National TV Puts Respect on the Washington Wizards’ Name

The Washington Wizards will have 18 nationally televised games next season, including a scheduled rematch against the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day.

The Washington Wizards just came off a wonderful season. From their auspicious record of 2-8 to begin the season, to ending their season one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. One couldn’t write a better basketball storyline than that about a team.

Last season, the Wizards only had six nationally televised games. Next season, the Wizards will be on national TV eighteen times. That’s right eighteen! The Wizards have come a long way.

The Washington Wizards Take Their Place on Stage

I am still in awe of where the Wizards started, to the team that they became, towards the middle of the season. For example, the battle against the Cavaliers, when Cleveland came to town, was epic. And one day, will probably be featured on Hardwood Classics. As a Magic Johnson fan as child, if you told me a year ago that that would be the best game I ever saw , I would be doing the “Bradley Beal Flop” right now.

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Last season was truly magical. From Marcin Gortat’s unfortunate words about the bench, to Markieff Morris dropping Al Horford onto the bench.

Then there was that magnificent play by John Wall. When he was in transition and in turbo mode, he passed the ball in between a defender’s leg to his teammate. I said, what is Wall a Globetrotter now? The Wizards made basketball so much fun to watch again.

So, on January 11, 2017, when ESPN cancelled a regular season game between the Wizards and the Boston Celtics, that didn’t just affect the team, that affected all of us. Because they became our second family.

That was the national TV’s audience loss, because the Battle of Bunker Hill had nothing on that game. Ok, since these are millionaire athletes we’re talking about, it was more like the Battle of Beacon Hill.

But, like all other Washington secrets, the secret got out. And it emerged that Wall is one of the best players in the game. That Otto Porter could go toe-to-toe with Stephen Curry at the three-point line. That Bradley Beal was clutch and was knocking down players on the way to the basket. And I think the nation already knew that when Keef lifted up Horford like a baby he whispered, “King Kong ain’t got nuttin on me.”

But there was one secret that no one knows about. But if you look at that Boston footage closely, after Wall did his two-step on Jae Crowder, and Beal did his Beal Face on Marcus Smart, there was a third shooter – Marcin Gortat.

While all this melee was going on, Gortat had his towel around his shoulders. But, if you take your eyes away from the real action, and look closely at the video, you will see Gortat in the cut, whipping off his towel, as he was about to lay the hammer down on Beantown.

And it was at that point, when the towel lifted from Gortat’s shoulders, that I knew that no matter what you read about the Wizards inside or outside the locker room, that these men were true brothers. Who had each other’s back even after the final buzzer sounded.

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I was like wait a minute, am I about to watch Captain America Civil War? The version where they don’t put the Hulk in, because then you would know what side’s going to win. But, in this version it’s the Polish Hammer. Thankfully, the two teams were separated and returned to their respective corners. But lines were drawn that day my friends. Lines that should never be crossed (just kidding).

But then another thing happened on the way to Capital One Arena – the NBA released their Christmas Day schedule. Christmas came early that day, my friend.

And the slight of having a nationally televised game cancelled last season was erased. The Wizards didn’t earn the nation’s respect. But, because of all the work that they put in, respect was demanded. It was their due.

I don’t remember the 2-8 Wizards – that team no longer exists. In its place, is a group of 15 men, who can do battle with the best of them.

Hold on a second, let me wipe this tear. I mean…to watch this group grow over the last season. Such a quick transformation in a short amount of time is quite an astonishing feat. I still remember the moment while writing up the recap of a particular game – and it was at that moment when I said, the Wizards are really good.

But everyone who is reading this now, you are a special group of fans. Fans that have been here for years and probably even decades before me. But you stood the test of time. You stuck with this team in the hopes, that they would become the team that stands before you today. And I am honored to be counted among you.

Next: Wizards Will Play 18 National TV Games Next Season

This team and their fans are truly family. The Washington Wizards are the extended family that you would invite home for Christmas. And after Wall’s supermax he could pay for it all.