{"id":756576,"date":"2026-06-24T05:32:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/756576\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T05:32:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T05:32:27","slug":"aj-dybantsa-a-beacon-of-light-for-wizards-fans-next-up-in-rich-d-c-basketball-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/756576\/","title":{"rendered":"AJ Dybantsa a beacon of light for Wizards fans, next up in rich D.C. basketball tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">BROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2014 Quiet as it\u2019s kept, there are not many American cities that love the game of basketball and have a rich hoop history like Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Edwin Bancroft Henderson, Earl Lloyd, Elgin Baylor, Morgan Wootten, Adrian Dantley, Dave Bing and John Thompson II made their names in Washington.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">From the Goodwin Pro-Am league to perhaps the nation\u2019s best high school basketball to its recent AAU dominance, the DMV (D.C. and the surrounding communities in Maryland and Virginia) has had a reputation for greatness in youth basketball for more than 100 years.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">And who could forget the dominance and impact of Thompson and Georgetown University basketball?<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">However, in the weeds of D.C.\u2019s basketball presence are the Washington Wizards. Formerly the Washington Bullets, the franchise hasn\u2019t been to the NBA Finals since 1979 and have owned the league\u2019s worst winning percentage since 1980, according to StatMuse. Through all the lean years \u2014 which even included two seasons with NBA legend Michael Jordan \u2014 long-suffering Wizards fans such as rapper Wale have remained loyal.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cBasketball and D.C. go hand-in-hand,\u201d Wale, who was born in D.C. and raised in Maryland, told Andscape. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a sport here. It makes up the culture, community and identity. Some of the greatest hoopers in the world come from the DMV. You can go to a random park in the DMV and see NBA-level talent playing pickup.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cBeing a Wizards fan isn\u2019t always the easiest thing, but I\u2019ve been a fan since I was a kid. We\u2019ve had moments where it felt like we\u2019re almost starting over again, and others where we were almost there. When D.C. hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2001, the city was on fire. There was so much energy. And Jordan making his final comeback with the Wizards in the early 2000s was electric. But I\u2019ll always ride for the Wizards through every era. D.C. is loyal, so we don\u2019t switch up like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">There is, however, a new beacon of light for the Wizards after decades of either mediocrity or losing seasons: former BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, who was selected with the first pick in the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night at Barclays Center. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The 2026 first-team All-American is projected to be a franchise-altering star. As a freshman for the Cougars last season, Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cI\u2019m just blessed, and I just give all the praise to the Lord, and my parents, and everybody that played with me,\u201d Dybantsa said Tuesday to Andscape. \u201cI\u2019m just super blessed and honored that they recognize my talents, and they see me as something that they can use to keep building.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The Wizards are also breaking in four-time All-Star Trae Young (acquired from the Atlanta Hawks last season) and 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis (acquired from the Dallas Mavericks). Returning is forward Alexandre Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, and several other talented young players. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Now with Dybantsa, the hope is the Wizards can finally become a playoff team that can bring NBA relevance back to Washington.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cI\u2019ve visited the city plenty of times. I know the culture behind it, but I know that they are a young team that\u2019s just ready to go do big things in Eastern Conference,\u201d Dybansta said. \u201cI definitely like the roster, seeing Trae an All-Star point guard, having a vet [like] Anthony Davis, and having a young core that you know is just building.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cI\u2019m definitely excited to play with [Young], like I said, All-Star point guard, just a guy that you watched growing up in the league, just him paving the way. Obviously with him being in the Big 12, and me being in the Big 12, I was trying to break some of his records. But for him to be a teammate, it\u2019s going to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"723\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-102388874.jpg\" alt=\"John Wall\" class=\"wp-image-400767\"  \/>John Wall (right) is still a popular former Wizards player 16 years after he was drafted No. 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-credit credits\">Al Bello\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The last time the Wizards had the No. 1 pick they selected Kentucky guard John Wall in 2010. Wall is arguably the most-popular living Wizards player because of his All-Star play during his 10 seasons, philanthropic work and endearing community appearances like playing in the Goodman League Pro-Am during the summers. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Wizards fans also loved his personality as he danced \u201cThe Dougie\u201d when called during pre-game introductions. Wall was a good luck charm this year, as he was on the NBA Draft Lottery stage representing the Wizards when they landed the No. 1 pick in this year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The Wizards\u2019 all-time leader in steals and assists offered words for wisdom for Dybantsa on and off the court in D.C.