Washington Wizards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Washington Wizards
Conference	Eastern
Division	Southeast
Founded	1961
History	Chicago Packers 1961–1962 Chicago Zephyrs 1962–1963 Baltimore Bullets 1963–1973 Capital Bullets 1973–1974 Washington Bullets 1974–1997 Washington Wizards 1997–present
Arena	Capital One Arena
Location	Washington, D.C.
Team colors	Navy blue, red, silver, white
Main sponsor	Robinhood
President	Michael Winger
General manager	Will Dawkins
Head coach	Brian Keefe
Ownership	Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Ted Leonsis)
Affiliation(s)	Capital City Go-Go
Championships	1 (1978)
Conference titles	4 (1971, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Division titles	8 (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 2017)
Retired numbers	5 (10, 11, 25, 41, 45)
Association Icon Statement City

The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team is based in Washington, D.C.. They are part of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards play their home games at Capital One Arena. This arena is in the Chinatown area of Washington, D.C. They share it with the Washington Capitals hockey team.

The team started in 1961 as the Chicago Packers. They were in Chicago. The next year, they changed their name to the Chicago Zephyrs. In 1963, the team moved to Baltimore. They became the Baltimore Bullets. In 1973, they moved to the Washington metropolitan area. Their name changed to the Capital Bullets. The next season, they became the Washington Bullets. In 1997, the team changed its name again to the Wizards.

The Wizards have played in four NBA Finals. They won the championship in 1978. They have reached the playoffs 28 times. The team has won four conference titles and eight division titles. Their best season was in 1974–75, with 60 wins and 22 losses. Wes Unseld is a famous player. He won both the NBA MVP award (1969) and the Finals MVP award (1978).

The Washington Wizards: A Team History

Starting in Chicago: The Early Years

Walt Bellamy (No. 8) was a star player in the team's first season.

The Wizards began as the Chicago Packers in 1961. They were the NBA's first new team. Rookie Walt Bellamy was their first star player. He scored many points and grabbed many rebounds. Bellamy was named the league's Rookie of the Year. However, the team had the worst record that season.

The team's first name, "Packers," was not very popular. It was the same name as a rival football team. So, after one year, they changed to the Chicago Zephyrs. Another great rookie, Terry Dischinger, won Rookie of the Year for them.

Moving to Baltimore: Becoming the Bullets

In 1963, the team moved to Baltimore. They became the Baltimore Bullets. They played their games at the Baltimore Civic Center. In their first year in Baltimore, they finished fourth in their division.

Before the 1964–65 season, the Bullets made a big trade. They got players like Bailey Howell and Don Ohl. This helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time. They surprised many by winning their first playoff series. They then played in the Western Conference finals.

In 1964, Abe Pollin and others bought the team. Pollin would own the team for a long time.

The Wes Unseld Era: A Championship Win

Wes Unseld played his entire career with the Bullets. He won Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Finals MVP.

In the late 1960s, the Bullets drafted two future Hall of Fame players. These were Earl Monroe (1967) and Wes Unseld (1968). The team got much better. In the 1968–69 season, they won 57 games. Unseld won both Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. The Bullets made the playoffs but lost to the New York Knicks.

In the 1970–71 season, the Bullets faced the Knicks again. This time, the Bullets won a tough seven-game series. This sent them to their first NBA Finals. They played against the strong Milwaukee Bucks and lost in four games.

Even after some players left, the Bullets stayed strong. They got Elvin Hayes in 1972. He became another key player for the team.

Moving to Washington, D.C. Area

In 1973, the team moved to Landover, Maryland. This is a suburb of Washington, D.C. They first changed their name to the Capital Bullets. After one season, they became the Washington Bullets. They played in the new Capital Centre arena.

Elvin Hayes was a top rebounder and scorer for the Bullets.

The 1974–75 Bullets had a great season, winning 60 games. They had a fantastic home record. In the playoffs, they beat the Boston Celtics to reach the NBA Finals. However, they lost to the Golden State Warriors in four games.

