Washington Wizards

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MEXICO CITY, June 14, 2024 –The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Zignia Live today announced that The NBA Mexico City Game 2024 will feature the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards playing a regular-season game hosted by Zignia Live at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Saturday, Nov. 2.  The announcement was made at the first-ever NBA House in Mexico, an interactive fan event during Game 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.The matchup will mark the league’s 33rd game in Mexico since 1992 – more than any country outside of the U.S. and Canada – and coincide with traditional “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) celebrations locally.  The “Dia de los Muertos” theme will be showcased as part of a variety of in-arena activations during the game, including a specially themed basketball court, and through the league’s fan engagement initiatives around the game.The Heat, which will be playing its third game in Mexico, currently features six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, three-time NBA All-Star Bam Adebayo and 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team member Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ties to Mexico).  The Wizards, who will be playing their fourth game in Mexico, currently feature NBA champions Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole as well as 2024 Panini Rising Stars selection Bilal Coulibaly.  The Wizards also have the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.The NBA Mexico City Game 2024 will air live in Mexico on ESPN and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App, and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.  In addition to The NBA Mexico City Game 2024, the league and its partners will conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA youth basketball development programming, and interactive activities that will engage youth and fans in Mexico City. The game and surrounding events will be supported by a roster of marketing partners, including AT&T, Betcris, Emirates, Hennessy, Michelob Ultra, Nike and Tissot. Beginning today, fans can register their interest in tickets and receive access to an exclusive ticket pre-sale that will take place on Wednesday, July 10 and Thursday, July 11 by visiting www.nbamexicocitygame.mx.  Tickets for the game will go on sale to the public on Friday, July 12.  Special ticket packages offering premium access, VIP experiences, hospitality and local hotel accommodations are available now at https://nbaexperiences.com/nba-mexico-city-game-2024.The 2024 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV are airing live in Mexico on ESPN, Star+, Televisa FTA, and NBA League Pass.  Fans in Mexico can find more information about the NBA at NBA.com/Mexico, by downloading the NBA App and on Facebook (@nbamexico), TikTok (@nbamex), X (@nbamex), YouTube (NBA México), Instagram (@nbamex), Threads (@nbamex) and WhatsApp Channels (NBA Mexico).  They can also purchase official NBA merchandise at the newly launched NBA Store in Mexico City, online at NBATienda.com and at the Arena CDMX on game night.

NBA Mexico Senior Vice President and Managing Director Raul Zarraga:“Bringing the Heat and the Wizards to Mexico City next season in conjunction with ‘Día de los Muertos’ will mark another special milestone in the NBA’s long history in Mexico.   The game and surrounding events will serve as the ultimate celebration of the NBA for fans in Mexico and across Latin America at a time when the momentum around basketball in the region is at an all-time high.”

Zignia Live Director Alejandro Arce Saldívar:“We are grateful to the NBA for the trust they have placed in us to bring the best basketball in the world to Mexico.  We are confident that fans will have a unique experience at Arena CDMX.  We thank the league, the teams, and of course the fans, whose response makes it possible to bring this type of event to our country.”

President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations Eric Woolworth:“We are excited to return to Mexico City to bring a little of Miami’s HEAT to the passionate fans of such a vibrant city.  Participating in these NBA Global Games allows us to engage with a broader basketball-loving community.”

President of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger:“We are delighted at the opportunity to represent the NBA and Washington, D.C. at the Global Games and are proud that our team reflects the growing globalization of the NBA.  Previous Washington Bullets and Wizard teams have had the opportunity of playing in Mexico City.  We are honored to follow in their footsteps and look forward to introducing this new Wizards team to NBA fans in Mexico City.”

About the NBAThe National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2022-23 season featured 120 international players from 41 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA's global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

About Zignia LiveZignia Live is one of the main show promotion companies in Mexico and Latin America, ranking within the “Top 20” of the most active promoters in the world.  Zignia Live is a content provider for important venues in Mexico City, Puebla, Guadalajara, Torreón, Tampico, Monterrey and offers unique and memorable experiences through the presentation of world-class live shows in the musical, artistic and sports fields.

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Miami Heat and Washington Wizards to play regular-season game in Mexico City on Nov. 2

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Wizards are inviting fans to join them for their 2024 NBA Draft Party presented by Robinhood on Wednesday, June 26, at Capital One Arena beginning at 6:30 p.m. Washington holds the 2nd, 26th and 51st overall selections in the NBA Draft.

The party is free and open to the public. All fans must claim a free ticket to attend this event by visiting washingtonwizards.com/draftparty.

The first 1,500 fans in attendance will take home a Wizards branded pennant flag and a Wizards NBA Draft Party themed t-shirt courtesy of Robinhood. The party will be hosted by Wizards in-game hosts Britt Waters and Dennis T. Wizards radio broadcasters Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor will also provide commentary and insight throughout the night while DJ Heat and DJ Jealousy, along with the Wizards Dancers, G-Wiz, and 202 Crew will entertain fans.

On the concourse, fans will be able to stock up on all their Wizards merchandise and team gear needs, including jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and bobbleheads with the Wizards Summer Sale located at sections 105 through 107. Proceeds will benefit the MSE Foundation.

