During this series, we’ll introduce you to the names to know on the Wizards’ G League Affiliate.
With the Washington Wizards in their rebuilding phase or “deconstruction” or whatever term they want to go with, they need to amass all of the talent they can. This means taking full advantage of all the options at their disposal for player evaluation. The most successful teams in the NBA can fill out their rosters with “diamonds in the rough” and the G League is one mechanism to find such players.
That places extra importance on the Capital City Go-Go and new general manager Jonathan Wall’s ability to find players with long-term potential. With that in mind, this series of articles will introduce you to the names to know on their roster.
First up, is Erik Stevenson, a 6-3 scoring guard out of Lacey, WA. Stevenson was well-traveled in his five-year college basketball career, spending two seasons at Wichita State, one at Washington, one at South Carolina, and his final year at West Virginia in 2022-2023. As a fifth-year senior, he averaged 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals. He also shot 37.9% from 3 on 6.1 attempts per game.
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He spent last season in the G League playing for the Austin Spurs and Texas Legends. He was largely productive last season averaging about 10 points per game in 20 minutes. Through eight games with the Go-Go, all coming off the bench, he’s averaging 22 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in 28.5 minutes per game. He’s 50.9% from the field and 46% from 3 on 6.3 attempts per game.
Stevenson, who isn’t the biggest or most athletic two-guard, looks supremely confident getting whatever shots he wants on a G League court. In a recent game against the Maine Celtics, he hit a game-winning and-one three-pointer with 5.5 seconds left and finished with 36 points. Using nice changes of pace and strong footwork, Maine had no answers for him.
WHAT A PERFORMANCE FROM ERIK STEVENSON!
The @CapitalCityGoGo sharpshooter scored a career-high 36 points in their comeback win over the Celtics! Erik hit a clutch go-ahead and-one three with 5.5 seconds remaining. He is now averaging 22 PPG off the bench. pic.twitter.com/3c23oNUSXC
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 24, 2024
His NBA role projects mostly as a microwave scoring option off the bench, so essentially a scaled-down version of what he’s doing for the Go-Go. Given that Stevenson is already 25 years old, he’d likely provide the most NBA value to a winning team looking for someone to come in and be an offensive spark plug, rather than a piece on a rebuilding team. Although, I could see him being elevated on a ten-day contract at some point if the Wizards needed a competent guard to fill in for a bit.
He’s been a lot of fun to watch and the defensive attention he draws makes it easier for his teammates. Regardless of his potential future with the organization, he’s been a strong pick-up for the Go-Go.