For nearly a decade, a single team has been an unexpected constant presence in the NBA Finals, though not in the way you might think. It`s the Washington Wizards.
Remarkably, despite not having secured an NBA championship since 1978, the Washington franchise has had at least one former player on every NBA championship-winning roster for the past eight consecutive seasons.
This peculiar trend shows strong signs of continuing into the 2025 season. Currently, 18 players who previously played for the Wizards are participating across 11 of the 16 teams in the current playoffs, filling roles from starters to reserve players.
In fact, former Wizards were featured in all three NBA playoff games played on a recent Friday.
In the game between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics, both teams feature former Wizards players. Veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is with Orlando (along with Moritz Wagner, currently sidelined by injury), while Kristaps Porzingis plays a key role for the top-seeded Celtics.
Later, the Milwaukee Bucks, including Bobby Portis, Ryan Rollins, and Kyle Kuzma, are making a playoff push against the Indiana Pacers, whose roster features Thomas Bryant and Quenton Jackson.
Concluding the night, Rui Hachimura, Jordan Goodwin, Markieff Morris, and Alex Len suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers in their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Across the rest of the Western Conference playoffs, Russell Westbrook brings veteran experience to the Denver Nuggets. Gary Payton II is with the Golden State Warriors, Jeff Green plays for the Houston Rockets, Patrick Baldwin Jr. joined the LA Clippers, and the Memphis Grizzlies have former Wizards Jay Huff and Marvin Bagley III.
In the Eastern Conference, Delon Wright is part of the New York Knicks` playoff run.
It seems that for many players, the path to an NBA championship has included a stop in Washington D.C. Below is a look at how some of these former Wizards players ended up on championship teams:
2024 Boston Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis arrived in Washington in a trade from Dallas in February 2022. He moved to Boston in a three-team trade involving the Celtics, Wizards, and Memphis Grizzlies in June 2023.
2023 Denver Nuggets
Jeff Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ish Smith, Thomas Bryant
Jeff Green joined the Wizards as a free agent ahead of the 2018-19 season. Thomas Bryant was claimed off waivers in the same offseason. Ish Smith signed a two-year deal covering the 2019-21 seasons. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spent the 2021-22 season in Washington after being acquired from the Lakers.
Jeff Green signed a contract with the Nuggets in August 2021, bringing a veteran presence. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith were traded to the Nuggets in 2022. Thomas Bryant was dealt to Denver by the Lakers in February 2023.
2022 Golden State Warriors
Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., Chris Chiozza
Gary Payton II initially signed short-term contracts with the Wizards starting in January 2019. Otto Porter Jr. was drafted third overall by the Wizards in 2013. Chris Chiozza began his career with Washington`s G League affiliate and signed a two-way contract in October 2019.
Gary Payton II was drafted by a G League team before signing a short contract and then re-signing with the Warriors in October 2021. Golden State signed free agent Otto Porter Jr. in August 2021. Chris Chiozza signed a two-way deal with the team that same month.
2021 Milwaukee Bucks
Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis came to Washington in a 2019 trade that sent Otto Porter Jr. to the Bulls.
Portis became a free agent and signed a two-year deal with the Bucks in November 2020.
2020 Los Angeles Lakers
JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, Markieff Morris
JaVale McGee was drafted 18th overall by the Wizards in 2008. Markieff Morris was traded to Washington by the Phoenix Suns in 2016. Dwight Howard signed a free agent deal with the Wizards in July 2018 after a contract buyout with the Nets.
After winning two titles with the Warriors, JaVale McGee signed a one-year deal with the Lakers in July 2018 and later received an extension. Dwight Howard returned to the Lakers for a second time, signing a veteran`s minimum contract in August 2019. Markieff Morris signed with Los Angeles in February 2020 after clearing waivers.
2019 Toronto Raptors
Jodie Meeks
Jodie Meeks signed a free agent deal with the Wizards in July 2017.
Meeks agreed to a short-term contract and then signed through the remainder of the season with the Raptors in February/March 2019.
2017-2018 Golden State Warriors
JaVale McGee, Shaun Livingston
JaVale McGee was drafted by the Wizards in 2008. Shaun Livingston had two short stints with the Wizards, first in February 2010 and again briefly in November 2012.
Shaun Livingston, a former high draft pick whose career was impacted by injury, signed with Golden State as a free agent in July 2014 and appeared in five consecutive NBA Finals. JaVale McGee was invited to Golden State`s training camp and signed with the team in September 2016.
