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 

Washington Wizards 2021 roster