Prior to this season, two-way guard Jordan Goodwin had played in only two NBA games. Now, less than a month into the 2022-23 season, he's giving the Wizards a heavy dose of exactly what they need.
After going undrafted in 2021, the point guard from St. Louis University joined the Wizards' Summer League squad and ended up spending most of last season with their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.
Goodwin produced nicely for the Go-Go, averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, earning himself an Exhibit 10 contract with the Wizards in September of 2022. The team ended up converting that Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way contract in October shortly before the season started.
For the majority of the Wizards' first four games this season, Goodwin wasn't in the rotation. That all changed when defensive stopper Delon Wright went down with a hamstring injury on October 25 against the Pistons.
At times, Washington has struggled with point-of-attack defense on the perimeter this season, so with Wright set to miss a significant chunk of time, the team would need someone to step up on that end of the floor. Goodwin made it apparent that he was the guy for the job from the moment he got the opportunity.
It was obvious right away that he could be plugged in at a moment's notice for defensive reasons, but to what extent could they ride with him? This week, when the Wizards had back-to-back games on the road in Memphis and Charlotte, Goodwin officially held his coming out party.
After Washington fell behind by 23 points in the third quarter to Memphis, Goodwin came in and provided an immediate energy boost. He took on the tough task of guarding Ja Morant and did it proudly. He was in Morant's jersey every time he got the chance, making life difficult for the All-Star guard.
Goodwin helped lead a 19-0 run for the Wizards, getting them back in the game and making it a competitive fourth quarter. Ultimately, they ended up losing that game 103-97, but Goodwin's play was one of the main reasons they had a fighting chance in the final minutes. He finished that game with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block, and zero turnovers.
Just 24 hours later, Goodwin picked up where he left off, this time helping lead the Wizards to a much-needed 108-100 win in Charlotte. It's hard to critique anything Goodwin did in that win. He poured in 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe to go along with five assists, four rebounds, and two blocks. He was impactful on both offense and defense for all 21 minutes he was on the court, validating his +10 plus/minus.
The love for Goodwin and what he brings to the table hasn't gone unnoticed in the Wizards' locker room.
"I'm just happy for him," said veteran point guard Monte Morris. "Him working out twice a day, doing all that extra stuff and it paying off. Just his hunger out there on both ends, it makes me happy to see as a brother."
After the win in Charlotte, Kristaps Porzingis gave major props to Goodwin as well, saying, "We got this one, in major part thanks to [Goodwin]. He played really well... I think the first few minutes that he even got on the court, right away, I could see he was locked in."
With Wright set to miss an extended period of time and this Wizards team needing some assistance on the defensive side of the court, fans can expect to see more of Goodwin. He's become a vital part of the Wizards' recent bench success.
There's no doubt that Goodwin brings that bulldog mindset that every good team needs.
"It's just how I was raised," said Goodwin after the Charlotte win. "Just having a great father, a great brother just to be hard on me growing up. Just out here, having Coach Wes trust to put me out there on the court, and having my teammates back me up, just making me better."