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cYou\u2019ve better know about Go-Go [music], first of all, music-wise,\u201d Wall told Andscape. \u201cBut they love their sports in D.C. They want to get behind it. They need some excitement. They need the next Wizards\u2019 franchise guy they\u2019ve been looking for to embrace the city. The city is going to embrace you back, for sure.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cMost importantly, not just own the court, give back to the community. You have to go touch the community. You got to go down to Barry Farms, go see Miles\u2019 [Rawles] crazy self. You have to do things that they don\u2019t feel are forced. Just be true to yourself, authentic, show love to the fans and they will show love back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Dybantsa has been on several trips to D.C. and was excited that Wale wanted him in the city, but said he wasn\u2019t familiar with Go-Go music. He\u2019s expected to be introduced on Thursday in D.C.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">For Wale, Wall, Dantley and long-suffering Washington fans such as Wizards senior vice president and former Georgetown men\u2019s basketball coach John Thompson III, NBC Sports NBA sideline reporter Zora Stephenson, Howard University men\u2019s basketball coach Kenneth Blakeney, and former NBA guards Victor Oladipo and Omar Cook, there is now an overwhelming feeling of hope after decades of despair, frustration and disappointment. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">They are also very proud of the D.C. basketball history that comes back to life with the No. 1 pick and possible Wizards rejuvenation.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"single-recirc-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-1247351758-e1769547039270.jpg\" alt=\"John Wall\u2019s Wizards retirement celebration honors his deeper impact beyond basketball - Andscape\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<a class=\"single-recirc-link\" href=\"https:\/\/andscape.com\/features\/john-walls-retirement-celebration-more-washington-wizards\/?0=source&amp;1=single-recirc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tJohn Wall\u2019s Wizards retirement celebration honors his deeper impact beyond basketball \u2013 Andscape\t\t\t\tRead now<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">For example, Washington native Edwin Bancroft Henderson is credited with introducing basketball to the nation\u2019s capital in 1907, according to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Henderson organized games for Black youth throughout metropolitan D.C., establishing the Interscholastic Athletic Association to build high school and college athletics in Washington\u2019s Black community in 1904. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Before the NBA was integrated in 1950, Henderson sparked the birth of the \u201cBlack Fives,\u201d which were all-Black, segregated professional basketball teams that played between 1904 and 1950. Nicknamed the \u201cFather of Black Basketball,\u201d Henderson was Howard University\u2019s first men\u2019s basketball coach and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cOur basketball history in D.C. goes back to coach Henderson and the Black Fives,\u201d Blakeney, who starred at DeMatha Catholic High School, told Andscape. \u201cHis contributions to basketball on this city and the relationship he had with Howard should always be remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">High school basketball in Washington has remained a power since the days of Henderson. Baylor dominated high school basketball at a segregated time in D.C. at Spingarn High School. Hall of Fame boys\u2019 basketball coach Morgan Wootten coached DeMatha just outside of D.C. for 46 seasons. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Wootten won five national championships, coached 13 NBA players, including Dantley, and coached DeMatha to an upset of New York\u2019s Power Memorial High, led by future Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cEvery basketball player growing up wanted to go to DeMatha because Wooten was a great coach and great person who taught great fundamentals,\u201d Dantley, a former DeMatha star, said. \u201cEvery year we had teams in our league ranked one, two, four, five in the area. DeMatha was cream of the crop. Everyone wanted to go to DeMatha because of Morgan\u2019s reputation\u2026<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cAs far as the game itself and the area, D.C., basketball is what we are known for. We have some of the greatest players that have ever come out from this area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"704\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-84749814.jpg\" alt=\"John Thompson II\" class=\"wp-image-400771\"  \/>Legendary Georgetown head coach John Thompson (right) had a lasting impact on basketball in the Washington D.C. area as the first African American head coach to win a Division I men\u2019s basketball championship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-credit credits\">Manny Millan \/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Today, the DMV is often considered the best high school basketball area in the country. The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference features several of the nation\u2019s top high school basketball programs, such as Gonzaga College High School and Sidwell Friends, and is one of the toughest leagues nationally. Team Takeover, based in D.C. and Baltimore, is also considered one of the country\u2019s top AAU basketball programs.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Oladipo, a former DeMatha star, said the basketball talent in the DMV area is \u201cin the soil.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWhat makes D.C. basketball is that there is so much talent from one area,\u201d Oladipo, a two-time NBA All-Star, told Andscape. \u201cIt\u2019s very different from an L.A. or Texas as far as size. It makes sense why so many people come from those areas because of size. We\u2019re not as big, but we have just as much talent, if not more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Said Thompson III: \u201cThe good athletes here [in DMV] play basketball. I also think from the grassroots level, pee-wee level through high school, the level of coaching here is outstanding. The WCAC is the best [high school] conference in the country. It\u2019s just elite. It goes back to Elgin Baylor. But basketball is king here in D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The Capital Classic in D.C. is the nation\u2019s longest-running high school basketball All-Star games, as it pits the top DMV players against the nation\u2019s best talent. