Washington Wizards Have Given Fans Reason To Be Proud With Southeast Division Title

Washington Wizards clinched the Southeast Division title with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, giving the fans tangible hope.

Immediately after purchasing the team, Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis was gifted the opportunity to select a franchise-changing player in 2010.

John Wall, the first overall pick, was compared to then-MVP Derrick Rose. His face was plastered on every billboard throughout Kentucky and his speed was used to sell signature Reebok shoes before he even stepped foot onto an NBA court.

But reality was different.

Wall, just 19 years old, wasn’t ready to carry the team one year removed from college – especially one that was as poorly constructed as the Wizards.

Leaving the likes of DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Patrick Patterson in college, Wall now shared the hardwood with JaVale McGee, Andray Blatche and Nick Young – three of the most made fun of players in the entire NBA.

Wall was tasked with developing in an impossible situation.

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The late Flip Saunders was constantly on the hot seat and Ernie Grunfeld seemed determined to build around a flawed core, even if that meant he’d lose his job in the process.

Until Grunfeld decided to change the team’s culture, trading/waiving all three mentioned players, the Wizards were the laughing stock of the league.

From about 2010-2013, the Wizards didn’t seem to have any direction.

Wall played with recycled players, all of whom were completely dependent on his talent for their individual success.

In 2014 and ’15, Wall got a taste of the NBA Playoffs, but fell short of making a real push to the Conference Finals due to stubborn coaching and injuries.

A year after sweeping the Toronto Raptors in the first round, the Wizards missed the playoffs.

Now, the Wizards have climbed out of mediocrity. A coaching change – the hiring of Scott Brooks  and an emphasis on player development – has catapulted the Washington Wizards up the East, securing their first Southeast Division title in 38 years.

Seemingly overnight, the Wizards have went from being forgotten to one of the most impressive teams in the league.

Averaging 23 points and 10 assists, Wall has become an All-NBA worthy talent, realizing the potential he had coming out of Kentucky. Grunfeld has hit on two All-Star caliber draft picks in Otto Porter and Bradley Beal.

Grunfeld and Brooks have assembled a roster that resembles one capable of competing for an NBA championship.

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From top to bottom, the Wizards have a mixture of young players who’ve yet to peak and veterans in the primes of their respective careers.

Wall, Beal and Porter make up the team’s core, with Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat providing stability in the paint.

Off the bench, the additions of Ian Mahinmi, Bojan Bogdanovic and Brandon Jennings have rounded out the roster.

With wins over the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers – teams that have won the championship in the past two years – the Washington Wizards have established themselves among the league’s elite.

And perhaps most importantly, they’ve shed a label of misfortune, giving their fan base – one that’s seen McGee, Blatche and Young on the court simultaneously – legitimate hope.

A division title might not mean much to some fans who’ve experienced it before, but for most who support the Wizards, it’s the first time they’ve seen their team reach this level of success.

It’s something tangible – a banner that will be proudly hanging from the Verizon Center rafters next to the 1979 division title.

After the win, fans shared their support for the team, showing appreciation for what other fans might consider an annual occurrence.

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Washington is four wins away from 50 – something the franchise hasn’t had since 1979, either.