washington wizards history
washington wizards history
Perhaps the biggest shock of the 2004-05 season was the rise of the Washington Wizards to the second round of the NBA playoffs. Wizards tickets had never been hotter than they were last season, as All-Star Gilbert Arenas, along with guards Juan Dixon and Jarvis Hayes, lit up scoreboards around the NBA. Wizards fans barely noticed that Kwame Brown, once heralded as Washington's ticket to success, was a complete bust. They were too busy snatching up Wizards tickets and cheering for one of the most fun teams in the NBA to watch last season.
The Wizards have not always been the Wizards, nor have they always made their home in Washington, DC. Since being founded in 1961, they have been known as the Packers, the Zephyrs, the Bullets, and have played out of Chicago, Baltimore, Landover, and finally our nation's capital, where they play in the MCI Center. In 1997, the Washington Bullets, feeling their name was too violent, changed their nickname to the Wizards.
Located in the heart of downtown Washington, DC, a short distance from the Capitol building and the National Mall, the MCI Center is one of the premier sports arenas in the NBA. The Wizards' home since 1997, the MCI Center boasts the largest video scoreboard of its kind to be placed in an arena. Wizards tickets to the MCI Center are a great way to add some magic to your vacation, and many tourists who come to see the Smithsonian museums and national monuments of DC take the opportunity to take in an NBA game during their stay, due to its convenient location on the Metro and just minutes from every downtown hotel.
In 2001, the great Michael Jordan gave Wizards season ticket holders a thrill when he stepped down as club president and stepped onto the court for his third return to the NBA. Some say his skills were lacking due to his age, but he was still able to average over 20 points a game in the 2001 and 2002 seasons. He played his last NBA game on April 11, 2003 against the Philadelphia 76ers, wearing a Washington Wizards jersey. Proud Wizards (and Bulls) fans gave him a three-minute standing ovation as he walked off the court and into the history books.
Last season, the Wizards surprised the NBA by making it to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to the Miami Heat. All-Star Gilbert Arenas and underrated Antawn Jamison tore apart defenses with their explosive offense, and Wizards season ticket holders expect more of the same this year. This year they will be without Larry Hughes, but coach Eddie Jordan believes that the depth the
Wizards gained on the bench will make up for Hughes' absence. The loss of Hughes will allow Jordan to add a little more diversity to the Wizards' offense, and run more post plays involving interior scorers Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas. But it’s Gilbert Arenas that is the key to this team. He is absolutely fearless, and perhaps the toughest one-on-one player in the NBA. Don’t be surprised by another run to the NBA Playoffs. Get your Washington Wizards tickets today.
