The Washington Wizards have always built successful rosters year in and year out. They once filled a spot on their depth chart with one of the best ever, Michael Jordan. But after ten years of flying the Wizards banner, why have they never won an NBA championship? In the Washington Wizards entire playing time in Washington, the team has only won a Championship once. The biggest question to ask is: Why haven’t the Wizards won in over twenty-eight years?

The Wizards have only made the playoffs three times in the past ten years and eight times in the past twenty years. But making the playoffs doesn’t necessarily mean that they will win the whole enchilada for any team. Look at the Boston Red Sox who couldn’t win for that unimaginable amount of years. The Chicago Cubs are also specimens to be examined over their long drought as well.

The underlying problem for the Wizards is making it past the first round of the playoffs. The fact of the matter is simple; this team has been given limited opportunities but can’t manifest what little they have into something bigger and better. The Wizards have made more friends in the NBA than any other team. They make these friends by giving them a nice gift of a first round playoff bye-pass. The first round bye is supposed to be reserved for the best in each league, not just any run of the mill playoff team. But the Wizards are very good at losing in the first round, dropping two first round losses out of three playoff opportunities in the past ten years.

To end the playoff loss drought a new leader has stepped up and is looking to take them to the promise land. Gilbert Arenas, who played his college ball at The University of Arizona, is doing his part to make sure they get to the playoffs this year. His buzzer beater wins and a sixty point game this year has shown to the Wizard fan faithful that he is ready to lead them all the way. In 2007 alone, Agent Zero has already beaten the odds. Odds that had star guard Vince Carter penciled in as the All-Star game selection by two hundred thirteen thousand votes. But The Hibachi didn’t quit, and he ended up winning the vote by three thousand votes.

Although the Wizards haven’t made it two times in their whole career as Wizards, a new team has taken over. Led by recent All-Star selection Arenas, this team looks to be more than pretenders or Be-“Frienders”. With a nice support group around him including, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, this team has all the pieces for the puzzle.

As of right now the Wizards are in perfect place to go to the NBA Finals and win a National Championship. All that there is left to do for Gilbert Arenas and company is to get the monkey off of their backs and be Champions of the United States of America.

About the author
Jason Fukushima is a freelance writer who specializes in sports. Aside from writing, Jason watches sports daily. He can be reached at scronjsn11@yahoo.com .

Photo courtesy of Flickr member Kyle Gustafson