Richmond basketball fans are beginning to buzz as Ram basketball is right around the corner, and this week the first exit on the highway to basketball season came into view.
The NBA’s Washington Wizards have made the Verizon Wireless Arena training camp home for the sixth consecutive season this year.
“We’ve enjoyed the first-class facilities and hospitality at the Siegel Center over the last five years, so we’re very excited to return for training camp,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld.
Major D.C. media members and Wizards personnel swarmed the playing arena as excitement started to build around the team.
Last season the team battled injuries and won 19 games. But this year with star point guard Gilbert Arenas and top players Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison expected to be back to their form, the Wizards could find themselves back in the playoff hunt.
“It was overwhelming because I’ve never experienced anything like that before, especially with the expectations we had going into last season.” Jamison said. “It’s an ideal situation, especially with what we went through last year. It’s been awhile since I’ve had fun and now it’s fun.”
Another reason for excitement is the addition of new coach Flip Saunders.
Saunders will be spending his 14th season on an NBA sideline, with the Wizards being his third NBA team.
One thing players say Saunders has done to ease the transition is outfitting each team member with an iPod Touch containing video of the teams’ playbook.
“Those are the things that to me make a difference. There is no excuse why you don’t know the plays.” Jamison said. “We all know how technology is run by this world . why not incorporate it with what we do for a living: basketball.”
In addition to the excitement for fans of having an NBA team working out on campus, the team has also scheduled its first preseason game at the Siegel Center.
On Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., the Wizards will host the Memphis Grizzlies and tickets will be available to the public as well as to students.
The team has played an inter-squad scrimmage game for the past five years that was open to the public.
“The preseason game will be a great way for us to conclude camp and give our fans in the Richmond area the chance to see the beginning of this new era of Wizards basketball,” Grunfeld said.
According to Tim Lampe, the director of facilities and Siegel Center operations, VCU is thrilled to be able to host the Wizards and Grizzlies for an NBA preseason game
“We have been able to generate significant interest and excitement in Richmond for the Wizards with their annual open scrimmage at the end of their training camp in recent years, so we’re extremely excited to be able to host an actual Wizards preseason game at our great facility,” Lampe said.
The trip to Richmond has become an annual event for the Wizards, and according to Wizards players and officials as well as VCU, each side hopes the Wizards will continue to call the Siegel Center its preseason home.
“Over the course of the last four years (it is Butler’s fourth year with the team) we’ve been coming to Richmond and it’s been beautiful,” Butler said. “It’s a pleasure being down here, a pleasure to be coming here and hopefully we continue to come down here.”
The Wizards will be in Richmond for the entire week, culminating on Tuesday with their preseason game against Memphis.
Washington’s regular season opener is set for Oct. 27 in Dallas.