<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-heat-coach-erik-spoelstra-washington-doesnt-want-advice');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat coach Erik Spoelstra insists Wizards ‘don’t want’ his advice');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Heat-coach-Erik-Spoelstra-insists-Washington-%E2%80%98doesnt-want-his-advice.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat coach Erik Spoelstra insists Wizards ‘don’t want’ his advice</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-02T15:33:57-07:00">April 2nd, 3:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T16:28:00-07:00">April 2nd, 4:28pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/wizards-news-washington-rebuilding-lucky-draft-lottery">Wizards are in Year Two of a rebuild</a>, which requires patience, perseverance, and plenty of losing on the way to the top. What they’re doing is no different than what most small-market sports teams do, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/wizards-news-jordan-poole-honest-dc-three-point-record">Wizards fans are especially jaded</a> given that the team’s only title was in 1978, when it was called the Bullets.</p><p>However, Miami Heat coach and three-time NBA champion Erik Spoelstra <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906828787200745701" rel="noopener">likes what he sees</a> in Washington.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I asked Erik Spoelstra if he has any advice for the Wizards as they rebuild. </p><p>“I don’t think they want my advice…no seriously, they’re doing a great job building an identity.”</p><p>He also praised Alex Sarr and said that “on any given night, you can see why he was drafted high.” <a href="https://t.co/nxvSEzofn5">pic.twitter.com/nxvSEzofn5</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906828787200745701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I don’t think they want my advice. No, seriously, they know what they’re doing,” he said before Miami beat Washington 120-94 on Monday. “They have a plan, Coach [Brian] Keefe is doing a really good job with the team. He’s getting them to play hard and build an identity. But they have a plan.”</p><p>Spoelstra won two titles coaching LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh on the Heat in 2012 and ’13 and won as an assistant with the team in ’06. Additionally, the Portland alum has led Miami to four other Finals appearances during his tenure. It’s safe to say that his word means something, although coaches rarely criticize another team publicly.</p><p>Still, Spoelstra’s “identity” comment is well-founded. The Wizards have built a culture based on player development since General Manager Will Dawkins and Team President Michael Winger took over in the 2023 offseason, and it’s yielded results: <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/wizards-news-jordan-poole-makes-franchise-history-35-point-eruption-vs-heat">Jordan Poole is having a career year</a> and broke the franchise single-season made three-point record on Monday, second-year wing Bilal Coulibaly is already a standout defender, and the rookies have made strides.</p><h2><b>Erik Spoelstra compliments Wizards’ Alex Sarr</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wizards-Alex-Sarr-1.jpg"><figcaption>© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr headlines Washington’s rookie class, and Spoelstra also had high praise for him.</p><p>“Very talented young guy…On any given night, you can see why he was drafted so high,” he continued. “You have to respect that because our job is to make guys look young. But there’s a great deal of potential.”</p><p>The Heat did make the 19-year-old “look young” on Monday, holding him to just eight points (3-17 FG, 1-7 3 PT) with three rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal in 31 minutes. However, he averaged a career-high 16.4 points on 39.8 percent shooting (33 percent 3 PT) in March and won <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/wizards-fans-want-jordan-poole-apology-alex-sarr-apology-forms-after-win-bulls">Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors in December</a>. He’s also <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-april-2-2025-edition" rel="noopener">third in the</a> NBA Rookie Ladder and likely would be higher if he hadn’t missed all but two games with an ankle injury in February.</p><p>The Wizards don’t have the luxury of being a destination for star free agents, so they must build through the draft. After years of the previous regime spinning its wheels as a fringe playoff contender with Bradley Beal, the new administration rightly stripped the team down to gain long-term assets, which will help it contend for a title by 2030.</p><p>The trade-off is to be bad enough for a few years to gain high lottery picks, which is Washington’s best chance of landing a star. Sarr was its first top-five selection since Otto Porter in 2013, who didn’t perform to expectations. Before that, though, it snagged Beal No. 2 overall in 2012 and John Wall No. 1 overall in 2010, two of the best players in franchise history and the best it’s had since picking them.</p><p>Sarr isn’t guaranteed to reach Wall and Beal’s heights, but he has All-Star potential. Meanwhile, the Wizards are in a position to land another top-five pick this summer as star prospects Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey await. After that, they have a 2026 top-eight protected selection in a class with high school stars AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.</p><p>A portion of this process will come down to luck, as the NBA Draft Lottery randomizes the picks. Even if Washington gets who it wants, the prospect might not live up to their potential (see: Porter).</p><p>With that being said, the Wizards have at least given themselves a chance of breaking its decades-long title drought in a few years, and that’s why <a href="https://x.com/joshvaldez100/status/1889811154043883928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1889811154043883928%7Ctwgr%5Eefd00c17e99b1dbc7d0b4be7e160daf33a1c34e6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fwashington-wizards%2Fwizards-news-jordan-poole-42-point-night-pacers" rel="noopener">they’re being complimented</a> by the likes of Spoelstra and former NBA champion Rick Carlisle.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is impressed with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wizards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wizards</a> rebuild.</p><p>“I like their drafts…they have veterans in the building which always helps…and they’re doing it with accountability, which is how you have to do it.” <a href="https://t.co/FQnkiJ5Cg4">pic.twitter.com/FQnkiJ5Cg4</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1889811154043883928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“[I’m] impressed. I like their drafts, I like the job that Brian Keefe is doing,” the latter coach said before his Indiana Pacers beat Washington 134-130 in overtime on Feb. 12. “They’re playing fast, they’re playing hard. They’ve got some veterans mixed in, which I think really helps in developing young players. And they’re doing it with a level of accountability, which is how you have to do it.”</p><p>After their matchup with the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, the Wizards have six more games before their offseason begins. On May 12, they’ll find out what pick they get in the lottery.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra insists Wizards ‘don’t want’ his advice

