Washington Wizards

Washington Wizards
founding	1961
history	Chicago Packers 1961–1962 Chicago Zephyrs 1962–1963 Baltimore Bullets 1963–1973 Capital Bullets 1973–1974 Washington Bullets 1974–1997 Washington Wizards since 1997
Stadion	Capital One Arena
Location	Washington, DC
Club colors	Blue, silver, red, white    
league	NBA
Conference	Eastern Conference
division	Southeast Division
Head coach	Scott Brooks
General manager	Ernie Grunfeld
owner	Ted Leonsis
Championships	1 (1978)
Conference title	4 (1971, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Division title	9 (1969, 1971-1975, 1987, 1979, 2017)
Association Icon Statement

The Washington Wizards are a basketball - Franchise of the North American basketball league National Basketball Association (NBA). The team is based in Washington, DC and plays its home games at the Capital One Arena .

Team history

Hall of Famer Wes Unseld

Gilbert Arenas in the jersey of the Wizards

Point Guard John Wall

Washington Wizards logo from 2007-2011

Founded in 1961 under the name Chicago Packers , the club is originally from Chicago , Illinois. In its second season, the team coached by Jim Pollard played under the new name Chicago Zephyrs . In 1963, the company moved to Baltimore , Maryland and was renamed Baltimore Bullets . The name of the original Baltimore Bullets (1944–1954) was adopted. Initially, the team was unsuccessful, but was able to improve greatly with good draft picks and reached the play-offs for the first time in 1965.

In the 1967 and 1968 NBA drafts, important players were drafted with Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld . Therefore, the Bullets improved steadily and, after losing to the New York Knicks in the previous two years, reached the finals by beating them for the first time in history. But against the team from Milwaukee, the team lost 4-0 in games.

This was followed by the franchise's most successful period in the 1970s. A talented team was built around the two centers Wes Unseld and the newly signed Elvin Hayes after Earl Monroe left the club in 1971. In 1973 the franchise was renamed Capital Bullets , and a year later Washington Bullets .

After the team did not harmonize at first, the balance became steadily better. In the play-offs they were subject to the Knicks for three years in a row, but in 1975 the NBA finals could be reached after victories against Buffalo and Boston . However, the team lost the finals to the Golden State Warriors led by Rick Barry 4-0 in games, as before against Milwaukee. In the next two seasons, the Bullets stumbled a little and were eliminated early in the play-offs.

But in the 1977/78 season, the only NBA championship to date was won against the Seattle SuperSonics after seven games. The two teams met in the finals again next season, this time the Sonics won 4-1. After that, the Wizards never made the finals again to this day, but were one of the most enduring NBA teams in the 1980s. 22 years in a row (1967-1989) the team achieved at least 35 wins per season and reached the play-offs 18 times. But the team reached the second round of the play-offs only once in the 1980s. In 1988, the team was the last time for the next eight years in the play-offs. Faces during this era were Jeff Malone , Jeff Ruland, and Bernard King .

During the 1990s players like Chris Webber , Juwan Howard and Rod Strickland joined the team. Before the team was renamed in 1997, it was able to reach the play-offs again in 1997 for the first time in eight years. The last game in the play-off series, which was lost to the Chicago Bulls , also marked the end of an era that was ushered in by a change of ownership. The bullets (German: projectiles) became the wizards (German: magicians). This step was taken in view of the American homicide statistics, in which Washington, DC is always one of the first ranks. In addition, the Wizards no longer play their home games in the US Airways Arena, which is located in Landover, Maryland, but in the newly built Verizon Center in Washington, DC

From 2000 to 2003 Michael Jordan was co-owner and manager of the franchise and also played for the team himself. Nevertheless, there was no success. The Wizards never reached the playoffs during Jordan's season, although they had good players like Jerry Stackhouse or Larry Hughes on the team. Most of all, Jordan's leadership style was criticized as the manager of the team. So he chose the 2001 NBA draft , Kwame Brown without this could ever meet expectations in the first place out. Hopeful talents like Richard Hamilton were sold under Jordan.

After Jordan's resignation, the Wizards reached the play-offs four times from 2005 to 2008 with new players such as Antawn Jamison , Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas . After a scandal surrounding star player Arenas, the team broke up and no more successes worth mentioning could be booked. The Wizards won only 19 games in the 2008/09 season . Therefore, the wizards were just in the process of rebuilding and were able to draft in the first place by winning the draft lottery point guard John Wall . On January 24, 2012, they fired their head coach, Flip Saunders, and named Randy Wittman as his successor. The season ended with a record of 20 wins and 46 losses. At 2012 NBA draft was chosen guard Bradley Beal from third. With 29 wins and 53 defeats in the 2012/13 season , the playoffs could not be reached again, although this was the best record since 2008. However, due to numerous injuries, the team had to do without top performers such as John Wall or Emeka Okafor for a long time .

