Washington Wizards: Looking Back & Forward

After the high number of shooting deaths that occurred in the Washington area, the Bullets renamed their franchise to the Wizards in 1996, chosen over other team names like the Dragon, Express, Seadogs, and Stallions. The Wizards also played as the Chicago Packers, Chicago Zephyrs, Baltimore Bullets, and Capitol Bullets. This team has been around more than any other. During such a long track, coaches such as Bob Leonard, Mike Farmer, Gene Shue, K.C. Jones, Bob Staak, Gar Heard, and Doug Collins have had coaching jobs with the team. Earl Monroe, Elvin Hayes, Gus Johnson, and Wes Unseld have all had their jerseys officially retired by the team.

The Wizards have hosted 3 All-Star games: 1969, 1980, and 2001. The franchise has been relatively successful ever since it's earliest days, only dipping to it's all-time low in 2000/2001 at 19-63, which is a notch above most teams' all-time worst. Their most impressive season was in '74/'75 at 60-22. The Hall of Famers for the Wizards include Walt Bellamy, Dave Bing, Elvin Hayes, Bailey Howll, Earl Monroe, Moses Malone, and Wes Unseld.

While the current list of players inducted in the Hall of Fame from the Wizards is impressive enough, Wizards star Gilbert Arenas has a great chance to join them. Complimented by Antwan Jamison and Caron Butler, the Wizards are a force... when healthy. Under current coach Eddie Jordon, Arenas and Butler have been through numerous injuries that have seemed to hinder the teams success. The Wizards are a very capable team with Arenas and Butler in the lineup, although it wasn't always expected that Arenas would blossom as he did. As a second round draft pick, Gilbert Arenas wears the number 0 because he was told that's how much playing time he'd be able to get in college and the NBA. He has definitely proved all doubters wrong.