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-why-carmelo-anthony-believes-great-owner-washington');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Carmelo Anthony believes he would be a ‘great owner’ of Wizards');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wizards-news-Why-Carmelo-Anthony-believes-he-would-be-a-great-owner-of-Washington.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Carmelo Anthony believes he would be a ‘great owner’ of Wizards</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-02T04:39:07-07:00">April 2nd, 4:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T04:39:07-07:00">April 2nd, 4:39am</time><address><a>DJ Dunson</a>DJ Dunson is a sports and entertainment raconteur who has covered the NFL, NBA, college sports and the intersection with the four quarters of life. He has previously written for Deadspin, Yahoo Sports, Complex and Bleacher Report, among others.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Carmelo Anthony sure sounds like someone interested in getting involved in NBA ownership. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/nba-news-carmelo-anthony-makes-official-retirement-announcement">Since Anthony retired two years ago</a>, the 10-time All-Star has focused on his endeavors outside of basketball. During the most recent episode of 7 PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, the titular host expressed his interest in being an owner of the Washington Wizards. </p><p>“I want to buy the Wizards. I would be a great owner,” Anthony declared. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Carmelo Anthony: “I wanna buy the [Washington] Wizards. I would be a great owner.”</p><p>Monica McNutt: “Why are you a great owner?”</p><p>Melo: “Former player, I understand players, personnel, being strategic, how to build teams.”</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/7PMinBrooklyn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7PMinBrooklyn</a>)<a href="https://t.co/35Hab0U4YO">pic.twitter.com/35Hab0U4YO</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1907205415772790812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>When pressed by co-host Monica McNutt on how he’d execute in this capacity, Anthony delivered a strong dissertation on how to run a prosperous and winning NBA franchise. </p><p>“Former player. I understand players. I understand personnel, I understand being fatigued. I understand how to build teams, but I also understand what I don’t understand. I know what I don’t know,” Anthony conveyed. “You also have to put people in those positions. President, GM, you put all the basketball acumen in those positions, and then you cover that with the business model.”</p><h2><b>Carmelo Anthony shoots his shot at NBA ownership with Wizards </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Carmelo-Anthony-serves-as-a-spectator.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Anthony isn’t just speaking in theoretical terms. He earned $262 million in salary during his NBA career, but he also owns several restaurant franchises and portfolio investments in an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/10-nba-players-smartest-business-investments" rel="noopener">assortment of business entities such as Overtime</a>. Anthony’s business empire also appears to have formulated substantial beliefs related to franchise operations. </p><p>“And so now you create these levels. The business mind can never question the basketball mind. Right? But it has to be a connection between the two. Now the equity comes in because now you gotta create these experiences, fan experience,” Anthony added</p><p>Despite all this, Anthony likely doesn’t have the capital to purchase the Washington Wizards on his own. Ted Leonsis owns the Wizards who are valued at 4.25 billion. However, billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/laurene-powell-jobs-selling-10-154228561.html" rel="noopener">has put her 10 percent stake up for sale</a> according to Sportico.  The Wizards are currently cellar dwellers, but A.J. Johnson is beginning to show promise since getting traded to Washington from Dallas. More importantly, the Wizards have a significant shot at getting Brad Stevens.</p><p>However, he can wait it out there may be a better proposition for him down the road. If LeBron James is serious about purchasing a majority stake in the NBA’s Las Vegas expansion franchise, he and Anthony could reunited in ownership.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Carmelo Anthony believes he would be a ‘great owner’ of Wizards

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-jordan-poole-honest-dc-three-point-record');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jordan Poole gets honest about D.C. after breaking Wizards three-point record');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wizards-news-Jordan-Poole-gets-honest-about-DC-after-breaking-three-point-record.jpg"></figure><h1>Jordan Poole gets honest about D.C. after breaking Wizards three-point record</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T13:12:59-07:00">April 1st, 1:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T13:45:56-07:00">April 1st, 1:45pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The 2024-25 chapter in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/wizards-news-washington-rebuilding-lucky-draft-lottery">Washington Wizards’ rebuild</a> could be called “Jordan Poole: Unleashed.” While the development of their young core is the most important storyline for the future, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/wizards-news-jordan-poole-makes-franchise-history-35-point-eruption-vs-heat">Poole’s growth this season</a> has reached historic heights.</p><p>The former NBA champion <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906898213606432824" rel="noopener">described how he’s changed</a> since his arrival in Washington last season after breaking the franchise single-season made three-point record on Monday night.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">With Jordan Poole breaking the Wizards’ single-season three-point record tonight, I asked how he’s changed since he got to DC last year.</p><p>He mentioned how he’s more comfortable in the environment at this point, as he’s not the type to open up right away. Also credited Coach BK. <a href="https://t.co/kvusPAbeoj">pic.twitter.com/kvusPAbeoj</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906898213606432824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“In general, I’m definitely more settled. Just being in the city, being around the people in the organization, getting more comfortable,” he said. “I’m a pretty unique person, so I’m not the type to just open up right away. But I think now, just kind of the interactions that I have with my teammates, the coaching staff, the employee staff…It’s just a lot more connected.”</p><p>Poole had a rocky start to his Wizards tenure after the team acquired him from the Golden State Warriors on July 6, 2023. The Michigan alum averaged just 15.6 points on 40 percent shooting (30.3 percent 3 PT) while struggling with shot selection and defense. However, the tide shifted when then-interim head coach Brian Keefe benched him in January 2024.</p><p>Poole immediately improved after that, notching 20.5 points and 4.3 assists on better efficiency in 12 games as a reserve. The 2019 No. 28 overall pick then re-entered the starting lineup after fellow guard Tyus Jones got hurt, and it’s been smooth sailing since.</p><p>Fast forward to now, and Poole owns Washington’s single-season three-point record with a career-high 228 and counting. The 25-year-old passed Bradley Beal’s mark of 223 from the 2016-17 season during Monday’s 120-94 loss to the Miami Heat.</p><p>“It feels more natural, which I’m okay with, just because D.C. as a city is the same way,” he continued. “They don’t open [their] arms and welcome you right away, they’re like, ‘Alright, let’s see who he is, what he does. He has to give us a reason to cheer for him.’ I think that this year I was able to do that.”</p><p>Poole’s description of the District is accurate, as its sports fans are jaded due to the pain they’ve been through. The only championships that the local NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, and WNBA teams have won in the 21st century are the Washington Capitals’ 2018 title as well as the Washington Nationals’ and Mystics’ titles in 2019. Meanwhile, the Wizards haven’t won it all since 1978.</p><p>Poole has now established himself as a positive presence in the city’s sports landscape, and he gives Keefe credit for helping that happen.</p><p>“In terms of my game, I told Coach BK that this doesn’t happen if he doesn’t put me in a position to play my game. I think that was a big, big, big thing last year,” he continued. “That took a lot of people to kind of understand. It ended up coming out later in the season, but during the season, it was kind of like, ‘Why isn’t he playing up to his level?’…I think from the start of the season I’ve been in a position where I’m playing my true position, getting guys involved, playing my game.”</p><p>“We have a nice continuity in general when it comes to our offense, so it’s just been pretty natural. I think this is definitely the version that is most comfortable and most settled when I get going.”</p><h2><b>Wizards’ Tristan Vukevic learns from Bam Adebayo</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wizards-Tristan-Vukcevic.jpg"><figcaption>© Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Meanwhile, Washington’s 2023 second-round pick Tristan Vukcevic continues to come into his own. The 22-year-old led the team’s bench with 14 points (6-13 FG, 2-6 3 PT) in 22 minutes against Miami while adding four rebounds and one assist. He’s now averaging 11.3 points on 45.5 percent shooting in March after returning from an injury in December.</p><p>Vukcevic said post-game that part of what helps him improve is <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1907135938343432552" rel="noopener">learning from the best</a>, such as Heat (34-41) big man Bam Adebayo.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tristan Vukcevic said after last night’s Heat matchup that he always files away what he observes from elite big men like Bam Adebayo. He specifically pointed out Bam’s pump fakes and patience with the ball inside as qualities he’s learned from the Olympian. <a href="https://t.co/1FJd2DafxR">pic.twitter.com/1FJd2DafxR</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1907135938343432552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“Yeah, of course. Every All-Star or big player, especially the big men, having the same position,” the 6-foot-10-inch 220-pounder said. “I mean, I’m not like in the game looking how to get better. I have a memory, and I’ll go home and think about it, watch film the next day with the coaches. I don’t wanna copy anyone, I wanna be my own player, be myself. But there’s definitely always something you can take from each player.”</p><p>Adebayo, a three-time All-Star, dominated with 28 points (11-19 FG, 2-5 3 PT) with 12 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 31 minutes against the Wizards (16-59). While no team enjoys an opposing player imposing their will, the bright side is that Vukcevic got to observe him up close as he tries to secure a long-term backup role in Washington.</p><p>“Just his pump fakes…How when he gets a bump off in the paint, he’s not rushing into his shot,” he mentioned as Adebayo’s best qualities. “He takes his time, and that’s a big thing.”</p><p>With seven games left, Vukcevic is one of several young players who can use the remaining reps to keep establishing himself ahead of a likely transformative offseason for the franchise as it awaits the possibility of drafting Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or Ace Bailey.</p><p>Up next for the Wizards are home dates with the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jordan Poole gets honest about D.C. after breaking Wizards three-point record

