After five straight losing seasons, the Wizards are making a change at the top.
Washington has fired general manager Tommy Sheppard, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sheppard, 53, had served in his current role since the 2020 season, when he was promoted to replace longtime president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld.
Since qualifying for the Eastern Conference semifinals three times in four years from 2014 to ’17, the Wizards have struggled mightily. Washington has missed the playoffs four times in the past five seasons; in its most recent postseason trip in 2021, it lost in five games to the 76ers.
As noted by Wojnarowski, Sheppard had been employed by the Wizards in some capacity since 2003. Before that, he worked for the Nuggets for a decade in a team services and player relations role.
In his statement dismissing Sheppard, Washington owner Ted Leonsis said, “Failure to make the playoffs the last two seasons was very disappointing to our organization and our fans.”
The Wizards finished 35–47 in 2023, five games behind the Bulls for the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot.