Those in attendance will have the opportunity for a meet-and-greet with Wizards alumni Harvey Grant, Etan Thomas, Jason Smith, and Phil Chenier. In addition, Washington Mystics first-round draft pick, Aaliyah Edwards, will be in attendance to sign autographs for fans. Wizards Dancers and G-Wiz will also be available for photos.

In addition, Wizards fans 18+ will have a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip for two to the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, courtesy of Robinhood Markets. Terms and conditions apply.

Fans will also enjoy numerous activations on the concourse prior to the draft, including balloon artists, face painters, a free summer haircut and signature nail station, pop-a-shot, a photobooth, and gaming stations. Adoptable puppies will be on-site for meet-and-greets through the Humane Rescue Alliance.

Wizards season ticket members will have exclusive access to a special VIP area featuring complimentary food and drinks and visits from Grant, Thomas, Smith, and Chenier.

Media wishing to attend and cover the Wizards’ 2024 NBA Draft Party presented by Robinhood must RSVP to credentials@monumentalsports.com. Wizards PR will confirm your request and follow up with additional details for entry.

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Wizards to host 2024 NBA Draft Party Presented by Robinhood

Highlights from Richaun Holmes' 2023-24 season on the Washington Wizards.

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2023-24 Season Highlights | Richaun Holmes

Highlights from Bilal Coulibaly's rookie year during the 2023-24 season.

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2023-24 Season Highlights | Bilal Coulibaly

Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd)

WASHINGTON – The grand ballroom of the Pendry Hotel in Washington D.C.'s Wharf was packed. Wizards executives Will Dawkins and Michael Winger, owner Ted Leonsis, dozens of media members, TV cameras and about a half-dozen rostered players were all in attendance to watch the official introduction of the star of the show: Brian Keefe.Keefe, after a 39-game tenure as interim head coach this past season, was officially named the team's next full-time head coach last week after a comprehensive search for the right candidate led the Wizards' front office to a familiar face.Keefe's wife and two daughters were front row, with general manager Dawkins beside him on the podium. The first thing Dawkins brought up when asked about the coach – and a theme that popped up almost every 30 seconds for the remainder of the press conference – was the fact that Keefe's personability was a huge reason for the hire.“My first time that I met [Keefe] in 2008, what really I remember is how much time he took to get to know me as a person,” Dawkins said. “He's genuine, he invests in people, he puts himself last, he puts the players and the team first and we're really, really excited about that.”

Keefe's longevity in the NBA for now 19 years can largely be credited to that effort in relationship-building. He started as a video coordinator, as many head coaches like Erik Spoelstra did, with the San Antonio Spurs. After helping the Spurs to the 2007 NBA championship, Keefe spent eight years with the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, where he first met Dawkins. Keefe then had stops with the L.A. Lakers and New York Knicks before returning to OKC in 2019, shortly before Dawkins was named the team's VP of Basketball Operations.After a two-year stint with the Brooklyn Nets, Keefe landed in Washington before this past season as a member of Wes Unseld Jr.'s staff. Now in year 19, Keefe's decades of team-building culminate with his first full-time head coaching position. He choked up when discussing what his family has meant for his journey, then was asked what the No. 1 order of business is as a head coach. It rang a bell.“I think the biggest thing – I think Will said this, this is the stuff that I believe in – is pouring into the relationship part,” Keefe said. "I've already talked to all of our guys. They reached out to me as soon as they found the news. We want to pour into them as people and invest into them as people first, and then into their game. That's how we're going to operate as an organization, that's what Michael and Will believe in, and Ted.“This is a relationship business, and when you develop these relationships, then you can really dig into the stuff that we need to improve on. We're already into that, that's what we've been focusing on, and that's what I've focused on from day one. The basketball stuff, we're going to go tackle that, and we're not going to run from where we are, but the relationship stuff is always going to be number one for us because that's how you're going to make the most movement to reach these guys to help them realize where we can go as a team and how we can grow.”Keefe's relationship-building will enter another stage later this month when the NBA Draft takes place on June 26th and 27th. The Wizards currently hold three picks (Nos. 2, 26, and 51), which, barring a trade, will bring three highly-touted prospects to Washington. Keefe already has one of the most stacked player development resumes in the league (having helped develop Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook in OKC, as well as Bilal Coulibaly in Washington), so the new arrivals should receive the same in-depth treatment.

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Brian Keefe's relationship-building key to ascension

Brian Keefe and GM Will Dawkins spoke to the media for the first time after announcing that Brian Keefe was named the Wizards' 26th Head Coach in franchise history.

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Introductory Press Conference | Head Coach Brian Keefe and GM Will Dawkins

Kyle Kuzma hit new career-highs in PPG (22.2), FG% (46.3) during the 2023-24 regular season. He is one of six NBA players in the 2023-24 regular season to amass 450+ rebounds and 150+ 3PM. Kuzma also had 11 30+ PT games and 45 20+ PT games during the 2023-24 regular season.

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2023-24 Season Highlights | Kyle Kuzma

Marvin Bagley III averaged 13.3 PPG and 9.0 RPG with the Washington Wizards during the 2023-24 season. Bagley also shot 58.2% from the field and 47.1% from the three-point line this season. Bagley recorded nine double-doubles this season with the Wizards.