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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Wizards have joined together with global digital sports platform Fanatics and Hennessy to host the Marcus Graham Project (MGP)’s iCR8 workshop from Monday, June 24, to Thursday, June 27, at Capital One Arena. This marks the third year the Wizards have hosted MGP’s iCR8 workshop.  

“Fanatics is defined by its employees and unwavering commitment to inclusion to build a best-in-class organization and culture that reflects the global communities we serve,” said Grace Farraj, Executive Director of Fanatics Foundation™ and Vice President of Fanatics Philanthropy. “We’re thrilled to once again partner with the Washington Wizards, Hennessy, and the Marcus Graham Project to increase awareness of, and access to, career opportunities across the sports industry.” 

The four-day workshop will give 25 young professionals from the Washington, D.C., area the ability to gain experience, insight, and understanding in the sport, fashion, and spirit industry. Members from the Wizards’ game presentation, fan engagement, and global partnerships departments as well as representatives from Fanatics and Hennessy will participate in panels and group discussions throughout the week to provide first-hand expertise and knowledge.  

“In today's growing sports industry, it is important that our strategic partnerships cater to the need for diverse, creative, unconventional talent in traditional spaces,” said Larry Yarrell, Marcus Graham Project Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer. “Our partnership with the Wizards is proof that this type of collaborative effort works, as we continue to fill meaningful roles at the organization with MGP talent." 

The Marcus Graham Project is a non-profit organization that holds a variety of programs and workshop to train, mentor, and provide the experience needed to the next generation by connecting and collaborating with individuals from all backgrounds in the fields of marketing and media.  

Ninety-six (96) percent of MGP alumni have received job offers within the first six months of completing the program. MGP alumni include  June 2021 MGP Workshop MVP and Wizards freelance content creator and editor Rashad Simpson.  

To learn more about the Marcus Graham Project and the work they are doing, click here.&nbsp;

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Washington Wizards, Fanatics, and Hennessy Partner to host Marcus Graham Workshop

The Washington Wizards lost to the Boston Celtics 132-122 on Sunday afternoon in their season finale. Here are three things that stood out about the game...

The Wizards' 2023-24 season is officially over as they lost to the Celtics on the road in their regular season finale on Sunday afternoon.

Washington will be tied for the best odds to receive the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft lottery at 14%. The lottery is set for May 12 in Chicago, Ill.

Washington played this game with an extensive injury list that included rookie big man Tristan Vukcevic (right ankle sprain), who ended his season with five consecutive games of double-figure scoring. Jordan Poole (non-COVID illness) also missed his second straight game to end the year.

Poole still appeared in 78 games this season after playing in all 82 last year. The only Wizards player to log more games than him this season was Corey Kispert who got to No. 80 on Sunday.

Without Poole and usual starting point guard Tyus Jones, Jared Butler filled in admirably with 22 points, seven assists, a steal and a block. Patrick Baldwin Jr. also stepped up with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals in one of the best games of his young career.

In addition to Butler and Baldwin Jr., Eugene Omoruyi was on an absolute tear in the final game of the season. He had seven points in the first quarter, 15 by halftime and ended the day with 26 point for a new career-high. Omoruyi shot 11-for-17 from the field, 4-for-6 from three and also had five assists. He did it all in 23 minutes of work.

What a way to end the season on a high note. Omoruyi joined the organization last July on a two-way contract and performed so well the Wizards converted him to an NBA deal in March. Omoruyi ended up playing in 43 games for the Wizards and saved his very best for the last game of the season.

Justin Champagnie also went out on a positive with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 21 minutes. His seven rebounds were a reminder he is uniquely good at cleaning the glass. Champagnie, a 6-foot-6 wing, averaged 11.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Pittsburgh before making the NBA leap.

Champagnie also contributed a series of highlight reel passes in this one. He threaded the needle with a kick-ahead bounce pass to Butler for an open layup in transition. Very soon after that, he found Baldwin Jr. for an easy dunk on the fastbreak with a two-handed bounce pass he had to reach around a Celtics defender to make. It was perfectly placed and timed. Champagnie can impact the game in various ways and he showed that on Sunday.

