40% of the Wizards’ 2023 starting lineup will be starting in the NBA Finals.
Much has been made of the narratives surrounding the 2024 NBA Finals matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. Kyrie’s return to Boston. Kristaps Porzingis’ return to Dallas. Luka and Tatum’s first rings on the line. An underrated narrative, however, is what I’m calling the “Wizards Bowl.” One year ago today, Daniel Gafford and Kristaps Porzingis made up the Washington Wizards’ starting frontcourt. On Thursday the two will face off as the starting centers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Porzingis was one of the major dominoes to fall in the Wizards’ post-Tommy Sheppard era rebuild. He arrived in Boston in a three-team trade that sent Marcus Smart to Memphis and Tyus Jones, Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari to Washington. Gafford hung on in Washington for 45 games this season before being dealt to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Richaun Holmes and a first-round pick.
Both Porzingis and Gafford have excelled on their new teams. In Boston, Porzingis operates as a pressure-release valve to alleviate some of the Celtics’ star wings’ night-to-night inconsistencies. His versatile skillset allows him to operate as both a traditional back-to-the-basket big and a floor spacer, and injuries robbed him of potential All-Star and All-Defense honors. Porzingis’ main benefit to the Celtics is his elite (and certainly underrated) rim protection, which enables the Celtics to not have to rely on 38-year-old Al Horford as their primary post defender.
Dallas runs a two-big lineup with Gafford and rookie Derrick Lively operating as a pair of athletic, rim-running lob threats for Luka Dončić. Gafford excels in this new role, and he posted 11 points and 7 rebounds per game on league-leading efficiency this season. At one point in the season, Gafford even made 33 consecutive field goals, falling just short of the record of 35 set by… who else… Wilt Chamberlain.
Just a year ago, Porzingis and Gafford were trapped in pre-rebuild basketball hell in Washington, and their departures have been beneficial for all parties involved. The Wizards finally got a chance to move on to a new era, while Porzingis and Gafford are members of the last two teams still competing for an NBA Championship. One of the Wizards’ two starting frontcourt players will walk away from this season as a first-time NBA Champion, and they will likely spend considerable time guarding each other in the process.