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-jordan-poole-makes-franchise-history-35-point-eruption-vs-heat');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wizards’ Jordan Poole makes franchise history amid 35-point eruption vs. Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wizards-news-Jordan-Poole-makes-franchise-history-amid-35-point-eruption-vs.-Heat.jpg"></figure><h1>Wizards’ Jordan Poole makes franchise history amid 35-point eruption vs. Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-31T20:38:04-07:00">March 31st, 8:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-31T20:39:57-07:00">March 31st, 8:39pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jordan Poole’s skill of knocking down 3-pointers at a moment’s notice helped him make history in the Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/heat-news-why-erik-spoelstra-believes-miami-is-trending-in-the-right-direction">Wizards’ game against the Miami Heat</a> on Monday night.</p><p>Going into the game, Poole made 221 triples throughout the season. He needed to make three shots from downtown to surpass former Wizard star Bradley Beal for most 3-pointers made in any season. Beal made 223 shots from downtown during the 2016-17 season.</p><p>Poole was up to the challenge. He knocked down seven triples, standing on top as the <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/1906852352512102826" rel="noopener">new season record holder</a> for the Wizards.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jordan Poole is now the <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WashWizards</a> single-season record holder in 3-pointers made! 🔥</p><p>224 and counting… <a href="https://t.co/LxOdcRG11e">pic.twitter.com/LxOdcRG11e</a></p><p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1906852352512102826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>How Jordan Poole, Wizards played against Heat</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jordan-Poole.jpg"><figcaption>Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/wizards-news-jordan-poole-hits-historic-milestone-vs-nets">Jordan Poole’s noteworthy accomplishment</a>, it was the only bright spot in what turned out to be a 120-94 blowout loss for the Wizards.</p><p>The Heat dominated on both sides of the ball, taking a 36-23 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. They also overwhelmed the Wizards on the glass, winning 62-39 in rebounds, which played a major role in Washington’s struggles this game.</p><p>Only two players scored in double-digits for the Wizards. Poole led the way with 35 points, four assists and three rebounds. He shot 10-of-17 from the field, including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. Tristan Vukcevic came next with 14 points and four rebounds, Carlton Carrington put up eight points and nine assists, while Alex Sarr provided eight points and three rebounds.</p><p>Washington fell to 16-59 on the season, being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. They are three games behind the Charlotte Hornets and seven games behind the Philadelphia 76ers.</p><p>Following Monday’s loss to the Heat, Jordan Poole and the Wizards will look to rebound in their next matchup. They host the Sacramento Kings on April 2 at 7 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Wizards’ Jordan Poole makes franchise history amid 35-point eruption vs. Heat

