Inside The Wizards

Veteran PG Allows Wizards to Change

The Washington Wizards need a change of pace sometimes.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 24, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (15) and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (15) and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are a young, rebuilding team, but they need someone who can monitor and navigate the waters for them throughout the season.

That's why the Wizards traded for Malcolm Brogdon during the offseason from the Portland Trail Blazers, and he has proven to do exactly that in his first four games with the team.

Wizards coach Brian Keefe is thankful for Brogdon and what he brings to the table.

“He does a little bit of both,” Keefe said. “He gets us steady, but then he's very quick getting to the rim so he's got a good change of pace to him. But you know this guy's a great player, veteran player [that has] seen a lot. He’s really helped us in these last couple games and I know he's just going to keep getting better as he gets his legs underneath him.”

It's very easy for young teams like the Wizards to get flustered on offense with the fast pace of the game, but that's why Brogdon is there. His experience in his nine NBA seasons gives him the tools to be able to do this kind of job better than less experienced players.

“This is my fifth team in the league,” Brogdon said. “So I played on you older teams, I've played on younger teams, I've played on fast teams, halfcourt teams. I think it's just experience. You start to understand the game, you start to understand the rhythm of the game, who you're playing against, who you're playing with and when to be aggressive and when to slow things down, stay organized, get good shots.”

The Wizards have yet to win with Brogdon on the court, but if the team can learn how to get comfortable playing alongside him, that won't be the case for much longer.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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