The Washington Wizards aren't in the position to make a run for towards the NBA Finals this season or any time in the near future.
There's no denying that Washington is in desperate need of multiple pieces before they can even think about making a postseason run, but like every team in the league, that's what they're building towards.
However, this bizarre stat that ESPN brought to light today truly shows how unlucky the Wizards have been over the course of nearly the last decade.
This Wizards NBA Finals stat is insane
Washington has had to sit back and watch a former player of their own win an NBA Championship or atleast compete in the NBA Finals in each year dating back to 2017.
To name a few, Kristaps Porzingis in 2024, Jeff Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ish Smith and Thomas Bryant in 2023 and Gary Payton II, Otto Porer Jr. and Chris Chiozza in 2022. And this list could go on all the way until 2017 when JaVale McGee and Shaun Livingston helped the Golden State Warriors win back-to-back championships.
It's not the fact that former Wizards have had the luxury to go on to different places and help teams make title runs, but it also just goes to show how extremely difficult it is for teams to build championship rosters.
The fact that Washington has multiple players to impact winning elsewhere and help compete in the NBA Finals is bizarre considering the team wasn't able to put any of them in position to win an NBA Championship during their time with the Wizards.
Of course different situations allow for certain team's to put them in better roles to succeed, but it's still incredibly wild to think about how many future NBA champions have worn a Wizards jersey prior to those moments.
In fact, the trend has a major chance to continue this postseason as well.
The Wizards have 18 former players scattered across 11 of the 16 playoff teams in this year's playoffs. For a franchise that hasn't won an NBA Championship since 1978, it's insnae to think about the fact that a former member of the team has been involved in each of the eight previous NBA Finals.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are heading towards a pivotal offseason in which they could land a franchise-altering talent to help them return to their glory days.
But for now, they'll be on the couch with a high chance of watching another former player help lift the Larry O'Brien trophy for a different squad.