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-aj-johnson-superstar-potential');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wizards’ AJ Johnson touts his ‘superstar’ potential after career night');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wizards-news-J-Johnson-touts-his-%E2%80%98superstar-potential-after-career-night.jpg"></figure><h1>Wizards’ AJ Johnson touts his ‘superstar’ potential after career night</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-30T02:34:27-07:00">March 30th, 2:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-30T10:02:08-07:00">March 30th, 10:02am</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/wizards-news-washington-rebuilding-lucky-draft-lottery">Wizards will land a star prospect</a> in the 2025 NBA Draft if they get lucky in the lottery, but they already have a player who thinks he can be “The Guy.” <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/wizards-news-washington-rookie-star-potential-explosive-dunks-raptors">Rookie guard AJ Johnson</a> has been a walking highlight reel recently, and his 20-point game against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday was the peak of that, for now.</p><p>The 20-year-old <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906171860422733951" rel="noopener">sounded off about his capabilities</a> after the 115-112 loss.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">AJ Johnson claims that he has superstar potential, but needs to “work his tail off” to get to that point. <a href="https://t.co/4YVKxviFhx">pic.twitter.com/4YVKxviFhx</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906171860422733951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I believe I can be a superstar 100 percent in this league,” he said. “I just gotta work my tail off every day, honestly. It’s gonna take an everyday grind, doing all the little things. What I eat, what I watch, how I work is all gonna play into it.”</p><p>Johnson had a quiet night until the fourth quarter, when he tallied 14 points. The No. 23 overall pick made his final four shots all within the last 3:05, one of them being this <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/1906154832089464835" rel="noopener">reverse baseline dunk</a> over Trendon Watford that got the home crowd roaring.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">AJ TOOK FLIGHT ✈️ <a href="https://t.co/gqKwCzZz73">https://t.co/gqKwCzZz73</a> <a href="https://t.co/mfG0KTwblB">pic.twitter.com/mfG0KTwblB</a></p><p>— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/1906154832089464835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Johnson also hit a go-ahead three from the wing with 23 seconds left, which was Washington’s (16-58) final bucket of the contest. The 6-foot-5-inch, 160-pounder took over at the end of the game despite playing the entire second half and 42 minutes in total, showing stamina on top of his athleticism and clutchness. Head coach Brian Keefe joked that the young player will “need a nap [on Sunday],” but “he’s a fearless kid.”</p><p>For context, Johnson played just 45 total minutes for the Milwaukee Bucks before they traded him to the Wizards along <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bucks-news-khris-middleton-wizards-kyle-kuzma-trade">with Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma</a> on Feb. 5. The California native spent more time in the G League, playing 25 games for the Wisconsin Herd (Bucks’ affiliate) and then five for the Capital City Go-Go (Wizards’ affiliate) after the deal.</p><p>It initially seemed like Johnson would be more of a project than an immediate contributor, as he played just 7.7 minutes per game for the NBL’s (Australian League’s) Illawarra Hawks last season, and Washington already had several other young players on the roster. However, with injuries piling up and the organization prioritizing development over winning, it had nothing to lose by giving him consistent minutes in the big leagues.</p><p>That decision has been rewarding, as Johnson has scored double digits in four of his last seven outings and is averaging 9.6 points on 41.3 percent shooting with 3.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds across 26.4 minutes in March. The NBL’s Next Stars alum is already a useful rotational piece despite his inexperience and has shown what he can do with extended playing time. His 20 points on Saturday were a career high and tied with Colby Jones for the most on the team, while his 17 points in Monday’s 112-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors led the Wizards’ bench.</p><p>Johnson also has 10 dunks in just 14 games with Washington, showing explosiveness around the rim. If he develops a consistent three-point shot to boot, the Bucks may regret trading him. He shot 3-of-7 from deep on Monday, but just 2-of-11 in the previous three games combined and 28.3 percent as a Wizard thus far.</p><p>Johnson undoubtedly has room to grow, but this is as good of a start an organization could ask for from such a green player.</p><h2><b>AJ Johnson reflects on journey to Wizards</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AJ-Johnson.jpg"><figcaption>© Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It’s one thing for a young athlete to have physical talent, but success depends just as much on their mind, if not more. It’s a good sign that Johnson emphasized attention to details such as his diet and film-watching, but he’s also <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906179010788274417" rel="noopener">grateful for his journey</a> so far.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">AJ Johnson, who’s now making a big impact on the Wizards after playing only 45 minutes for the Bucks to start his career, said that his journey “has been a blessing” and credits his focus for helping him get to this point. <a href="https://t.co/DNTghql14D">pic.twitter.com/DNTghql14D</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1906179010788274417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“Being here, getting minutes in the NBA and competing versus high-level players has definitely given me the time to reflect and just see how far I’ve come,” he continued post-game. “My journey hasn’t been the easiest, but I’ve just stayed focused and kept going, so I took some time to reflect. Definitely a blessing.”</p><p>Johnson’s past few years have been a whirlwind. The combo guard started his high school career in Fresno before hitting a growth spurt and emerging as a top national recruit at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, over the next couple of years. He then transferred to Kanye West’s Donda Academy for his senior year but finished at Southern California Academy after Donda closed.</p><p>Johnson, who was rated a five-star prospect by Rivals and a four-star by 247Sports and ESPN, committed to Texas basketball over Louisville, USC, LSU, the NBL, and G League Ignite on Nov. 21, 2022. However, he decommitted on April 13, 2023, and announced his decision to play in Australia.</p><p>The Bucks then drafted Johnson last summer despite his sparse playing time with Illawarra, as his athleticism and explosiveness made him a worthy developmental piece. However, it seems like Milwaukee, and possibly the entire NBA, underestimated the high-flying slasher’s potential.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Wizards’ AJ Johnson touts his ‘superstar’ potential after career night

