The Wizards themselves aren’t in the playoffs. But their players have a good track record when they head to other teams.
The Washington Wizards aren’t in the NBA Playoffs, but they do have a long streak that isn’t necessarily bad. Since 2017, the Wizards have had a former player on every NBA Finals team—a streak that continued in 2025.
This postseason, 18 ex-Wizards are playing for 11 of the 16 playoff teams, including the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets. Notable names include Kristaps Porziņģis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bobby Portis, and Rui Hachimura. Each player’s journey from Washington to their current team highlights the Wizards’ role in shaping championship contenders.
Brianna Williams of ESPN wrote an article about this, citing an Esquire Sports TikTok. It’s an interesting look at former Wizards players who were able to be on Finals teams later on in their careers.
I don’t think this is necessarily a damning thing on the Wizards themselves. However, what is more telling is that the Wizards haven’t been an NBA championship contender themselves. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.