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Recap: Wizards fall in season finale to Celtics

The Washington Wizards (15-66) close their 2023-24 season out on the road as they take on the Boston Celtics (63-18) on Sunday afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know about the Wizards’ season finale:

Where: TD Garden (Boston, MA)When: 1:00 p.m. ETTV: Monumental Sports NetworkRadio: Team 980 & The Wizards App

Anthony Gill (right knee soreness – questionable)Tristan Vukcevic (right ankle sprain – questionable)Kyle Kuzma (right ankle sprain – out)Richaun Holmes (left toe contusion – questionable)Jordan Poole (non-COVID illness – questionable)Bilal Coulibaly (right wrist fracture – out)Tyus Jones (lumbosacral sprain – out)Landry Shamet (left calf strain – out)Marvin Bagley III (right knee sprain – out)

Jaylen Brown (rest – out)Jrue Holiday (left patella tendinopathy – out)Al Horford (rest – out)Kristaps Porzingis (rest – out)Jayson Tatum (rest – out)Derrick White (left ankle sprain – out)

Wizards forward Deni Avdija has been tasked with running point for the team at times throughout the season, but in Friday night’s 129-127 loss to the Chicago Bulls, he was in the unfamiliar territory of being the team’s&nbsp;starting&nbsp;point guard. He was up for the challenge.

Avdija finished with 24 points off 60% shooting from the field to go along with 12 rebounds and eight assists. It was his third double-double in the month of April and his 18th&nbsp;on the season.

“We wanted to see Deni handling the ball more. We know how much of a playmaker he can be, wanted to see him in the lead playmaker role,” interim head coach Brian Keefe said following the loss. “Thought he did a tremendous job getting his teammates involved…part of what makes Deni good is his versatility.”

Avdija will play in his 75th&nbsp;game this season on Sunday, meaning he’s played at least 75 games in each of his last three seasons. He was one of just five NBA players to suit up in all 82 games during the 2021-22 season.

Though Washington couldn’t come away with a win, a positive note from Friday’s contest was how everybody on the team had an impact scoring the ball. Each player scored at least two points, with six Wizards putting up at least 15. Avdija led the scoring with his 24.

It was also a terrific shooting night for Washington. They shot 52% from the field and 42% from three on the night. They made 18 total threes on the night, two shy of their previous contest against Minnesota and three shy of tying a season-high.

Boston owns the NBA’s best record but is resting a number of their stars and key rotational players. Washington will have an opportunity to take advantage of the power vacuum on the floor on Sunday.

Corey Kispert put up 23 points in Washington’s loss to the Bulls on Friday, making it three straight contests in which the third-year wing has scored at least 21. He’s been one of the Wizards’ most consistent scorers this season, as he made note of postgame.

“Consistency through everything that’s happened this year [is what I’m most proud of],” he said postgame “Through the highs, through the lows, playing a lot, not playing a lot, coaching changes, roster changes, injuries – you name it, we’ve been through it. And I’ve stayed consistent throughout, with my attitude and with my play.”

Kispert has taken a marked step up this season, putting up career-highs in games played, points, field goal attempts, two-point percentage, and assists. He’ll play in his 80th&nbsp;game in the season finale on Sunday and has a chance to end his best season to date on a high note.

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Preview: Wizards take on Celtics in final game of the season

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Washington Wizards Jersey Off Our Backs Postgame Event

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards lost to the Chicago Bulls 129-127 on Friday night at Capital One Arena. Here are three things that stood out about the game...

The Wizards closed out their 2023-24 home schedule with a narrow loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, leaving one more game on their schedule before the year is officially over.

Washington had a good night offensively, as they shot 52.3% from the field and made 18 threes. The Bulls, though, outrebounded them 56-to-39 and had a large advantage in bench points; 51-to-28.

The Wizards had six players reach double-figures in this one. Corey Kispert had 23 points on a hot shooting night of 8-for-15 from the field and 6-for-11 from the perimeter. He also had seven rebounds and six assists in one of his more complete games of the season.

Deni Avdija also came through with a robust stat-line of 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. It was Avdija's sixth double-double in his last 10 games.

The Wizards put up a 40-point first quarter for the second straight game and this time it was rookie Tristan Vukcevic who helped lead the way. He missed their last game against the Timberwolves on Tuesday due to left knee soreness, but returned with a bang to drop 11 points in the opening frame. That helped him very quickly extend his streak of double-figure scoring games to five, dating back to April 2 when the Wizards beat the Bucks.

Vukcevic finished the game with a new career-high of 19 points (5-11 FG), a steal and a block. He sank two threes and knocked down 7-of-9 from the free throw line. That has been a sneaky trend for him. Vukcevic has shown a knack for getting to the free throw line in his brief NBA tenure so far, as he doesn't seem to shy away from contact when he goes up for shots around the rim.