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-jordan-poole-hits-historic-milestone-vs-nets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wizards’ Jordan Poole hits historic milestone vs. Nets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jordan-Poole-hits-historic-milestone-vs.-Nets.jpg"></figure><h1>Wizards’ Jordan Poole hits historic milestone vs. Nets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-29T18:41:24-07:00">March 29th, 6:41pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-29T18:42:03-07:00">March 29th, 6:42pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole is a polarizing player who has elicited strong reactions from NBA fans for years. To some, he is the guy <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/warriors-news-draymond-green-gets-real-what-jordan-poole-tweet-really-meant">Draymond Green punched in the face</a> during a Golden State Warriors practice. Others will call him the best player on an abysmal team (16-58) and treat him as such. It is important to remember, however, that this man also played an integral role in the Dubs winning their most recent championship.</p><p>The 25-year-old has already enjoyed NBA success and has time to get better. He achieved a milestone in Saturday night’s home game versus the Brooklyn Nets. Poole drained the <a href="https://x.com/WizardsNationCP/status/1906144135708287073" rel="noopener">1,000th 3-pointer of his career</a> in the third quarter, via Wizards Nation. He struggled from the field for much of the contest (12 points on 2-of-9 shooting) but knocked down a bucket that gave Washington the lead at the time, before an eventual 115-112 loss.</p><p>Following a woefully inefficient first year in the D.C. area, Poole has become far more comfortable as a core member of the squad during the 2024-25 season. He is posting 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game while shooting a career-high 37.9 percent from 3-point range. His 42.9 field goal percentage is admittedly not up to par, but the No. 28 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has significantly improved from distance.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">With this triple, Jordan Poole now has 1,000 career 3-pointers 🔥<a href="https://t.co/2dsa7iyjMq">pic.twitter.com/2dsa7iyjMq</a></p><p>— Wizards Nation (@WizardsNationCP) <a href="https://twitter.com/WizardsNationCP/status/1906144135708287073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Can Jordan Poole and the Wizards grow together?</b></h2><p>While Poole might not morph into the unquestioned face of the Wizards, considering they have invested high draft picks in Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly, he could possibly serve as a crucial member of the team once the rebuilding phase ends. If it ever does end, that is.</p><p>The Wizards are desperately hoping they can secure the golden lottery ticket on May 12, which will give them the power to select <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-basketball/duke-basketball-news-cooper-flagg-earns-most-complete-take-from-former-blue-devils-star">Duke phenom Cooper Flagg</a> with the No. 1 overall selection this summer. But Jordan Poole could provide a vital scoring punch while and after the 18-year-old forward finds his NBA footing. Maybe when it is time for him to celebrate his next feat, he will be on a competitive Washington squad.</p><p>That is a fantasy both Poole and the fan base share.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Wizards’ Jordan Poole hits historic milestone vs. Nets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-khris-middleton-hits-washington-with-bold-playoff-declaration');   ga('set', 'title', 'Khris Middleton hits Wizards with bold playoff declaration');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Khris-Middleton-hits-Washington-with-bold-playoff-declaration.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Khris Middleton hits Wizards with bold playoff declaration</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-28T13:23:58-07:00">March 28th, 1:23pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-28T13:23:58-07:00">March 28th, 1:23pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton has <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-intel-trae-young-dyson-daniels-caris-levert-khris-middleton-wizards-grizzlies-okc/" rel="noopener">expressed strong confidence</a> in the team’s potential, asserting that they are capable of making a playoff run next season. In a recent interview with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Middleton emphasized the team’s competitiveness and the growth of its young core.​</p><p>“I think this team could definitely be a playoff team,” Middleton stated. “We had a stretch recently where we were competing against some of the playoff teams in some games, where we won some games and lost some others. I think if you give us a full offseason and give us a full season together, with the improvement of the young core, which is going to be huge, I think they can take a big step because of the way they work, how talented they are, and how smart they are.”​</p><p>Middleton, acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline, holds a player option for the 2025-26 season worth $34 million. His remarks come amid a challenging season for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-jordan-poole-alex-sarr-shushing-doubters">Wizards, who currently hold a 16-57 record</a> following a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-indiana-makes-franchise-history-win-vs-wizards">162-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers</a> on Thursday night.​</p><p>Despite the team’s struggles, Middleton highlighted recent competitive performances, including victories over the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons, as well as close contests against the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers.​</p><h2><b>Khris Middleton guides young Wizards core with eyes set on future playoff contention</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Khris-Middleton-32-looks-on-during-the-first-half-against-the-Portland-Trail-Blazers.jpg"><figcaption>© Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Beyond his on-court contributions, Middleton has embraced a mentorship role with Washington’s young talents, notably rookie forward Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and second-year wing Bilal Coulibaly, the No. 7 pick in 2023.​</p><p>“I talk to them about daily habits, competing, and going through the process,” Middleton explained. “I’m not really trying to tell them what to do, but helping them figure it out and giving them advice along the way. I try to encourage them.”​</p><p>He also praised their development, noting, “I’ve learned how skillful they are for their age. These are first and second-year players with confidence. They have all the intangibles, like how quickly they pick up on things. The results haven’t shown, but I think they play at a high level.”​</p><p>As the Washington Wizards focus on rebuilding, internal development remains a priority. Middleton’s presence offers a bridge between the team’s veteran leadership and its emerging talent.​</p><p>Looking ahead, Washington will conclude its current five-game homestand with a matchup against the Orlando Magic (35-39) before embarking on a two-game road trip to face the Indiana Pacers (43-30) and the Boston Celtics (54-19). While the Wizards are eliminated from playoff contention this season, Middleton’s optimism suggests a belief in the team’s upward trajectory.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Khris Middleton hits Wizards with bold playoff declaration