The team continued to be strong in the following years. They had players like Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld.

1977–78: NBA Championship Season

In the 1977–78 season, the Bullets finished with a 44–38 record. Many people did not expect them to win the championship. But they fought hard in the playoffs. They defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in a thrilling seven-game series. This brought a major sports championship to Washington, D.C. It was the team's only NBA title.

1978–79: Reaching the Finals Again

The Bullets had another great season in 1978–79. They won 54 games and their division title. They made it to the NBA Finals again. They faced the Seattle SuperSonics in a rematch. The Bullets won Game 1 but then lost the next four games. They were the only team to play in the NBA Finals four times in the 1970s.

Changes and Challenges: 1980s and 1990s

After their championship years, the team faced challenges. Key players retired or were traded. The Bullets struggled to make the playoffs consistently.

A ticket from a 1988 Bullets game.

In the mid-1980s, players like Manute Bol and Moses Malone joined the team. Bol was known for blocking many shots. The team made the playoffs a few times but lost in the first round. Wes Unseld later returned as the team's coach.

The Bullets continued to have losing seasons. They had talented players like Bernard King and Pervis Ellison. However, injuries often affected the team's performance. In 1990, Susan O'Malley became the first female president of an NBA team.

Becoming the Wizards

The team moved to the MCI Center (now Capital One Arena) in 1997.

In 1995, owner Abe Pollin decided to change the team's name. He wanted a name that felt more positive. A contest was held to choose a new name. On May 15, 1997, the team officially became the Washington Wizards.

The new name caused some discussion. The team also got a new logo and colors. They changed from red, white, and blue to blue, black, and bronze. This was similar to the Washington Capitals hockey team. In 1997, the Wizards moved to a new arena, the MCI Center (now Capital One Arena).

The Michael Jordan Era

Michael Jordan played for the Wizards from 2001 to 2003.

In 2000, basketball legend Michael Jordan joined the Wizards. He became the president of basketball operations. In 2001, Jordan decided to come out of retirement. He played for the Wizards at age 38. He said he returned "for the love of the game."

Jordan played for two seasons (2001–02 and 2002–03). He showed he could still play at a high level. He averaged many points, rebounds, and assists. However, the Wizards did not make the playoffs during his time as a player. After the 2003 season, Jordan retired from playing for the final time.

The Gilbert Arenas Era: Returning to the Playoffs

The Wizards G-Man, one of the team's mascots.

After Jordan left, the Wizards signed Gilbert Arenas. He became a star point guard. In the 2004–05 season, the team also acquired Antawn Jamison. With Arenas, Jamison, and Larry Hughes, the team had a powerful scoring trio. They were called "The Big Three."

The 2004–05 season was very successful. The Wizards made the playoffs for the first time as the Wizards. They won their first playoff series in 23 years, beating the Chicago Bulls. This was a huge moment for their fans. They then lost to the Miami Heat in the next round.

The team continued to make the playoffs in 2006 and 2007. They had exciting games against the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, injuries to key players like Arenas and Caron Butler hurt their chances.

In the 2008–09 season, the team faced many injuries and off-court issues. They finished with a very tough record. In 2009, owner Abe Pollin passed away.

The John Wall Era: A New Beginning

John Wall led the Wizards to several playoff appearances.

In 2010, Ted Leonsis took over ownership of the Wizards. He wanted to connect more with fans. He changed the team's colors back to red, white, and blue. These were the colors from the Bullets era.

The Wizards won the 2010 NBA draft lottery. They picked John Wall as the first overall pick. Wall became a dynamic point guard for the team. In 2011, the team traded Gilbert Arenas. They also got new players like Rashard Lewis.

Return to the Playoffs

The team continued to build around John Wall. In the 2012 NBA Draft, they selected Bradley Beal. Wall and Beal became a strong backcourt duo. The Wizards returned to the playoffs in the 2013–14 season. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round. This was their first series win since 2005. They then lost to the Indiana Pacers.

