Category: Washington Wizards Blog

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting on Wizards guard John Wall, who is an NBA All-Star this season:

John Wall had never had a better month in his career before March 2013, when he had finally regained his conditioning and confidence after recovering from a stress injury in his left knee that cost him the first 33 games of the season.

After spending the first two months of his comeback easing his way into a rhythm, Wall caught fire and recorded some of his best performances, including a career-high 47 points in a win over Memphis last March 27. He finished the season on a tear and was eventually rewarded with a maximum-salaried extension.

A year later, Wall has reached all-star status for the first time in his career and has gotten off to another solid start this month, averaging 20 points and 12.5 assists in the first two games. On Monday, Wall became the first Wizards player since Gilbert Arenas in 2006-07 to be named Eastern Conference player of the week at least twice in the same season. He has won conference player of the week honors three times, with the first award coming last March.

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting on the Wizards, who on Thursday won a hard-fought triple-overtime battle against the Toronto Raptors:

Trevor Ariza was plowing through a plate of chicken and vegetables in the locker room after the Wizards completed a 3-hour 32-minute marathon with the Toronto Raptors. Ariza usually takes his time to hit the postgame buffet table after road games, but he was in a hurry to grab some grub on Thursday night. Playing almost 50 minutes will do that.

“Pretty tired. Hungry and tired,” Ariza said, when asked about how he felt after the Wizards survived a highly competitive and physically taxing triple-overtime game and left Air Canada Centre with a 134-129 victory. “It was the longest game in the world. You give it all so at the end of the game you’re totally drained. I was drained.”

The Washington basketball franchise hadn’t played a game that needed three overtimes since the Bullets lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 110-109, on Nov. 15, 1975 – before all but three current NBA players were born (Steve Nash, Derek Fisher and Ray Allen). Wizards broadcaster Phil Chenier was a member of that Bullets team; he and Wes Unseld each scored 25 points that night. When asked his recollection of that contest in the locker room after Thursday’s game, Chenier said, “I don’t remember any of it.”

Chenier’s broadcast partner Steve Buckhantz let him know the Bullets lost that night, to which he said, “That’s probably why I don’t remember.”

Here’s the Washington Post blog with an update on the Wizards, who like all 30 NBA teams face a rapidly-approaching deadline to make trades:

The Washington Wizards have been mentioned in several trade rumors leading up to Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline for deals, but there have been few hints to suggest that any moves will actually get made.

“I think there’s a lot less chatter than ever before, so I’m not anticipating anything,” Coach Randy Wittman said after Monday’s late-night practice. “But obviously you gotta look, if there’s something there that makes you a better team down the stretch you got to look to do it.”

Wittman has stuck with an eight- or nine-man playing rotation for much of the season, and Al Harrington is expected to return in the next few weeks to possibly provide more front-court depth. The Wizards have an obvious need for help at backup point guard with Garrett Temple playing a larger-than-expected role because of the failings of last summer’s free agent pickup, Eric Maynor.

Here’s the Washington Post blog with a status update on veteran forward Al Harrington:

After the Wizards lost in double-overtime the San Antonio Spurs last week, Al Harrington was probably the only player in the locker room with a smile on his face. His teammates were dejected about losing a game that was in their grasp but Harrington — while sharing in the disappointment– was upbeat about moving a step closer to helping on the floor.

Harrington has recently been cleared to participate in some contract work and realized that he would be freed up to play in four-on-four scrimmage on Thursday with some of the Wizards’ backups. He wanted them to know that he was coming after spending the past two months recovering from surgery to remove loose particles in his right knee.

“Y’all gon’ get it,” Harrington warned as he walked out of the locker room, high-fiving his teammates.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Glen Rice Jr has been recalled from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Rice will be with the team for tonight’s game in Golden State.

Rice appeared in three games with the Energy, averaging 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.7 blocks in 36 minutes per contest. Washington’s 2013 second round pick was assigned to Iowa on January 20.

Rice is averaging 2.9 points in 10 minutes per contest in 11 games (one start) with the Wizards this season.

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Glen Rice has been assigned to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Rice has appeared in 11 games, including one start, this season for Washington while averaging 2.9 points in 10 minutes per game. He was recently cleared to resume all basketball activities following surgery to repair a fracture in his right wrist on December 17.