Washington’s roster has an established track record of conflict — with each other. What does that mean for their rotation?
Locker room conflict isn’t anything new in the NBA. Just like any other team sport, basketball is prone to heated confrontation any time you stick 15 insanely competitive athletes in a series of small confined spaces day after day. Wins can smooth over differences between teammates — losses exacerbate them, and that can lead to some season-defining explosions between guys who should be getting along.
The Washington Wizards have spent the last few years experimenting with how far they can push this principle while still playing competitive basketball. Back-to-back playoff appearances run counter to the locker room culture of Washington, which has drifted between uncomfortable tension and absolute chaos over the past few years.
Rumors have swirled that John Wall and Bradley Beal dislike each other. There’s a history of players-only meetings with varying results. Bench guys like Tomas Satoransky are forced to answer questions they can’t answer. Coach Scott Brooks has been at odds with both of his team’s two All-Stars. And the team just added noted chemistry buoy Dwight Howard to the mix, and has shown interest in Jimmy Butler, who seems like the least likely player in the league to want to put up with the Wizards’ antics.
Washington’s found ways to channel this self-loathing into success before, mostly by taking out their angst on opponents. But this is an entirely new level of dysfunction, and it comes in a pivotal year where Washington will has a chance to solidify themselves as an East competitor. Can their rotation get along well enough to succeed? And if so, is the basketball product good enough?