Bradley Beal became a key player for the Wizards.

In the 2014–15 season, the Wizards had their best record since 1979. They swept the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. This was the team's first-ever playoff sweep. They then lost to the Atlanta Hawks.

The 2015–16 season was less successful. The Wizards missed the playoffs. Scott Brooks became the new head coach in 2016.

Division Title and More Playoffs

Scott Brooks was the head coach from 2016 to 2021.

The 2016–17 season was very successful. The Wizards won the Southeast Division title. This was their first division title since 1979. Bradley Beal had a career-best season. John Wall continued his All-Star play.

In the playoffs, the Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks. They then faced the Boston Celtics in a tough seven-game series. The Wizards lost in the final game.

The 2017–18 season saw the Wizards make the playoffs again. They lost to the Toronto Raptors. The 2018–19 season was challenging due to injuries to key players like John Wall. The team missed the playoffs.

The Bradley Beal Era

Bradley Beal was a star player for the Wizards.

In 2019, Tommy Sheppard became the new general manager. The Wizards drafted Rui Hachimura. The 2019–20 season was interrupted by a global event. The Wizards played in the "NBA Bubble" but missed the playoffs.

In December 2020, the Wizards traded John Wall for Russell Westbrook. Bradley Beal had a fantastic season. Russell Westbrook achieved a rare feat, averaging a triple-double. The Wizards returned to the playoffs but lost to the Philadelphia 76ers.

In 2021, Scott Brooks and the Wizards parted ways. The team traded Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers. They acquired players like Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porziņģis. However, injuries continued to affect the team. In 2023, the Wizards fired General Manager Tommy Sheppard.

Rebuilding the Team: 2023–Present

Kyle Kuzma joined the team in 2021.

The Wizards began a rebuilding phase in 2023. They traded their star player, Bradley Beal, to the Phoenix Suns. They also traded Kristaps Porziņģis. The team acquired new players like Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole.

On January 26, 2024, head coach Wes Unseld Jr. was replaced by assistant coach Brian Keefe. The Wizards finished the 2023–24 season with a tough record. Kyle Kuzma led the team in scoring.

New Talent Arrives

In the 2024 NBA draft, the Wizards drafted Alex Sarr from France. They also acquired Bub Carrington and Malcolm Brogdon. Brian Keefe was promoted to full-time head coach. The Wizards finished the 2024–25 season with a challenging record.

On January 7, 2026, the Wizards traded for All-Star guard Trae Young. A month later, on February 5, 2026, they acquired Anthony Davis from the Mavericks. Both players were recovering from injuries. The Wizards finished the 2025–26 season with a difficult record.

Season-by-season record

List of the last five seasons completed by the Wizards. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Washington Wizards seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Team Name, Logos, and Uniforms

Washington Wizards G-Wiz, the team's mascot.

When the team moved to Baltimore in 1963, they used blue and orange colors. These matched other Baltimore sports teams. In the early 1970s, orange became a main color. Their uniforms had unique thick stripes.

Starting in 1973, when they moved to the Washington, D.C. area, their colors changed to red, white, and blue. These are the colors of the American flag. Their uniforms had large horizontal stripes and three stars. They kept these "Stars and Stripes" uniforms until 1987.

The old Washington Wizards Logo from 2011 to 2015.

The current wordmark for the Wizards.

In 1997, the team changed its name to the "Wizards." The owner wanted a name that felt more positive. With the new name came new logos and colors. They used blue, bronze, and black. In 2007, they updated their jerseys and logos slightly. Bronze was changed to metallic gold.

On May 10, 2011, the Wizards revealed new colors, uniforms, and a logo. They went back to their traditional red, white, and blue. These uniforms looked very similar to the ones worn during their successful years (1973–1987). The new logo included the Washington Monument.

