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Briana Williams, ESPN
For the better part of the last decade, there has been one team that has consistently made it to the NBA Finals: no, it's not the Golden State Warriors.
The Washington Wizards.
As TikTok's Esquiresports pointed out, Washington, which hasn't won a championship since 1978, has had former players on each of the past seven NBA championship teams.
That trend will continue this season, with either Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford or Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis expected to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Gafford was acquired by the Wizards from the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team trade that also included the Celtics in March 2021. The Mavs acquired Gafford from the Wizards in February 2024 in exchange for Richaun Holmes and draft compensation.
Dallas sent Porzingis and a second-round pick to Washington in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans in February 2022. He landed in Boston in June 2023 in a three-team trade between the Celtics, Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies.
Somehow, all roads lead from the nation's capital to a championship roster. Here are each player's individual routes:
Jeff Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ish Smith, Thomas Bryant
How they got to Washington: Green joined the Wizards on a one-year contract after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the 2018-19 season. Bryant was acquired via waivers from the Los Angeles Lakers that offseason. Smith came to Washington on a two-year contract from 2019-21, his 11th team in eight seasons. Caldwell-Pope's tenure with the Wizards was short-lived; he was acquired from the Lakers as part of the Russell Westbrook blockbuster trade and spent the 2021-22 season in Washington.
How I came to Denver: Green signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Nuggets in August 2021, bringing veteran presence and playing experience to a young Denver team. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Green played the sixth-most regular-season games (1,107) before winning his first championship in 2023.
Caldwell-Pope and Smith were traded to the Nuggets in exchange for Monte Morris and Will Barton in 2022 to strengthen Denver's backcourt. After starting the season in Los Angeles, Bryant was traded by the Lakers to play in Denver in February 2023. He played in 18 regular season games and one playoff game for the Nuggets.
2022 Golden State Warriors
Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., Chris Chiozza
How they got to Washington: Payton II signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards in January 2019. He played for two G League teams throughout the year, but re-signed with the Wizards in December 2019.
Porter Jr. was drafted third overall by the Wizards in 2013 after helping the Georgetown University Hoyas earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Chiozza went undrafted in 2018 and began his career with Washington's G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. In October 2019, he signed a two-way contract to split time between the Wizards and the Go-Go.
How they got to the Golden State: Payton was selected 15th overall by the Raptors 905 in the 2021 NBA G League Draft and won the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Award. He then signed a 10-day contract with the Warriors in April. He was waived before the regular season and re-signed with the team in October.
Golden State signed Porter Jr. as a free agent in August 2021. Chiozza signed a two-way contract with the team that same month.
Bobby Portis
How he came to Washington: In 2019, the Wizards traded the aforementioned Porter Jr. to the Bulls in exchange for Portis, Jabari Parker and a protected 2023 second-round draft pick.
How he came to Milwaukee: Portis became a free agent after the New York Knicks declined his $15.75 million team option for the 2020-21 season. He agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Bucks in November 2020.
2020 Los Angeles Lakers
JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, Markieff Morris
How they got to Washington: McGehee was selected 18th overall by the Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft.
In 2016, the Phoenix Suns traded Morris to Washington in exchange for Dejan Blair, Kris Humphries and a 2016 first-round draft pick.
Howard signed a two-year, $11 million free agent contract with the Wizards in July 2018 after the Brooklyn Nets finalized a buyout of the center's contract.
How they came to Los Angeles: After winning two championships with the Warriors, McGee signed a one-year contract with the Lakers at the veteran's minimum salary in July 2018. The following year, he signed a two-year, $16 million extension.
Howard returned to Los Angeles in August 2019 after signing a veteran-minimum contract and enjoyed a second stint with the Lakers.
Morris cleared waivers in February 2020 and signed with Los Angeles.
Jodie Meeks
How he came to Washington: In July 2017, Meeks signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Wizards as a free agent.
How he came to Toronto: Meeks agreed to a 10-day contract with the Raptors in February 2019. The following month, he signed for the remainder of the season.
2017-2018 Golden State Warriors
JaVale McGee, Shaun Livingston
How they got to Washington: McGehee was selected 18th overall by the Wizards in 2008.
Livingston signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards in February 2010 and then signed for the remainder of the season, but his second stint with the team in November 2012 was short-lived as he was released the following month.
How they got to the Golden State: Livingston was the fourth pick in the 2004 draft, but a devastating knee injury changed the direction of his career. After one year with the Cavaliers, appearing in a career-high 76 games, Livingston signed with Golden State as a free agent in July 2014. During his time with the Warriors, he appeared in five consecutive NBA Finals series before retiring in September 2019.
McGee was invited to Golden State's training camp in July 2016 and signed with the team in September 2016.
