WASHINGTON — On Tuesday night, the Washington Wizards beat the San Antonio Spurs for the first time since Nov. 12, 2005, snapping a 17-game losing streak to the defending NBA champs. While 17 games is a long run, 2005 may not seem like all that long ago — until you start to think about where the parties involved were at the time.
The Spurs, at their core, looked remarkably similar to the team they are still trotting out. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili each started and scored in double figures that night at the then-MCI Center. Gregg Popovich stalked the sidelines for San Antonio, which was also coming off a title run the season prior.
But that’s where the similarities end.
The Wiz, in their ghastly blue- and gold-trim uniforms, rode a 43-point performance from Gilbert Arenas — who was a transcendent 15-of-20 from the field — to a 110-95 victory. The only remaining players from that Wizards roster still in the NBA are Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, who has logged all of 70 minutes for the underachieving Cleveland Cavaliers this year.
It’s more interesting to look at where the rest of the current crop of Wizards were the last time Washington beat San Antonio. Some were already pros; others were in college, high school or even middle school. Click the gallery to the right to see the history of each player, and head coach Randy Wittman.
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