The Washington Wizards’ streak of NBA championships is in danger. The District’s franchise hasn’t secured a title for itself since 1978, but at least one former Wizard has lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in each of the past eight years.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night has forced that streak into do-or-die territory. The Thunder has no former Wizards on the roster.
Down 3-2 in the series, Pacers center Thomas Bryant — who played in Washington from 2018 to 2022 — needs a comeback to keep the unlikely run going.
It began in 2017, when former Wizards point guard Shaun Livingston and center JaVale McGee tasted their first title with the Golden State Warriors.
They repeated the following year and started a trend for ex-Washingtonians like guard Jodie Meeks, who won with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, and forward Bobby Portis, who accomplished the feat with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Seven-footer Kristaps Porzingis carried the Wizards’ unintended legacy with him during last year’s championship run with the Boston Celtics.
A Pacers comeback would almost certainly be driven by stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam — not Bryant. The only former Wizard in this year’s Finals has averaged less than five minutes per game in the series, with six points across five games.
Still, Bryant has seen much more playoff action than the current Wizards. Washington hasn’t made a postseason appearance since 2021 and is mired in a long rebuild.
Game 6 of the Finals, which could end the run of ex-Wizard champions with a Thunder victory, tips off Thursday night.