The Washington Commanders finally did it! Not given much of a chance on Saturday in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, Jayden Daniels and crew defeated the heavily-favored Detroit Lions by the score of 45-31. Underdogs in the Wild Card Round as well, Washington squeaked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20. Now they head on the road for the third time this postseason to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. This is the first time that the franchise has made it this far since the 1991 season.
It is awesome for a fan base that suffered through the Dan Snyder era. For the team based in Washington D.C. in the NBA though, that wait has been even longer for the Washington Wizards.
Commanders Drought Is Over, But Wizards Has Been Even Longer
Wizards Conference Championship Drought Has Lasted 46 Years
It has been quite a lengthy amount of time since the Wizards have reached the Eastern Conference Finals. As a matter of fact, it has been 46 years since their last appearance was in 1979, when they were still known as the Bullets. That is the longest active drought in the NBA. The Charlotte Hornets are second, as they have never reached the Eastern Conference Finals in their 36 years as a franchise.
It sure doesn’t seem as if an Eastern Conference Finals appearance is in the near future either for the Wizards. Last season, they went 15-67, just one game better than the Detroit Pistons who owned the worst record. This season, Washington currently has the worst record at an abysmal 6-35.
Since that last conference championship appearance, the Wizards have reached the postseason 17 times. Twelve times, they were dispatched of in the opening round. In the other five, Washington was defeated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
While the Wizards can see how quickly the Commanders turned it around as hope, it just doesn’t seem realistic that a turnaround is coming anytime soon.
Second-Longest In NBA History
The Wizards/Bullets franchise hasn’t experienced a conference championship game since Jimmy Carter was in office. In a few years, they could have the longest stretch without a conference championship appearance in NBA history.
According to Champs or Chumps, Washington has the second-longest conference championship drought of all-time. The only longer one was ended not too long ago by the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2021, the franchise finally reached the Western Conference Finals. The franchise’s inaugural season came in 1970-71 as the Buffalo Braves. It took three iterations of the franchise (Buffalo Braves, San Diego Clippers, Los Angeles Clippers) before they were able to make it that far.
At least, the Wizards can say they reached the NBA Finals. The franchise made it four times, winning once. That came in 1978 when they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in seven games. The Clippers franchise has never reached the NBA Finals.
So while it’s hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel for the Wizards, many said the same for the Commanders. In the meantime, those in the D.C. area can cheer on the local team to reach the Super Bowl next Sunday.
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