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Since 1975, the Goodman League has been one of the nation\u2019s premier Pro-Am summer leagues hosted at the Barry Farm Recreation Center. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Joe \u201cDoc\u201d Carr also used to host closed-door pickup games in D.C. with the top college basketball players in the area that included the likes of future Hall of Famers Grant Hill, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo, with college coaches such as Thompson II and Mike Krzyzewski getting sneak peeks at recruits.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Arguably the biggest basketball presence ever in Washington came from Georgetown University under Thompson II in the 1980s. He led the Hoyas to a Division I national championship in 1984, became the first African American head coach to win a Division I title, reached three Finals Fours, won seven Big East Conference titles and compiled a 596-239 overall record. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The University of District of Columbia, an historically Black college, also won a Division II national championship in 1984.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Many African Americans fans of Georgetown living outside of the DMV thought the school was an HBCU because of its legendary Black coach and predominately Black team. The Hoyas produced legends who had Hall of Fame careers in Mourning, Mutombo, Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cThere is not a two-week period that ever goes by in some city, not just D.C., where someone will come up to me and comment on how my father influenced them,\u201d said Thompson III, who coached at Georgetown from 2004-2017. \u201cAnd 99 percent of those people never met him, never spent time with him. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cBut they watched from afar what he did, how he empowered himself, his athletes and the damn city, to be honest. That is something that still happens to this day, where people will come up to me and comment on how he inspired and influenced decisions they made in their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"single-recirc-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2254874778-e1768058920914.jpg\" alt=\"Trae Young believes in trade to Washington Wizards: 'The city can revive me as much as I can revive it' - Andscape\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<a class=\"single-recirc-link\" href=\"https:\/\/andscape.com\/features\/trae-young-believes-in-trade-to-washington-wizards-the-city-can-revive-me-as-much-as-i-can-revive-it\/?0=source&amp;1=single-recirc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tTrae Young believes in trade to Washington Wizards: &#8216;The city can revive me as much as I can revive it&#8217; \u2013 Andscape\t\t\t\tRead now<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The first notable pro basketball team in Washington, D.C., was the Washington Capitols from 1946-1951.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Their first head coach was Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Red Auerbach, who coached from 1946-49 before departing to join the Boston Celtics. He led the NBA franchise to nine titles as a coach and seven as an executive. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Capitols forward Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game during his debut against Rochester Royals in Rochester, New York, on Oct. 31, 1950.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cThe first time I met Earl Lloyd was at the Hall of Fame,\u201d Dantley said. \u201cHe would talk more about what he went through with racism being in the NBA at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The Capitols played in the roughly 8,000-seat Uline Arena, which also hosted one of President Dwight D. Eisenhower\u2019s inaugural balls in 1953, a Malcolm X speech in 1961, the first Beatles concert in America in 1964, and is now an REI store. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Before relocating to Virginia, the Washington Caps also played their lone American Basketball Association season in 1969-70. That team featured future Hall of Famer Rick Barry.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The NBA\u2019s Baltimore Bullets relocated to the D.C. suburb of Landover, Maryland, in 1973, mostly because then-owner Abe Pollin wanted to move into the larger, more profitable and privately funded arena called the Capital Center. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The franchise was temporarily called the Capital Bullets before being named the Washington Bullets. The Bullets initially received their nickname to honor Baltimore\u2019s history of ammunition manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The red, white and blue Bullets were one of the NBA\u2019s most dominant franchise in the 1970s. They played in the NBA Finals in 1971, 1975, 1978 and 1979. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Led by Hall of Famers Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and Bobby Dandridge, Washington won its lone NBA championship in 1978, defeating the Seattle SuperSonics. Unseld is widely considered the greatest player in franchise history as a 1978 Finals MVP, 1969 NBA MVP and five-time All-Star. Washington has not been back to the Finals since 1979.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Dantley said that the 1970s era of Bullets basketball was the best pro basketball ever seen in the area.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cThat was when they loved basketball here, when they had Big E (Haynes), Bobby Dandridge, Phil Chenier, Unseld and all of them,\u201d said Dantley, who played against that Washington team. \u201cBasketball was rocking then. That is what everybody wanted to see. That is when basketball was at its best here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Said Thompson III: \u201cI remember them mainly because in the offseason they would come to Georgetown to play. I went to Gonzaga High School and the colors were purple and white. [Former Bullets forward] Mitch Kupchak brought me some purple Nikes. You couldn\u2019t tell me anything. \u2026<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWithout a doubt it\u2019s been forgotten. But there is a good reason it\u2019s been forgotten. It\u2019s been how many years? We haven\u2019t had that kind of success or success period between now and then.