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-jordan-poole-alex-sarr-shushing-doubters');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wizards’ Jordan Poole praises Alex Sarr for ‘shushing’ doubters');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jordan-Poole-praises-Alex-Sarr_16x9.jpg"></figure><h1>Wizards’ Jordan Poole praises Alex Sarr for ‘shushing’ doubters</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-28T00:58:30-07:00">March 28th, 12:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-28T13:31:19-07:00">March 28th, 1:31pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/wizards-news-alex-sarr-roasted-hideous-summer-league-game-numbers">Wizards rookie Alex Sarr was roasted</a> by basketball fans online after shooting 9-of-47 in Summer League, including a 0-for-15 performance. However, the 19-year-old <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-march-26-2025-edition" rel="noopener">is now third</a> in the NBA Rookie Ladder and has 19-plus points in eight of his last 13 outings. He also became the youngest center in NBA history to score 20 or more points in a game with no free throws in the 119-114 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-alex-sarr-pulls-off-historic-feat-in-win-vs-76ers">win vs. the Philadelphia 76ers</a> on Wednesday.</p><p>Jordan Poole described Sarr’s <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1905445617410678918" rel="noopener">growth after the</a> Wizards’ 162-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I asked Jordan Poole to describe the growth he’s seen from Alex Sarr this season. He said that the rookie is “getting more confident” the more he plays and credited him for “shushing the noise” from earlier in the season. <a href="https://t.co/5ccqk4iq11">pic.twitter.com/5ccqk4iq11</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1905445617410678918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I think he’s getting more comfortable throughout the course of the season. He’s getting more comfortable with the way we play, more comfortable with his game,” the second-year Wizard said. “I think he’s starting to figure out what he does that’s comfortable to him, that makes him a dominant player.”</p><p>Sarr’s scoring is night and day compared to the start of the season. The No. 2 overall pick averaged just eight points per game on 29.7 percent shooting (23.8 percent 3 PT) across 24.2 minutes in October but is posting 17.2 points on a 41.8 percent clip (36.4 percent 3 PT) across 27.6 minutes in March.</p><p>“I feel like we’ve just been playing really good basketball, team basketball,” Poole continued. “Everybody’s been on the court long enough to learn each other’s strengths. I think we got a really good chemistry going on on both sides of the ball. Credit to Alex for sticking with it and continuing to improve and shush a lot of the noise that we heard coming into the season.”</p><p>It was never smart to write off Sarr after a handful of rocky Summer League appearances, but the social media era is full of premature takes. Regardless, the French international is showing each game why he was drafted so high, as he’s averaging 20.3 points on 56 percent true shooting with 6.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over the last eight contests.</p><p>True shooting is an advanced stat that is calculated by dividing twice the sum of the players’ field goal attempts and 0.44 times their free throw attempts. It takes into account all types of shots and their respective values. For context, Dalton Knecht and Jaylen Wells lead all rookies at 59.3 and 56.1 percent, respectively.</p><p>Meanwhile, Sarr has maintained the other facets of his game. The seven-footer’s 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in March nearly match his season averages across the board (6.7, 2.3, 1.5). He’s second among rookies only to Donovan Clingan in rejections, who has 1.6, and his 13.1 points are also second only to Stephon Castle’s 14.2.</p><p>With that being said, it’s one thing for Sarr’s teammate and mentor to compliment him publically, but it’s another when a former Coach of the Year does it from outside the organization.</p><h2><b>Rick Carlisle showers Alex Sarr with praise</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Jordan-Poole-praises-Alex-Sarr-2_16x9.jpg"><figcaption>© Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Pacers (43-30) head coach Rick Carlisle lauded Sarr’s <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1905386334102921718" rel="noopener">skill and personality</a> before Thursday’s game.</p><p>“He’s got a high ceiling. He’s tall, long, athletic, skilled, unafraid…He stretches the floor, shoots threes, and he can block shots,” the former NBA champion said. “And he plays with a real upbeat vibe. Very likeable player as you watch him.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said that Alex Sarr “has a high ceiling…He can stretch the floor, block shots. He has an upbeat vibe, very likable player…” <a href="https://t.co/ixFy10lE1F">pic.twitter.com/ixFy10lE1F</a></p><p>— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshvaldez100/status/1905386334102921718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Sarr proved Carlisle right on an otherwise <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-indiana-makes-franchise-history-win-vs-wizards">miserable night for Washington</a> (16-57), scoring a team-high 22 points (8-15 FG, 1-4 3 PT) with seven rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal in 28 minutes vs. Indiana.</p><p>That was just one day after notching 24 points (10-17 FG, 4-7 3 PT) with seven boards, two assists, two rejections, and one steal in the win over Philadelphia. The former NBL (Australian League) player also hit a <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/1905064948918558894" rel="noopener">game-sealing fall-down shot</a> from close range in the final seconds.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">20-piece for the rook 🤩 </p><p>24 PTS 🔥 7 REB <a href="https://t.co/n9MgetQj2K">pic.twitter.com/n9MgetQj2K</a></p><p>— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/1905064948918558894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Sarr’s ankle injury that kept him out for all but two games in February likely ruined his chances at the Rookie of the Year award, but he’s proven that he’s a promising piece with All-Star potential for the Wizards.</p><h2><b>More items</b></h2><p>In other news, Poole set a career-high for threes made in a season on Wednesday with 215, and is now at 219 after Thursday’s game. The Michigan alum’s previous best mark was 214 for the Golden State Warriors in 2022-23.</p><p>With nine games left, Poole’s also on pace to break Bradley Beal’s franchise record of 223, which he set in the 2016-17 campaign.</p><p>Poole is scorching from deep, as he went 4-of-8 against the Pacers, 4-of-7 against the 76ers, and 5-of-9 in Monday’s 112-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors. The 25-year-old is shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc in March and a career-best 37.9 percent this year.</p><p>Additionally, Bub Carrington broke the franchise rookie record for threes made in a season on Thursday with 113, passing Corey Kispert’s record of 112 from 2021-22. Earlier in March, the 19-year-old also became just the third player in NBA history with 250-plus assists and 100-plus three-pointers made before turning 20, joining Kobe Bryant and Luka Doncic.</p><p>The Wizards’ record-breaking core is off on Friday before hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Wizards’ Jordan Poole praises Alex Sarr for ‘shushing’ doubters

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/indiana-pacers/pacers-news-indiana-makes-franchise-history-win-vs-wizards');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers make franchise history in win vs. Wizards');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pacers-news-Indiana-makes-franchise-history-in-win-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Pacers make franchise history in win vs. Wizards</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-27T20:19:59-07:00">March 27th, 8:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-27T20:28:40-07:00">March 27th, 8:28pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Indiana Pacers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/wnba/fever-news-caitlin-clark-reaction-pacers-score-wizards">Pacers torched the Washington Wizards</a> in historic fashion on Thursday night.</p><p>Indiana scored a whopping 162 points to cruise to the 53-point victory over Washington. They couldn’t miss from the field, making 64% of their total attempts which includes a 57% success rate from beyond the arc.</p><p>Not only did they score the most points by a team this season, but they also <a href="https://x.com/statmuse/status/1905429134987178407" rel="noopener">scored the most points in franchise history</a>, per StatMuse.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Pacers after historic win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Tyrese-Haliburton_245214.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It is an eye-catching feat for the Pacers to accomplish in their franchise’s history, dominating a Wizards squad that had no chance from the start.</p><p>The Pacers jumped to a 45-31 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. They scored 37 or more points in each of the four quarters, proving their offense to be too much for the Wizards to handle.</p><p>Nine players scored in double-digits for the team. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 29 points and six assists. He shot 9-of-15 from the field, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. Myles Turner came next with 17 points and five rebounds, Jarace Walker put up 16 points and five assists, while Obi Toppin provided 15 points.</p><p>Indiana improved to 43-30 on the season, holding the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 2.5 games behind the New York Knicks and 11 games behind the Boston Celtics.</p><p>Following Thursday’s win over the Wizards, the Pacers will prepare for their next road matchup. They face the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 29 at 8 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers make franchise history in win vs. Wizards

