russell Westbrook Without a Championship

Stephen A Smith doesn't believe that Russell Westbrook should get credit just for putting up good numbers because he is too good for that.
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards

‘No Offense’: Bradley Beal Reveals Why He Hated to See Michael Jordan Play for Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal remembers the days when Michael Jordan played for the Wizards and gave his reaction on one memory that he still keeps dear.
SLUG: SP/WIZARDS4 DATE:12/03/02 PHOTO BY : JOEL RICHARDSON D

About Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards 2021: News, Schedule, Roster, Score, Injury Report

The Washington Wizards compete in the NBA as a part of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference. To date, the Wizards have four finals appearances in NBA history, with one championship to their name (1978). 

The Wizards have a long history with their logos, considering the fact that they had to relocate multiple times. But their most recent logo has remained since 2017, which consists of a roundel inside which has the main design inside.

The team’s name “Washington Wizards” is arched at the top and the bottom, respectively. Moreover, the logo contains three stars that represent D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The franchise eliminated the jumping wizard in their new logo and instead added a crafty basketball that represents their colors. 

The Washington Wizards play their home games at the Capital One Arena, which is located in the Chinatown neighborhood in the capital city. The Wizards have occupied this arena since 1997, and share it with the Washington Capitals of the NHL. 

Who owns the Washington Wizards? 

American businessman Ted Leonsis took over ownership duties in 2010 and brought about a major change in the franchise. Now, he owns a majority stake of the team. Leonsis is much loved by the Wizards' fans, as he voluntarily involves them when making major changes to the team. 

Leonsis is the CEO of Monumental Sports, a company that owns several sports teams, including the Wizards, Washington Capitals (NHL), and the Washington Mystics (WNBA). The Georgetown University alum’s net worth is estimated to be $1.4 billion by Forbes

Head Coach and Top Executives

1994 NBA champion Scott Brooks has been serving as the Wizards’ 24th head coach since 2016. Brooks has been affiliated with the NBA for a long time, both as a player and a coach. His three-year stint with the Houston Rockets earned him a championship ring as a player. 

Brooks signed up for NBA’s Head Coaching duties when he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. He was a key figure in guiding the young core all the way to the NBA finals in 2012. However, OKC fired him seven years later, even though Brooks recorded a 62.0% success rate during his stint. 

The Wizards hired him in 2016, and he found himself working with a similar group of players once again. The roster was filled with young talents who needed a leader to set the right tone. Brooks is yet to reach past the second round of the playoffs with the Wizards, and there are a lot of hopes riding on him. 

As for the Wizards’ General Manager, Tommy Sheppard has been filling in the role. He is a long-standing member of the Wizards franchise and has worked with various departments before being promoted as the GM. 

History

The Wizards were initially established in 1961 as the Chicago Packers and quickly renamed as Chicago Zephyrs in the subsequent season. Relocations to Maryland and the capital city of Washington D.C. swiftly took place in the 1970s, and they finally rebranded as the “Washington Wizards” in 1997. 

Since their inception, the Wizards have had mixed results with respect to their postseason contention. The team’s most successful era came during the 70s, where they won the NBA championship. 

Hall of Famer Wes Unseld played for the franchise from 1968 to 1981 and proved to be a perennial figure towards their success. Under his leadership, the Wizards made the finals thrice in five years and won the championship in 1978. 

Unseld is still the only Wizards player to ever win a regular-season MVP award, an honor which he won during a historic rookie season. Following Unseld’s departure, the team only made first-round visits to the playoffs, where they were knocked out by their Eastern conference opponents quite comfortably. 

Ever since the 90s decade, the franchise developed an inconsistent form, where they struggled to make it to the playoffs. Even if they did, they could not get past the first round, which proved to be a major disappointment. 

Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan came out of retirement and joined the team in 2001 when he was 38-years-old. He bought a minority stake in the franchise and plied his return to assume more control of the team. 

Even though an aged Jordan put up impressive numbers, a string of injuries left the Wizards wounded and gasping for inspiration. The lack of several factors put them down, and as a result, they struggled in the subsequent years as well. 

Washington Wizards: Mascot and Uniform

G-WIZ has been the official mascot of the Washington Wizards since 1997. His best friends include the loyal Wizards fans and all the children who visit the arena! He’s often referred to as the “trickiest mascot in the NBA” by the franchise. 

There are plenty of details which one can acquire about G-Wiz! For instance, his favorite number is #5, and his favorite TV shows include 'Phineas and Ferb' and 'Inside the NBA'.

As for the Wizards’ uniforms, the concept of Home and Road jerseys changed when Nike took over the deal in 2017. They wear white “Association” uniforms, navy “Statement” uniforms, and red “Icon” uniforms. 

Also Read: How Many Times Did Michael Jordan Retire From NBA? What All He’s Done Post Retirement?

Team’s Sponsors

Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) serves as the main sponsor of the Wizards franchise. They signed a multi-year deal in 2018, which made them the jersey sponsors of the team. The insurance company’s logo has been on the Wizards’ uniform since. 

Besides GEICO, the franchise has tie-ups with other companies like William Hill, Mahindra Group, NEC Corporation to name a few. 

History and Achievements 

Founded 

1961
Conference

Eastern

Division 

Southeast
General Manager

Tommy Sheppard

Head Coach 

Scott Brooks
Arena 

Capital One Arena

Championships (1)

(1978)
Conference Titles (4)

(1971, 1975, 1978, 1979)

Division Titles (7)

(1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 2017)
Website

www.nba.com/wizards

Washington Wizards 2021 roster

9Deni AvdijaSF6-9210January 3, 2001
3Bradley BealSG6-3207June 28, 1993
42Dāvis BertānsPF6-10225November 12, 1992
17Isaac BongaSF6-8180November 8, 1999
6Troy Brown Jr.SF6-6215July 28, 1999
13Thomas BryantC6-10248July 31, 1997
16Anthony GillPF6-7230October 17, 1992
8Rui HachimuraPF6-8230February 8, 1998
27Alex LenC7-0250June 16, 1993
15Robin LopezC7-0281April 1, 1988
24Garrison Mathews  (TW)SG6-5215October 24, 1996
19Raul NetoPG6-1180May 19, 1992
12Jerome RobinsonSG6-4190February 22, 1997
14Ish SmithPG6-0175July 5, 1988
21Moritz WagnerC6-11245April 26, 1997
4Russell WestbrookPG6-3200November 12, 1988
5Cassius Winston  (TW)PG6-1185February 28, 1998