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1024\" width=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1938676.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Jordan\" class=\"wp-image-400769\"  \/>Michael Jordan was in the last two years of his professional career in Washington but is remembered fondly by Wizards fans. \u201cHe still had the same aura, same respect with the Wizards,\u201d Victor Oladipo said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-credit credits\">Mitchell Layton\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The 1980s was the beginning of a downturn for the Bullets. NBA notables such as Moses Malone, Jeff Malone, Muggsy Bogues, Jeff Ruland, Manute Bol and Bernard King starred for the Bullets, but none of them could get the franchise into championship contention.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Perhaps the biggest news of the 1990s for the franchise was the rebrand of the Bullets to the Wizards in 1997 because of the former being connected to gun violence in the nation\u2019s capital. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The Wizards also moved to downtown D.C. to the MCI Center (now Capital One Center), where they still play today. NBA stars Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Rod Strickland and Rasheed Wallace donned the uniform but notable success didn\u2019t follow.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been following them before they were even the Wizards,\u201d Wale said. \u201cGrowing up in the DMV, the Bullets were part of the fabric of the city. I remember watching guys like Chris Webber and Juwan Howard during that era.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The biggest Wizards franchise news since their distant title was Jordan coming out of retirement in his late 30s to play for the franchise for two seasons, including his final NBA season in 2002-03. Jordan\u2019s presence skyrocketed ticket sales home and away, sold jerseys, attracted global media attention and boosted a financially stricken franchise.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Jordan\u2019s time with the Wizards came to a surprisingly bitter end on May 7, 2003, when he was fired from his post-retirement position as president of basketball operations by owner Abe Pollin, citing front-office struggles and organizational friction. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cI remember Jordan being 40 still averaging 20,\u201d Oladipo said. \u201cIt seemed like the game came easy to him, even though he was beyond in terms of age during his time there. But he still had the same aura, same respect with the Wizards.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Stephenson, 32, scored more than 1,400 points at Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia, and her father had a mini-Wizards season-ticket package during her youth. During the Jordan years in Washington, she attended about 10 games a year but was too young to understand the significance.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWhen you\u2019re a kid you don\u2019t realize what you\u2019re watching in person,\u201d Stephenson said. \u201cI\u2019m reflecting on it now and I was able to see his last chapter. I didn\u2019t fathom that as a kid. How awesome was that? I had a [Antawn] Jamison jersey, not a Jordan jersey. Jamison was my favorite player.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"single-recirc-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2221395035-e1750939397100.jpg\" alt=\"\u2018I feel like we both got drafted today\u2019: Wizards' pick Tre Johnson, formerly 'worst critic' dad share moment - Andscape\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<a class=\"single-recirc-link\" href=\"https:\/\/andscape.com\/features\/tre-johnson-washington-wizards-2025-nba-draft-interview\/?0=source&amp;1=single-recirc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\u2018I feel like we both got drafted today\u2019: Wizards&#8217; pick Tre Johnson, formerly &#8216;worst critic&#8217; dad share moment \u2013 Andscape\t\t\t\tRead now<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Cook said Wizards fans were \u201csuper hyped for the greatness\u201d of Jordan but also loved watching the brightest NBA stars from other teams show greatness as well.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWhen Michael Jordan came back, my dad would take me and a friend to as many games as possible during those two years,\u201d Cook told Andscape. \u201cI went to LeBron [James\u2019] first game at MCI Center with my whole AAU team. Any time the [Los Angeles] Lakers or Allen Iverson came to town, my dad would try to get me in the building. I grew up going to many Wizards games, for sure. \u2026<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cBut one thing about D.C. is we appreciate hoop. If a guy [from another team] has it going on and they got 30 going into the fourth quarter, we want to see greatness. We want to see you get 40 or 50. Wizards fans want to see the Wizards win, but we respect real hoop and greatness being played. If you\u2019re killing, there are going to be some oohs and aahs. They might start cheering for you at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Hot-scoring guard Gilbert Arenas, known as \u201cAgent Zero\u201d and \u201cHibachi,\u201d defined the post-Jordan era of Wizards basketball from 2003 to 2010 with his big scoring games, buzzer-beater shots and relentless offensive play. The three-time NBA All-Star transformed the Wizards into a playoff contender and averaged 29.3 points per game during the 2005-06 season. Led by Arenas, Jamison, Larry Hughes and Caron Butler, the Wizards went to the playoffs from 2005-08.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">But in December 2009, Arenas and Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton brought unloaded guns into their locker room following a heated argument over a gambling debt. Both were suspended and pleaded guilty to gun charges. Arenas was traded to the Orlando Magic in December 2010.