The Wizards in their alternate white uniforms in a 2017 playoff game.

In 2014, the Wizards introduced a new alternate uniform. It used navy as the main color instead of red. In 2015, they unveiled a new main logo. It featured the Washington Monument ball inside a circle. It also had three stars, representing Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

The team has also worn special uniforms. These include "Baltimore Pride" uniforms and uniforms honoring the United States Armed Forces.

The Wizards in their white "City" uniforms during a 2018 playoff game.

Since 2017, Nike has been the uniform supplier. The Wizards have "Association" (white), "Icon" (red), and "Statement" (navy) uniforms. They also have special "City" uniforms each season. These uniforms often celebrate Washington, D.C.'s history and culture. For example, some uniforms have honored the Washington Monument or the city's famous cherry blossoms.

Ahead of the 2024–25 season, the Wizards updated their "Statement" uniform. It features elements from the Washington, D.C. flag. Their "City" uniform for that season was called "Beyond Boundaries." The 2025–26 "City" uniform brought back elements from earlier designs.

Home Arenas

• International Amphitheatre (1961–1962)
• Chicago Coliseum (1962–1963)
• Baltimore Civic Center (now CFG Bank Arena) (1963–1973, and some games from 1989 to 1997)
• Cole Field House (1973)
• US Airways Arena (originally Capital Centre) (December 1973 – November 1997)
• Capital One Arena (formerly MCI Center and Verizon Center) (December 1997–present)

In 2023, there were talks about moving the Wizards and Washington Capitals to Alexandria, Virginia. However, in March 2024, Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser signed a deal. This deal keeps the Wizards and Capitals in the District until at least 2050.

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Retained Draft Rights

The Wizards hold the rights to these players. These players were drafted but are currently playing outside the NBA. The team keeps their rights until one year after their non-NBA contract ends.

Draft	Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	Nationality	Current team	Note(s)	Ref
2022	2	54	Nzosa, YannickYannick Nzosa	C	DR Congo	San Pablo Burgos (Spain)
2017	2	50	Lessort, MathiasMathias Lessort	C	France	Panathinaikos (Greece)	Acquired as part of a multi-team trade on February 6, 2025

Retired Numbers

These jersey numbers are retired by the Washington Wizards. No other player on the team can wear them. This honors the great players who wore them.

Notes:

• ¹ All in Baltimore
• ² 1972–1973 in Baltimore
• ³ Also served as coach (1987–1994)
• ⁴ 1968–1973 in Baltimore
• ⁵ Also served as Bullets/Wizards television color analyst (1984–2017)
• ⁶ 1971–1973 in Baltimore
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all its member teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Fame Members

Former Bullets players honored during a Wizards game in March 2012.

Many great players and coaches from the Wizards (and Bullets) have been honored in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Notes:

• ¹ He also coached the team in 1987–1994
• ² In total, Bellamy was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as a member of the 1960 Olympic team
• ³ In total, Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice – as player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team
• ⁴ He also played for the team from 1961 to 1963
• ⁵ Thorn was inducted as a contributor

FIBA Hall of Fame Members

Some Wizards players have also been honored in the FIBA Hall of Fame, which celebrates international basketball.

Notes:

• ¹ In total, Jordan was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame twice – as player and as a member of the 1992 Olympic team

Head Coaches

Individual Records and Awards

Franchise Leaders

These tables show the top players in different statistics for the Wizards (and Bullets) throughout their history. Bold means the player is still active with the team.

Italic means the player is still active but not with the team.

Points Scored (Regular Season) (as of the end of the 2025–26 season)

Other Statistics (Regular Season) (as of the end of the 2025–26 season)

Individual Awards

Many Wizards players and coaches have won important NBA awards.

NBA All-Star Weekend

The NBA All-Star Weekend is a fun event where the league's best players show off their skills. Many Wizards players have been part of it.

See also

In Spanish: Washington Wizards para niños

• Sports in Washington, D.C.