For years, NBA fans have been led to believe that rebuilding a team means starting from scratch to create a competitive roster for the future. However, this perception is not entirely accurate. Rebuilding often reflects a reluctance to acquire and pay for the players necessary for competition, which is why organizations use the term “rebuilding.” In my view, “rebuilding” is one of the worst words in sports because, during this process, organizations expect fans to remain dedicated, continue attending games, and spend money on concessions, merchandise, and more.
The sports industry is unique in that a poorly performing team can still attract support. For example, the Washington Wizards won 6 out of 45 games this season, yet they can still sell tickets. In contrast, other industries are held to higher standards. If the food at a restaurant is awful, most people wouldn’t keep dining there; they would seek better options. I’m not suggesting that fans should abandon their teams, but I believe they should hold struggling teams more accountable. Don’t simply accept the excuse “We’re rebuilding” as a valid justification for poor performance on the field or court.
The 2024-25 NBA season will mark the fifth consecutive year that the Washington Wizards finish with a losing record. As mentioned in previous articles, the NBA should place the team on probation to encourage improvement; otherwise, they should be forced to sell the team. Assembling a team that ultimately underperforms is one thing, but intentionally losing games is completely different.
Many people boldly argue that losing can be beneficial because it leads to a higher draft pick. However, I question how effective this approach has been The Hawks and the Wizards. Both had the first and second overall picks last year, but the players they picked have not moved the needle for their respective organizations. To take things a little further, in the past 50 years, only four players—Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving—have won championships with the teams that selected them as the number one overall pick. Which goes back to my point that these high draft picks can be overrated. Therefore, when an organization tells you, “We’re rebuilding,” fans should respond “We’ll be back when you’re done,” I bet the rebuilding process moves much faster.
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