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cI know more about it now than I did back then,\u201d Stephenson said. \u201cAll I knew was that there was a gun in the locker room. I didn\u2019t look into details of it. I don\u2019t think my parents wanted to give me all the full details. As a Wizards fan, the first or second round of the playoffs mean something to us. You felt like we were trying to get over the hump. We could just never get there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Said Wale: \u201cGilbert, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler were the GOATs. Gilbert especially; he made basketball in D.C. feel cool in a way that resonated with the whole city.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Luckily for the Wizards, they had their successor to Arenas in Wall.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Wall was selected with the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. The five-time NBA All-Star was a godsend for Washington as he earned career averages of 19 points, 9.2 assists and 1.7 steals from 2010-2020 but also made an impact locally with his community work. Alongside sharpshooter Bradley Beal, the Wizards made the Eastern Conference semifinals three times.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWhen John Wall and Bradley Beal had their run, Wizards games were packed,\u201d Cook said.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1158162808.jpg\" alt=\"Wale\" class=\"wp-image-400773\"  \/>Wale, a lifelong Washington Bullets\/Wizards fan, says Washington, D.C., can rally around the No. 1 pick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"photo-credit credits\">Leon Bennett\/WireImage<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The Wizards had another frustrating campaign with a 17-65 record last season. Washington, however, acquired Young and Davis, who played sparingly because of injuries but added hope. The Wizards entered the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10 with a 14% chance of landing the top pick in what is projected to be one of the best drafts in league history.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">With Wall representing the Wizards, the franchise landed the No. 1 pick and their loyal and patient fans rejoiced on social media as if they won a title. Wall said he was shocked.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cI\u2019ve been waiting a long time for a moment like this,\u201d Wale said. \u201cNothing is guaranteed, but getting the No. 1 pick gives the city something to rally around. It\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The excitement for the Wizards\u2019 No. 1 pick is so big in Washington that there are two major draft parties tonight.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Wall, Wizards radio broadcasters Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor and current and former Wizards players were at a draft party at The Anthem in D.C. Howard University men\u2019s basketball program also hosted a watch party at Morton\u2019s Steakhouse, with Blakeney, Cook and Howard GM Daniel Marks among the dignitaries there. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Howard has multiple NBA ties. Wall was named Howard\u2019s president of basketball operations in April. Howard guard Bryce Harris also has worked out for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans, and he has the potential to sign a two-way NBA contract.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cIt\u2019s a great way to not only connect basketball and bring people together, but we\u2019re also exposing more people to Howard who may not be as familiar to our program,\u201d Blakeney said of Howard\u2019s NBA connections. \u201cIt\u2019s a home run. \u2026<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cWe\u2019ve gotten more interested in the NBA game. We thought it would be great to share that with our fans and with the DMV community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Today\u2019s Wizards have not played in the postseason or had an All-Star since 2021. Washington has the worst record in the NBA since 2000 with a .399 winning percentage (869-309) over the past 26 years. <\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Washington\u2019s last NBA Finals and Eastern Conference finals appearance was in 1979, but with the No. 1 pick in the draft, Young and Davis, Sarr and several talented young players on roster, the Wizards and their fans believe they have playoff potential.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Wall has high expectations for the new-look Wizards.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cThey can be a top-five team in the East, top-four team because they feel like the conference is open,\u201d Wall said.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">Said Dantley: \u201cI don\u2019t go to games on a regular basis. I only go when friends are in town. But next season I will just see what they do. There is no doubt that with the team that they have that they should make the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">The New York Knicks winning an NBA championship for the first time in 53 years this season has allowed less-fortunate franchises like the Wizards to dream again. Washington has realistic hopes of making the playoffs next season.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">While winning a title seems farfetched at the moment, the most ardent of Wizards fans can envision a championship parade in the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n<p data-paragraph=\"main\">\u201cYou stay with your team and your community and know that one day you\u2019re going to get to celebrate the payoff,\u201d Wale said. \u201cLook at what just happened for the Knicks\u2019 fans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn\u2019t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2014 Quiet as it\u2019s kept, there are not many American cities that love the game of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":756577,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":["post-756576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/756576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=756576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/756576\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/756577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=756576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=756576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=756576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}