Johnny Davis had his best scoring game in months on Tuesday in Minnesota, then topped it one game later in this one. Davis had a season-high 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting, including 4-for-5 from long range. The four threes are a new career-high for him in a single game, a big positive as Davis has been working diligently to improve his outside shooting.

Patrick Baldwin Jr. also carried over a strong performance on Tuesday into this one. The 6-foot-9 forward had a career-high 19 points, shooting 7-for-12 overall and 3-for-7 from deep. Baldwin Jr. has done a great job shaking off a recent shooting slump with a pair of solid games in a row.

Up next:&nbsp;The Wizards ship up to Boston for their final game of the 2023-24 regular season in a 1 p.m. matinee.

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Recap: Wizards fall in final home game to Chicago Bulls

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill was named the recipient of the third annual Washington Wizards Dr. E.B. Henderson Team Award. The award, introduced during the 2021-22 season, recognizes a Wizards player for their work in the community. This marks the second time Gill has been named the winner (2023-24; 2021-22).&nbsp; Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSEF) will make a donation of $10,000 in honor of Gill to Little Lights.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“E.B. Henderson not only paved the way for basketball in Washington, D.C., but he also served his community and inspired future generations, including myself,” said Gill. “The DMV is a special place that we call home, and it is all of our responsibilities to continue his legacy. With the help of my family, teammates, the Wizards organization, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, and countless others, I will continue to do my best to love and uplift the DMV community.” 

Gill was active in numerous community and team initiatives throughout the Washington, D.C., area during the course of the 2023-24 season. He began his contributions by participating in an organization-wide KaBOOM! playground build in partnership with MSEF and So Others Might Eat in Southeast D.C. prior to the season.&nbsp;

During the holiday season, Gill was a constant presence throughout the DMV. He partnered with athletes and staff from the Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, Capital City Go-Go, and Wizards District Gaming to host Thankful Meals presented by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 18. Gill and other Monumental Basketball athletes and staff helped distribute hot meals and essential goods to residents in Wards 7 and 8 at the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Additionally, on Dec. 12, Gill and his teammates made a surprise visit to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Ward 8 to spread holiday cheer. He also participated in MSEF’s Family-to-Family holiday initiative, adopting a family to fulfill their holiday wish list. Gill closed out the holiday season on Dec. 14 by hosting a holiday dinner in partnership with Peace for D.C. for Washington, D.C., families that included a gift exchange and cookie decorating.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

To thank the Capital One Arena staff and event workers for their hard work and dedication this season Gill surprised staff with cookies and ice cream treats from Capitan Cookie on Friday, Apr. 12.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition to the work he has done in the D.C. community, Gill also made a lasting impact in a variety of cities throughout the NBA this season by partnering with numerous local non-profit organizations to provide experiences, opportunities, and resources to those in need during the team’s road trips.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dr. E.B. Henderson, known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball” in Washington, D.C., was a sports historian, educator, administrator, coach, athlete, and civil rights activist. He also wrote over 3,000 letters to the editor for The Washington Post and other newspapers on civil rights and race relations. &nbsp;

Prior award winners also include Daniel Gafford (2022-23).

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Anthony Gill named recipient of annual Washington Wizards Dr. E.B. Henderson Team Award

The Washington Wizards (15-65) back in D.C. to face the Chicago Bulls (38-42) in their final home game of the 2023-24 season on Friday night. It will also be Fan Appreciation Night for Wizards fans in attendance, including special giveaways and promotions. Here is everything you need to know:

Where: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)When: 7:00 p.m. ETTV: Monumental Sports NetworkRadio: Team 980 & The Wizards App

Eugene Omoruyi (non-COVID illness – questionable)Deni Avdija (non-COVID illness -- questionable)Kyle Kuzma (right ankle sprain – out)Richaun Holmes (left toe contusion – questionable)Jordan Poole (non-COVID illness – questionable)Bilal Coulibaly (right wrist fracture – out)Tyus Jones (back sprain – out)Landry Shamet (calf strain – out)Marvin Bagley III (right knee sprain – out)

Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps – questionable)Andre Drummond (ankle – questionable)Julian Phillips (foot – out)Lonzo Ball (knee – out)Patrick Williams (foot – out)Zach LaVine (foot – out)

The Wizards came within one made three-pointer away from tying a franchise record in Tuesday night’s loss in Minnesota with 20 makes on the night. Corey Kispert (25 points) and Jordan Poole (24 points) notched five triples each in the 130-121 loss.