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/5-wizards-non-cooper-flagg-2025-nba-draft-targets-sweet-sixteen');   ga('set', 'title', '5 Wizards non-Cooper Flagg 2025 NBA Draft targets to watch in Sweet Sixteen');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/5-Wizards-non-Cooper-Flagg-2025-NBA-Draft-targets-to-watch-in-Sweet-Sixteen-and-beyond.jpg"></figure><h1>5 Wizards non-Cooper Flagg 2025 NBA Draft targets to watch in Sweet Sixteen</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-27T10:26:59-07:00">March 27th, 10:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-27T10:26:59-07:00">March 27th, 10:26am</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It’s now the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, and Washington Wizards fans will see their potential future star Cooper Flagg and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/arizona-vs-duke-prediction-odds-pick-for-mens-march-madness-2025">No. 1 Duke play No. 4 Arizona</a> on Thursday night.</p><p>There’s no doubt that the 6-foot-9-inch, 205-pound freshman will be the top pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, as he has no major weakness in his game and is the best player in the NCAA at just 18 years old. He leads the Blue Devils in all major stats, and they’re the <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=national-champion" rel="noopener">favorite to cut the nets</a> in April, via FanDuel.</p><p>With that being said, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/why-wizards-fans-shouldnt-worry-wins-tank">Wizards only have a 14 percent chance</a> of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery, so their fans must accept that “Capturing the Flagg” isn’t guaranteed. Therefore, they must also pay attention to the other talent on display.</p><p>However, Washington fans who aren’t big college basketball followers may wonder who else is left worth watching. Rutgers didn’t make March Madness, which means possible No. 2 and No. 3 picks Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey aren’t playing. Potential No. 4 pick VJ Edgecombe is also out after Flagg and Duke disposed of his Baylor squad 89-66 in the Round of 32 on Sunday.</p><p>Luckily, there are still <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/5-wizards-non-cooper-flagg-2025-nba-draft-targets-ncaa-tournament-2">several non-Flagg prospects</a> to watch in the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.</p><h2><b>C Derik Queen, Maryland</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Maryland-basketballs-Derik-Queen.jpg"><figcaption>© Eakin Howard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Queen went viral after <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1903981264828342688" rel="noopener">hitting a buzzer-beater</a> to ice No. 4 Maryland’s 72-71 win over No. 12 Colorado State on Sunday, showing off elite touch for a big man with everything on the line.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DERIK QUEEN. MARCH. CINEMA. </p><p>MARYLAND BEATS COLORADO ST. AT THE BUZZER TO HEAD TO THE SWEET 16 🍿</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarchMadnessMBB</a>) <a href="https://t.co/wpUElsOgqJ">pic.twitter.com/wpUElsOgqJ</a></p><p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1903981264828342688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The 6-foot-10-inch, 246-pounder scored a team-high 17 points (7-12 FG, 2-3 3 PT) with six rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in 33 minutes. His stock has risen recently, as his improved three-point shot strengthens his profile. He’s 4-of-7 from deep in the past three games after making only two threes the entire season before that.</p><p>Queen is a good option for the Wizards if they land the No. 5 pick, as it could pair him next to 2025 Rookie of the Year candidate Alex Sarr in the frontcourt. With the latter player being a seven-footer, it would be tough for teams to score inside against both of them simultaneously.</p><p>Queen would also have “hometown hero” potential, as he’s from Baltimore and has already entrenched himself in D.C.-area basketball history.</p><p>The Terrapins play No. 1 Florida in the West Region on Thursday at 7:39 PM EST. The game will be on TBS/truTV.</p><h2><b>G/F Egor Demin, BYU</b></h2><p>Demin’s versatility was on full display in No. 6 BYU’s 91-89 win over No. 3 Wisconsin on Saturday, scoring 11 points (3-10 FG, 2-6 3 PT) with eight rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and just one turnover in 27 minutes. The Russian international’s shooting efficiency leaves something to be desired, as he sports just a 41.1 percent field-goal clip (28.1 percent 3 PT) on the season. However, a freshman flirting with a triple-double against a higher-seeded team in the Round of 32 is not something to take lightly.</p><p>Demin also notched 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-7 3 PT) with four rebounds and two assists across 31 minutes in the Cougars’ 80-71 first-round win vs. No. 11 VCU. The 6-foot-9-inch, 190-pounder is listed as the <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/players/egor-demin" rel="noopener">fifth-best point guard</a> in this draft class, via Tankathon.</p><p>Demin and every remaining prospect on this list would be a good option for the Wizards with their lottery-protected pick from the Memphis Grizzlies, which they landed in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/grizzlies-news-memphis-makes-marcus-smart-deal-wizards-beat-trade-deadline-buzzer">Marcus Smart trade</a>.</p><p>BYU faces No. 2 Alabama in the East Region on Thursday night. The game will be on CBS.</p><h2><b>C Alex Condon, Florida</b></h2><p>Condon is a finesse big man who could back up Sarr long-term, as he shares similar skills. The 6-foot-11-inch, 230-pounder can stretch the floor and pass, as he’s shown with seven assists and two made threes for Florida in March Madness so far.</p><p>Condon must clean up his free-throws, as he’s shooting just 60.2 percent from the charity stripe this season. However, his skill set aligns with modern NBA centers and he could be a sleeper in the back of the first round.</p><h2><b>F Danny Wolf, Michigan</b></h2><p>Wolf defines the term “positionless basketball,” as he’s a seven-footer who can facilitate the offense and protect the rim. The junior has tallied 23 points (10-23 FG, 1-5 3 PT) with 20 rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and one steal in 68 NCAA Tournament minutes so far.</p><p>Wolf has room to grow in the three-point department, as he’s shooting just 33 percent from downtown this season. Still, the 20-year-old has enough good qualities to thrive at all positions with the Wizards if he can make teams respect his jumper.</p><p>No. 5 Michigan plays No. 1 Auburn on Friday at 9:39 PM EST. The game will be on CBS.</p><h2><b>G Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn</b></h2><p>The Wizards already have plenty of guards, but an abundance of young talent is a good problem to have. Pettiford would provide that, as the Tigers’ sixth man has showed off his combination of playmaking, long-range accuracy, and touch with floaters. He scored 23 points (7-14 FG, 2-3 3 PT) with six rebounds and three assists across 32 minutes in Auburn’s 82-70 win over No. 9 Creighton on Saturday.</p><p>Pettiford lacks size at just 6-foot-1-inch, 175 pounds, but he could be a solid NBA backup with the potential for more if he keeps developing his basketball IQ. Good mechanics and decision-making can make up for physical disadvantages.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

