Fans and businesses in Chinatown hope for Wizards turnaround at NBA draft

WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards invited the community to celebrate the NBA Draft on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena. The Wizards chose Alex Sarr with its pick a No. 2 overall. Fans are hoping the class of rookies will breath new life into the team. Chinatown businesses around Capital One Arena are hoping for a turnaround, too. 

It's been more than 20 years since the Washington Wizards ranked in the NBA's top 10 teams for average attendance — that was back when Michael Jordan played for the team. While there are no truly transformative talents in this year's pool of draftees, Wizards fans are hoping for some positive momentum after a more-than-disappointing last season.

"I think we need more scorers and more defenders. To play more aggressive defense," one young fan told WUSA9 at the draft party.

After a winter and spring of uncertainty as team owner Ted Leonsis and Monumental Sports pushed a deal to move into Alexandria, a new deal with D.C. kept the team at Capital One Arena until 2050.

That's welcome news for fans inside and businesses outside in Chinatown and Gallery Place. 

The Wizards finished last season second-to-last in the NBA, winning just 15 games out of 82. Fans say to fill the arena again, the mission is a simple one.

"Wins some games. That's it," one fan said. Another fan echoed that sentiment. He said the NBA Draft is the first step.

"We need wins is what we need. Baby steps. That's what we're doing trying to get as many draft picks as possible," he said. "You want a solid pick, a really transformative player like a LeBron James type player, but we don't have him this year. A lot of uncertainty."

Capacity at Capital One Arena is 20,356. The average attendance at Wizards games last season was just under 17,000. Packing fans into the arena is a priority.

"I think they need to be more electrifying," another young fan said. 

Perhaps that spark will come from Sarr. He's a 7-foot, 224-pound center from Bordeaux, France. The 19-year-old most recently spent the 2023-24 season with the Perth Wildcats as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program where he averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 17.3 minutes per game over 27 league games. In two games against the NBA G League Ignite at the 2023 NBA G League Fall Invitational, Sarr blocked a total of 12 shots, highlighted by a 26 point, 10 rebound, six block and three steal performance vs. NBA G League Ignite on Sept. 8.

The team also agreed in principle to acquire the draft rights to Bub Carrington, the 14th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, from the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade that is expected to be finalized at a later date, and acquired the draft rights to Kyshawn George, the 24th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft from the New York Knicks.

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