Deep shooting might be key in Friday’s home contest. Chicago ranks 28th&nbsp;in the NBA in threes made per game with just 11.5. Meanwhile, Washington has made at least 16 threes in three of their last four games.

The Wizards also made 14 and 13 triples in their last two contests against the Bulls, respectively. Hitting that 14th&nbsp;triple was especially key in their last contest: a 107-105 victory in Chicago back on March 25th.

Johnny Davis comes into Friday’s home matchup off arguably the best game he’s played all season against the Timberwolves. He went 3-of-4 from the field for 10 points (one shy of his season-high 11 back in November) and snagged three rebounds in 20 minutes.

Moreover, Davis looked comfortable with the ball in his hands. He had a good shot diet, knocking down a corner three for his first bucket and making a point to penetrate the lane from the wing for tough layups.

With his injury designation now behind him, it’ll be interesting to see how interim head coach Brian Keefe employs Davis against Chicago. Washington’s backcourt could be shorthanded with Tyus Jones out with a back sprain and Jordan Poole questionable with a non-COVID illness. Davis and fellow guard Jared Butler, fresh off signing a new NBA contract, could be of key significance. 

In the wake of recurring injuries, the Wizards have had to deploy some deeper rotational players more so than usual of late. Patrick Baldwin Jr. headlines that list, and has made good on his increased role over the last two games.

On Sunday in Toronto, the forward notched his first-career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, then followed it up with a 15-point, six-rebound night in Minnesota two days later. It’s the first time Baldwin has strung together two consecutive double-digit scoring outputs all season.

Baldwin is averaging 9.0 points per game and is shooting 48.1% from the field in the month of April, both sharp increases over his season averages to date. He’ll look to close out his season strong both at home on Friday night and in the season finale on Sunday afternoon in Boston.

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Preview: Wizards face Bulls in final home game of the season

The Washington Wizards lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-121 on Tuesday night. Here are three things that stood out about the game...

The Wizards got out to a hot start in Minnesota, but couldn't sustain it against one of the NBA's top teams, as they lost to the Timberwolves to close out a quick two-game road trip.

The Wizards played this game without their entire center rotation, as rookie Tristan Vukcevic is now sidelined due to left knee soreness. His absence was added to a list that already included Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes. That was all in addition to Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma, Bilal Coulibaly and others being out.

Undermanned and undersized, the Wizards found themselves in a physical battle where players hitting the ground was a common sight. Complicating matters was a -15 deficit in free throw attempts, as they went 13-for-17 from the line and Minnesota made 26-of-32.

Washington shot 50% for the game overall and 47.6% from three, making 20 triples in total which was just one short of their franchise record. Corey Kispert led the team with 25 points and Jordan Poole had 24, with each of them making five threes.

Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves was a big reason for their turnaround with a career-high 51 points. Minnesota also enjoyed a 50-40 edge in paint points and a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Despite missing so many players, the Wizards jumped out to their best start of the entire season. They scored 44 points in the first quarter, a season-high for a single frame. That was also the most points the Timberwolves have allowed in any quarter despite Minnesota boasting the best defensive rating in the NBA.

The Wizards were on from the opening tip. They scored the game's first eight points, grew that lead to 19-5 and had it peak at 21 points when they held a 44-23 advantage. The Wizards made a franchise-record nine threes in the first quarter. They shot 63% overall in the frame. It was an offensive clinic.

During the first quarter the Timberwolves also lost Naz Reid to an ejection, which left them thin at the big man position with Karl-Anthony Towns still out due to injury. That helped balance the scales a bit with the Wizards missing so much of their frontcourt.

This was one of Johnny Davis' best offensive games of the season. He had 10 points (3-4 FG), his most since Nov. 3 when he scored a season-high 11. Davis made a smooth corner three in the first quarter and knocked down a pair of free throws at the end of the third quarter when Rudy Gobert fouled him on a last-second heave.

Davis has been a bit banged up lately, dealing with both a hip and ankle injury in recent days. But he looked good on Tuesday while also handling some tough defensive assignments against the Timberwolves' dynamic backcourt of Edwards and Mike Conley Jr. Davis now has two more games to work with as he aims to finish his sophomore season strong.

The same could be said for Patrick Baldwin Jr., who also had a solid game on the offensive end in this one. He followed up his season-high 16 points on Sunday with 15 points against the Timberwolves, shooting 6-for-11 from the field.

Up next:&nbsp;The Wizards return to D.C. for their final home game of the season as they host the Chicago Bulls on Friday night with a 7 p.m. tip-off.