The Wiz Kids: A Washington Wizards Makeover?

Washington Wizards’ young guys Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown Jr., and Devin Robinson are not going to win D.C. a championship anytime soon, however, they may refresh a franchise in dire need of a cultural makeover.

Thomas Bryant had never hit a game winning shot at any level, or so he says. It took a trip across the pond to London to finally accomplish the feat.

The second-year center technically never saw the basketball go through the hoop, but a goaltending violation aided in the Washington Wizards’ last-second victory over the New York Knicks.

Regardless of technicality, the exuberant Bryant threw his arms in celebration after the goaltending whistle and sprinted back to Washington’s bench to share his euphoria with teammates as though they’d just won the NBA Finals.

Only TB would act like the Wizards just won the NBA Finals, or London Finals, or Fish ‘n Chips Classic, or the Big Ben Bracket, or whatever it was. It doesn’t matter. Bryant celebrates victories in January like they’re the most important victories of the season.

Any other Wizard could have hit the game winner, or blocked a shot, or finished a dunk and Bryant would celebrate the same way–with smiles, hugs, and pure joy.

The Wizards have been stuck in an era defined by uninspired play, team infighting, and public ridicule. Local fans experience the suffering and frustration on a daily basis, but even worse, the Wizards are nationally irrelevant. No one in Ohio knew the Wizards were playing in London. No one in Pennsylvania is wearing a black District city edition jersey.

The Wizards earn national coverage because of turmoil produced by sustained mediocrity, frustrated personalities, and front office failures.

Washington’s dreary team culture cannot overshadow all glimpses of fun and optimism, though. Watch the bench and you’ll see Bryant (21 years old), first round pick Troy Brown Jr. (19), and human highlight reel Devin Robinson (23) standing next to one another often celebrating, laughing, and animatedly supporting teammates on the court.

The excitement shown by Bryant, Brown, and Robinson differs vastly from the sulking John Wall, the exasperated Bradley Beal, and the emotionless Otto Porter.

Bryant, Brown, and Robinson are not Wall, Beal, and Porter. They will never be Wall, Beal, or Porter, but it’s worth wondering whether the three young guys can help evolve a sluggish team culture into a joyful and exciting place to play basketball. They’re the Wiz Kids among an aging old guard.

Scroll through Twitter and you’d think the Wiz Kids were part of a team that enjoyed playing together. Robinson recently celebrated Brown’s loud London dunk via social media:

https://twitter.com/drob7nson/status/1086039727671861249

When was the last time Wall or Beal exchanged such compliments? Porter doesn’t even have a Twitter account. As the old guard ages, the Wiz Kids fill the fun void.

Head coach Scott Brooks has provided Bryant with consistent minutes since Dwight Howard ended his season because of surgery, but Brown averages just 7.3 minutes per game over only 23 appearances. Robinson routinely bounces back and forth between the Wizards and Capital City Go-Go of the G-League, seldom affecting change on the court.

Maybe the Wiz Kids’ current value is still off the court and on the sidelines, on Twitter, and in interview booths. The redundant, depressing press conferences by Wall, Beal, and Porter (“We just need to play harder…”) could be slowly replaced by Bryant, Brown, and Robinson’s youthful joy and enthusiasm.

The Wiz Kids are not going to win D.C. a championship anytime soon, however, they may refresh a franchise in dire need of a cultural makeover.