Jackson Filyo

Earlier this week, the Wizards unveiled their Classic Edition uniforms for the 2022-23 season. The retro blue-and-bronze uniform was first adopted by the team in 1997 when the franchise became the Wizards and was the defining look for the organization through the early 2000s. The positive reaction from around the Wizards’ community was immediate. Here, we take a look at some of the best reaction to brand-new uniforms.

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NBA community reacts to Wizards Classic Edition uniforms

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Photos: Blue & Bronze through the years

On Thursday, the Wizards announced the return of one of the franchise’s iconic looks: the blue-and-bronze uniforms, court design and logo introduced ahead of the 1997-98 season when the “Wizards” team name was unveiled.

The color scheme – worn by franchise greats that include Juwan Howard, Rod Strickland, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and John Wall – was a significant departure from the team’s original red-white-and-blue look that defined most of the franchise’s history.

Landing on the final look – including the logo, color scheme, uniforms, court and more – was a yearslong, all-hands-on-deck process with input from the NBA league office and each level of the Wizards’ organization.

Tom O’Grady, who had been working full-time on the NBA’s creative staff since the summer of 1990, helped build the league’s in-house marketing and branding department from day one and oversaw tentpole creative campaigns that included designs of NBA and WNBA team logos. He worked frequently on projects that included uniforms and NBA event branding for All-Star Weekend, the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals.

In June of 1995, O’Grady was informed he would spearhead Washington’s rebrand efforts for the league – an assignment that came directly from former NBA Commissioner David Stern.

“When David would call you, you would straighten up a little more,” O’Grady said.

Quickly, O’Grady and his 20-person staff were connecting with Washington ownership, front office and marketing staffers – and even Juwan Howard, who was coming off an All-Star season in D.C. – to be a part of the brand development process.

At that point, the “Wizards” team name had been set in stone. All that was left was building the brand around it – a fresh look that fit the name and stood out from others around the league.

It did not take long for the group to land on a direction.

“I felt like we needed something that was clean,” O’Grady said. “Something very different from what was happening around the sports world at that time. The pendulum has swung way so far to a cartoony, animated look. Let’s swing it back to a modern classic feel and it make it more interpretive to the viewer. We decided to go clean and everyone was on board.”

The overwhelming popularity of the popping, mascot-focused designs of the time were no coincidence, O’Grady explained. As computer technology quickly progressed in the early-to-mid 90s and graphic design software like the newly introduced Adobe Photoshop took hold of the industry, designers had the freedom to take their creative concepts further than ever before – and bring to life bold, busy and complicated brand designs. Animated drop shadows, two-tone color gradients and three-dimensional logos were everywhere.

The design mandate was set: buck the trend by creating a Wizards concept that would be modern and clean – almost classic in nature. Something with legs that would stay fresh for years to come.

With the new look set to debut ahead of the 1997-98 season, the Wizards and the NBA needed a design in-hand by May of 1996. Step one for O’Grady and his team was logos. The first presentation – set to take place just before the 1995-96 season —would be 8-10 black-and-white logo concepts that laid the foundation for the brand.

While the team made swift work of the initial ideation, the design process was a multi-stage process.

“We reviewed popular ‘70s retro team logos such as the Hartford Whalers, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota North Stars and Vikings, Atlanta Hawks, Flames, Falcons and other ultra-simple logo designs which all featured clean, bold shapes with minimal extraneous lines or colors,” O’Grady said.

Draft after draft, bouncing back and forth from the drawing board to find the fine line between forgettable and overwhelming kept the team busy for weeks. What popped on paper sometimes did not translate to a jersey – or what may have fit perfectly on a t-shirt would be too precise to be properly conveyed on a television broadcast.

Once the team landed on the swooping “Wizards” wordmark that eventually graced the front of the jerseys, they applied the same concepts to the jersey numbers and other lettering.