5 Wizards non-Cooper Flagg 2025 NBA Draft targets to watch in Sweet Sixteen

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-will-smith-dabs-up-jordan-poole-76ers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Will Smith dabs up Jordan Poole during Wizards-76ers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Will-Smith-dabs-up-Jordan-Poole-courtside.jpg"></figure><h1>Will Smith dabs up Jordan Poole during Wizards-76ers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-26T22:33:08-07:00">March 26th, 10:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-26T22:33:41-07:00">March 26th, 10:33pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Wizards have long been eliminated from contention for a spot in the 2025 NBA Playoffs but that doesn’t mean celebrities are completely staying away from their games.</p><p>On Wednesday night, Academy Award-winning actor Will Smith was courtside to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/wizards-vs-76ers-prediction-odds-pick-spread-3-26-2025">watch the Wizards take on the Philadelphia 76ers</a> at Wells Fargo Center in Philly.</p><p>Smith even caught up with Wizards shooting guard Jordan Poole during one moment in the contest.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Will Smith daps up Jordan Poole 🤝 </p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/Sh4bKUDt5r">pic.twitter.com/Sh4bKUDt5r</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1905050602356248724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>That short interaction between Smith and Poole got many people on the internet talking.</p><p>“What a legend,” <a href="https://x.com/cometwtf/status/1905050468109128133" rel="noopener">said</a> a fan.</p><p>“new meme unlocked,” <a href="https://x.com/nilofalvarado/status/1905052341549850736" rel="noopener">shared</a> another.</p><p>From a <a href="https://x.com/bellx_crypto/status/1905050649051398305" rel="noopener">different commenter</a>: “looks like he said something about watching him since he was little, wholesome moment!”</p><p>“Very cool moment Jordan Poole and Will Smith shaking hands,” <a href="https://x.com/sfgiantsfan15/status/1905050319840821291" rel="noopener">opined</a> one social media user on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>“Legends shaking hands that’s Will Smith and Jordan Poole 🔥,” <a href="https://x.com/ShazzNizz82/status/1905054853547573654" rel="noopener">posted</a> one fan.</p><p>A Sixers fan who was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Smith decided to drop by the arena and catch some basketball action between the 76ers and the Wizards <a href="https://6abc.com/post/west-philadelphia-native-will-smith-gets-street-renamed/16084434/" rel="noopener">after attending a ceremony</a>.</p><p>The said event introduced the new name of the intersection of North 59th Street and Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia, which is now called “Will Smith Way,” in his honor, according to Bryanna Gallagher and Beccah Hendrickson of 6 ABC.</p><p>“That was one of the things these streets of Philadelphia taught me, that there’s nothing wrong for a hard day’s work,” shared Smith.</p><p>As for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-alex-sarr-pulls-off-historic-feat-in-win-vs-76ers">Poole and the Wizards, they came away with a 119-114 victory</a> to snap a five-game losing skid. Poole put up a strong performance versus the Sixers, scoring 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field with four 3-pointers, seven dimes and two rebounds in just 22 minutes of action.</p><p>Meanwhile, rookie Alex Sarr led the way for the Wizards on offense with 24 points on 10-fo-17 shooting. Justin Champagnie and Tristan Vukcevic stepped up as well, chipping in 18 and 17 points, respectively.</p><p>The Wizards improved to 16-56, but they’re still in the very bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Washington only has 10 games left on its schedule, including a date with the Indiana Pacers to start a five-game homestand this Thursday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Will Smith dabs up Jordan Poole during Wizards-76ers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-alex-sarr-pulls-off-historic-feat-in-win-vs-76ers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wizards’ Alex Sarr pulls off historic feat in win vs. 76ers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wizards-news-Alex-Sarr-pulls-off-historic-feat-in-win-vs.-76ers.jpg"></figure><h1>Wizards’ Alex Sarr pulls off historic feat in win vs. 76ers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-26T20:12:33-07:00">March 26th, 8:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-26T20:12:33-07:00">March 26th, 8:12pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-owner-ted-leonsis-admission-washington-rebuild">Washington Wizards may be one of the worst teams in the association</a> at the moment, but they are playing the long game, prioritizing the development of their young prospects over any short-term success. At the very least, it looks as though the Wizards hit on their three first-round picks in 2024, with Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Carlton Carrington all showing glimpses of being impactful players for the long run.</p><p>On Wednesday night, it was Sarr who led the Wizards and proved once again why many saw him as the best prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft class. He put up 24 points and seven rebounds and shot the ball efficiency from the field, making 10 of his 17 field-goal attempts on the night in a 119-114 Wizards win over the Philadelphia 76ers. And in so doing, Sarr <a href="https://x.com/StatMamba/status/1905067344054923341" rel="noopener">became the youngest center</a> in NBA history to score 20 or more points without getting to the foul line at least once, as pointed out by StatMamba on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>Sarr is more of a finesse big man, as he’s not someone who plays with brute force in the paint. This is why the Wizards rookie can struggle with his efficiency at times. But when his shot is falling like it was on Wednesday, then the game becomes very easy for the 19-year-old rookie out of France.</p><p>The 19-year-old big man may not end up being the top player on a contending team, but when he comes into his own with age, he should be a crucial piece on a winning Wizards team. He can protect the rim well, as evidenced by his two blocks against the 76ers, and he provides so much utility on offense as a big man who can space the floor.</p><h2><b>Wizards are slowly and steadily assembling a nice young core</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wizards-Alex-Sarr.jpg"><figcaption>© Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There have been plenty of growing pains for the Wizards throughout the 2024-25 season, but at the very least, they have acknowledged the need to rebuild the team from the ground up, which means putting together a young core that, while it may not lead to many wins at present, could grow into a sustainable contending outfit.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/washington-wizards/wizards-news-alex-sarr-joins-bradley-beal-exclusive-club">Alex Sarr is a fearsome rim-protecting floor-spacer</a>, Kyshawn George is an all-around disruptor with a growing offensive game, and Carlton Carrington is a playmaker who also contributes in multiple facets of the ball. AJ Johnson, acquired in the Kyle Kuzma trade, is also earning his keep.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Washington
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Wizards News: Get the latest Washington Wizards news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

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WashingtonWizards NEWS

Wizards News: Get the latest Washington Wizards news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Wizards News

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra insists Wizards ‘don’t want’ his advice

Why Carmelo Anthony believes he would be a ‘great owner’ of Wizards

Jordan Poole gets honest about D.C. after breaking Wizards three-point record

Wizards’ Jordan Poole makes franchise history amid 35-point eruption vs. Heat

Wizards’ AJ Johnson touts his ‘superstar’ potential after career night

Wizards’ Jordan Poole hits historic milestone vs. Nets

Khris Middleton hits Wizards with bold playoff declaration

• Wizards’ Jordan Poole praises Alex Sarr for ‘shushing’ doubters

• Pacers make franchise history in win vs. Wizards

• 5 Wizards non-Cooper Flagg 2025 NBA Draft targets to watch in Sweet Sixteen

• Will Smith dabs up Jordan Poole during Wizards-76ers

• Wizards’ Alex Sarr pulls off historic feat in win vs. 76ers

Washington
Wizards NEWS