Washington Wizards: 30 greatest players in franchise history
142. . SG. (2002-05). Larry Hughes. 26. player
Shooting guard Larry Hughes had quite the journeyman career in the NBA. He made two stops with the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers before joining the Wizards for the 2002-03 season as a free agent.
He played from 2002-2005 with the Wizards, appearing in 189 contests. He started in all but 11 games in his time with Washington. During the 2004-05 season, he took home the league’s steals award, averaging a career-high and season-high 2.9 steals per game. Hughes took home first-team All-Defensive honors that year as well, finishing third in the NBA in total steals (176).
Through three seasons, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals per contest as a member of the Wizards. Alongside Michael Jordan and Jerry Stackhouse, Hughes attempted to emerge as their third scoring option, but things fell apart when Jordan retired after the 2003-04 season.
Hughes left too soon after the arrival of Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. With them by his side, the team finished 45-37 during the 2004-05 regular season. They looked solid after defeating the Chicago Bulls 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs, but were swept in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Hughes would go on to play six more seasons in the league after leaving the Wizards’ franchise in 2005. He currently is second all-time in franchise history in steals per game (1.9) and should go down as one of the best defenders in Wizards’ history.