“Personally, the end result represents one of my favorite team specific designs I’ve done since 1990,” O’Grady said. “The whimsical Wizards font with the bold W and sweeping font cross the jersey front punctuated with a crescent moon dotting the ‘I’.” &nbsp;

In that process, O’Grady stumbled upon the idea for a secondary logo that has stood the test of time – and even found a home outside the Wizards’ brand.

“When designing the Wizards’ ‘W’ I began playing around with the concept for a secondary District of Columbia logo,” O’Grady said. “I am especially proud of the ‘dc’ since it lived on as the secondary logo for the Washington Mystics WNBA team who have the used the design for years.”

Next, it was time to bring the new design to life with a color scheme.

With a few concepts in mind that would align with the “Wizards” name, the team did not need to look far for the inspiration that pushed them toward their final decision.

“We saw the Capitals and said let’s maybe not overthink that,” O’Grady said. “I liked having the same colors in the building between basketball and hockey. It was not a long process of trying different color variations. We moved to that quickly.”

“And it was a new color scheme in the NBA,” he continued. “No one had that slate blue and bronze. It was fresh. It wasn’t teal, it wasn’t turquoise. It was more of a smokey blue, which fit the feel of the Wizards. The bronze was different. And the black of course was so popular back in the 90s.”

Now, with the franchise celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Wizards name, the classic look is set to return.

“It’s really cool to see it coming back,” O’Grady said. “For me, it was completely unexpected. These were things that were done. We finished them and we moved on…It brings back a lot of emotions for me. It makes me happy to see people so interested in these throwback uniforms all these years later. It’s quite humbling.”

“Personally, it’s just like seeing an NBA game from the 1990’s and how different and bold it looks even today,” O’Grady continued. “And how you can tell immediately what teams are playing and where they’re playing. It’s like a familiar song you never really stopped loving...It’s less about nostalgia and simply more about great uniforms and creative design that never really goes out of style.”

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Behind the design: How the Wizards’ Blue & Bronze look was born

Nothing beats a classic. Introducing our 2022-23 Classic Edition Uniforms, debuting on the hardwood this fall at Capital One Arena.

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Introducing our 2022-23 Classic Edition Uniform

Classic Edition Uniforms, New Court Design, Retro Merchandise And More Headline Anniversary Celebrations

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– The Washington Wizards have unveiled their campaign for the 2022-23 season celebrating the team’s 25th&nbsp;anniversary since rebranding to the Wizards name in 1997.

To commemorate the season, Washington will unveil their new Classic Edition jersey highlighted by the white, blue and bronze uniform. The Wizards will also reveal a newly-designed court in the same style which will be used concurrently with the Classic Edition jerseys during select games throughout the season. The team will also put a fresh spin on the classic blue-and-bronze colorway which will be utilized across the team’s digital platforms, throughout the arena on game nights and on signage throughout D.C.

The Wizards’ Classic Edition 90’s inspired throwback jersey unveil video features highlights from the franchise’s last 25 years, past and present talent and an up-close look at the new uniforms.

Washington will also acknowledge the motivation for the team’s name change in 1997 and will continue to raise awareness and funds for organizations working to combat gun violence in the Nation’s Capital. During the 2022-23 season, 25% of all in-venue Washington Bullets apparel sales will be donated to the Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM), an organization dedicated to promoting understanding, peace, and harmony. Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment Foundation will also match this donation for up to $10,000.

At a select game during the upcoming season, the Wizards will raise awareness on the gun violence crisis that has plagued the country and help educate fans on how they can assist. Fans attending will be encouraged to wear orange and will hear from local activists and organizations.

Fans will have a chance to celebrate the team’s 25th&nbsp;anniversary throughout the season with a variety of ticket offers, including a special “Two for $25” deal for select Classic games. Dates for Classic games, as well as all other Wizards 25th&nbsp;Anniversary themed initiatives and offers, will be determined shortly following the release of 2022-23 schedule. More information on Wizards 2022-23 ticket options can be found&nbsp;HERE.

To honor their history, the team will celebrate the foundational years of the Wizards’ brand and connect fans to the most significant players, moments, and themes of the last 25 years. Fans will get to learn more about the team’s last 25 years through video features, articles, and podcasts, all of which can be found on the Wizards website and social channels.