For the 2013/2014 season, the team was changed in some key positions. Center Marcin Gortat was signed by the Phoenix Suns via Trade . In return, the injury-prone Emeka Okafor was handed in. The veterans Al Harrington and Eric Maynor were also committed to strengthen the squad across the board. The draft also brought rookies Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. to the Wizards. In the 2013/14 season , the Wizards succeeded in making the play-offs again with a record of 44 wins and 38 defeats. There the team failed in the 2nd round at the Indiana Pacers .

For the 2014/15 season they strengthened themselves with old star Paul Pierce and went into the new season with an almost unchanged squad. The Wizards reached the playoffs again with 46 wins. However, eliminated again in the 2nd round against the Atlanta Hawks . The 2015/16 season, the Wizards could not build on their previous season. Despite a balanced record of 41 wins and defeats, they missed the playoffs. Shortly afterwards, the Wizards separated from head coach Randy Wittman.

The new head coach for the 2016/17 season was Scott Brooks , who had previously coached the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008 to 2015 and was named coach of the year in 2010 . He received a contract with the Wizards until 2021.

Venues

Chicago

• International Amphitheater (1961–1962)
• Chicago Coliseum (1962–1963)

Baltimore

• Baltimore Civic Center (later the Baltimore Arena, 1st Mariner Arena and now Royal Farms Arena, 1963-1973, some games in the 1990s)

Washington

• US Airways Arena (originally Capital Center , 1973 – November 1997)
• Capital One Arena (previously MCI Center and Verizon Center , since December 1997)

Current squad

Washington Wizards roster as of July 20, 2020

player	Coaches
No. Nat. Surname position birth size info college 1 Admiral Schofield Guard 03/30/1997 196 cm R. Tennessee 2 John Wall Guard 09/06/1990 193 cm Kentucky 3 Bradley Beal Guard 06/28/1993 196 cm Florida 5 Shabazz Napier Guard 07/14/1991 185 cm Connecticut 6th Troy Brown, Jr. Forward 07/28/1999 201 cm Oregon 7th Jarrod Uthoff Forward 05/19/1993 206 cm Iowa 8th Rui Hachimura Forward 02/08/1998 203 cm R. Gonzaga 12 Jerome Robinson Guard 02/22/1997 196 cm Boston College 13 Thomas Bryant center 07/31/1997 208 cm Indiana 14th Ish Smith Guard 07/05/1988 183 cm Wake Forest 17th Isaac Bonga Guard 11/08/1999 206 cm Germany 18th Anžejs Pasečņiks center 12/20/1995 218 cm R. Latvia 19th Johnathan Williams Forward 05/22/1995 190 cm G Gonzaga 21st Moritz Wagner center 04/26/1997 213 cm Michigan 22nd Jerian Grant Guard 10/09/1992 193 cm Notre Dame 24 Garrison Mathews Guard 10/24/1996 196 cm G / R Lipscomb 28 Ian Mahinmi center 05/11/1986 211 cm France	Nat. Surname position Scott Brooks Head coach Tony Brown Deputy head coach Mike Longabardi Assistant coach Robert Pack Assistant coach Mike Terpstra Assistant coach Dean Oliver Assistant coach Jarell Christian Assistant coach Corey Gaines Assistant coach David Adkins Assistant coach Thomas Knox Medical trainer
	Legend Abbr. meaning No. Jersey number Nat. nationality C. Team captain R. Rookie G Two-way contract Inactivity due to injury S. suspension

Honors and achievements worth mentioning

Caron Butler played for the Wizards from 2005 to 2010 and became an NBA All-Star in 2007 and 2008

Center Brendan Haywood was under contract in Washington from 2001 to 2010

Antawn Jamison became an NBA All-Star in the 2005 and 2008 NBA jersey

Jersey numbers that are no longer assigned

No.	Nat.	Surname	position	time
10		Earl Monroe	Guard	1967-1972
11		Elvin Hayes	Forward	1972-1981
25th		Gus Johnson	Forward	1963-1972
41		Wes Unseld	Center trainer	1968-1981 1987-1994