On select game nights throughout the season, the in-arena fan experience will be taken over by 25th anniversary-themed programming. Highlights will include “Get to Know Your Wizards” feature interviews centered on select alumni from the last 25 years, throwback theme nights, games and prizes that utilize some of the most iconic music and imagery of the late 90s, early 2000s and much more.

During the 2022-23 season, the Wizards will unveil a new line of retail options for fans looking to celebrate in style. The 25th anniversary line will include the Classic edition jerseys which will be available for purchase this fall, a variety of Mitchell &amp; Ness collection items and other various items in the blue-and-bronze branding, special edition retail giveaways and more. To be the first to know when the new jerseys will be available for purchase, sign up HERE.

The Capital One Arena concession stands will also get a 25th anniversary spin. On select nights, fans will have the chance to purchase a limited-edition Michelob ULTRA throwback offer specially tailored to celebrate the Wizards’ 25-year history.

This season, Hennessy will offer a new special-edition drink that will be available at limited concession stands on specific games. “The Classic” will be a Hennessy based cocktail with orange juice and tonic water with an orange wedge to top it off.

Aramark food services will also get in the throwback spirit, offering $25 food packages for fans to choose from.

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Washington Wizards to Celebrate 25th Anniversary Throughout the 2022-23 Season

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Photos: 2022-23 Wizards Classic Edition Uniform Details

Workshop to Take Place at Capital One Arena in September

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals have joined forces to host the Marcus Graham Project (MGP) Sports Marketing Workshop at Capital One Arena from September 19-22. This will be the third consecutive year that the MGP has been held at a Capital One Arena and the first time MGP has partnered with a National Hockey League team.

The four-day workshop will give 25 students and young professionals of diverse backgrounds from the DMV area the ability to gain experience and insight into the sports marketing field. Members from the Capitals and Wizards business operations, marketing, broadcast, and sales departments will participate in panels and discussions throughout the week to provide attendees with first-hand knowledge and understanding into the sports media and marketing industry. This workshop is open to applicants of diverse backgrounds, with an emphasis on those with a military background who may be looking to learn more about the sports marketing industry.  Interested applicants can apply online HERE by September 12.

The Marcus Graham Project is a non-profit organization that holds nationwide programs designed to provide young aspiring individuals from all backgrounds in the fields of marketing and media with the exposure, mentorship and experience needed to hold careers within the industry. The Marcus Graham Project was one of the first organizations awarded an inaugural grant from the NBA Foundation.

To learn more about the Marcus Graham Project and the work they are doing, click HERE.

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Wizards and Capitals partner for Marcus Graham Project workshop

Three-Time NBA Champion Joins Wizards Staff

WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Wizards announced today that they have named James Posey as an assistant coach.

“We are excited to add James to our staff, as he brings championship experience both as a player and coach,” said Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr.&nbsp; “As one of the toughest defenders in the league and a clutch shooter during his NBA tenure, we will be able to lean on his playing and coaching experiences to help the development of our players.”

Posey comes to Washington after spending the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach for the University of Virginia Women’s Basketball team under Hall of Famer Tina Thompson.  Prior to his time at Virginia, Posey spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he was a part of the staff that captured the 2016 NBA title while becoming the first team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.  During his tenure with the Cavaliers, the team made four consecutive Finals appearances from 2015-18.

A two-time NBA Champion as a player, Posey appeared in 864 games (479 starts) and averaged 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game with Nuggets, the New Orleans Hornets, Heat, Grizzlies, Celtics, Rockets and Pacers.&nbsp; Posey was a key contributor for the 2006 Heat and 2008 Celtics championship teams. He averaged a career-high 13.7 points per game during the 03-04 season with the Grizzlies.&nbsp;

A native of Cleveland, OH, Posey played collegiately at Xavier University where he was named 1998 Atlantic-10 Championship’s Most Outstanding Player and 1999 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year.