Well-known former players

Surname	current club
Gilbert Arenas	Career ended
Kwame Brown	Career ended
Manute Bol	Career ended
Caron Butler	Career ended
Antonio Daniels	Career ended
Pervis Ellison	Career ended
Richard Hamilton	Career ended
Brendan Haywood	Career ended
Tom Gugliotta	Career ended
Juwan Howard	Career ended
Larry Hughes	Career ended
Antawn Jamison	Career ended
Michael Jordan	Career ended
Bernard King	Career ended
Christian Laettner	Career ended
Jeff Malone	Career ended
Gheorghe Mureșan	Career ended
Mike Miller	Career ended
Jeff Ruland	Career ended
Rod Strickland	Career ended
Jerry Stackhouse	Career ended
Etan Thomas	Career ended
Rasheed Wallace	Career ended
Chris Webber	Career ended
Andray Blatche	Xinjiang Flying Tigers

statistics

Logo from 2011 to 2015

National Basketball Association seasons (as of August 2020)

year	Victories: defeats	Wins [%]	Play-offs
Chicago Packers
1961/62	18:62	22.5	Not qualified for the play-offs
Chicago Zephyrs
1962/63	25:55	31.3	Not qualified for the play-offs
Baltimore Bullets
1963/64	31:49	38.8	Not qualified for the play-offs
1964/65	37:43	46.3	2: 4 in the Western Division Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers
1965/66	38:42	47.5	0-3 in the Western Division semi-finals against the St. Louis Hawks
1966/67	20:61	24.7	Not qualified for the play-offs
1967/68	36:46	43.9	Not qualified for the play-offs
1968/69	57:25	69.5	0-4 in the Eastern Division semi-finals against the New York Knicks
1969/70	50:32	61.0	3: 4 in the Eastern Division semi-finals against the New York Knicks
1970/71	42:40	51.2	0-4 in the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks
1971/72	38:44	46.3	2-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks
1972/73	52:30	63.4	1: 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks
Capital bullets
1973/74	47:35	57.3	3: 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks
Washington Bullets
1974/75	60:22	73.2	0-4 in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors 4-0
1975/76	48:34	58.5	3-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers
1976/77	48:34	58.5	2-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets
1977/78	44:38	53.7	NBA champions 4-3 against Seattle SuperSonics
1978/79	54:28	65.9	1: 4 in the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics
1979/80	39:43	47.6	0-2 in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers
1980/81	39:43	47.6	Not qualified for the play-offs
1981/82	43:39	52.4	1: 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics
1982/83	42:40	51.2	Not qualified for the play-offs
1983/84	35:47	42.7	1: 3 in the first round against the Boston Celtics
1984/85	40:42	48.8	0-2 in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers
1985/86	39:43	47.6	2: 3 in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers
1986/87	42:40	51.2	0-3 in the first round against the Detroit Pistons
1987/88	38:44	46.3	2: 3 in the first round against the Detroit Pistons
1988/89	40:42	48.8	Not qualified for the play-offs
1989/90	31:51	37.8	Not qualified for the play-offs
1990/91	30:52	36.6	Not qualified for the play-offs
1991/92	25:57	30.5	Not qualified for the play-offs
1992/93	22:60	26.8	Not qualified for the play-offs
1993/94	24:85	29.3	Not qualified for the play-offs
1994/95	21:61	25.6	Not qualified for the play-offs
1995/96	39:43	47.6	Not qualified for the play-offs
1996/97	44:38	53.7	0-3 in the first round against the Chicago Bulls
Washington Wizards
1997/98	42:40	51.2	Not qualified for the play-offs
1998/99	18:32	36.0	Not qualified for the play-offs
1999/00	29:53	35.4	Not qualified for the play-offs
2000/01	19:63	23.2	Not qualified for the play-offs
2001/02	37:45	45.1	Not qualified for the play-offs
2002/03	37:45	45.1	Not qualified for the play-offs
2003/04	25:57	30.5	Not qualified for the play-offs
2004/05	45:37	54.9	0-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat
2005/06	42:40	51.2	2-4 in the first round against the Cleveland Cavaliers
2006/07	41:41	50.0	0-4 in the first round against the Cleveland Cavaliers
2007/08	43:39	52.4	2-4 in the first round against the Cleveland Cavaliers
2008/09	19:63	23.2	Not qualified for the play-offs
2009/10	26:56	31.7	Not qualified for the play-offs
2010/11	23:59	28.0	Not qualified for the play-offs
2011/12	20:46	30.3	Not qualified for the play-offs
2012/13	29:53	35.4	Not qualified for the play-offs
2013/14	44:38	53.7	2-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers
2014/15	46:36	56.1	2-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks
2015/16	41:41	50.0	Not qualified for the play-offs
2016/17	49:33	59.8	3-4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics
2017/18	43:39	52.4	2-4 in the first round against the Toronto Raptors
2018/19	32:50	39.0	Not qualified for the play-offs
2019/20	25:47	34.7	Not qualified for the play-offs
total	2153: 2617	45.1	98: 134 in the play-offs ( 42.2% ) - 1 NBA championship

Web links

• Official website
• Official squad of the team

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Change of coach, Randy Wittman appointed coach /