Kevin Seraphin

After he extended his arms high above his head, rebounded Shelvin Mack 's errant layup attempt and dunked ball with two hands in one motion, Kevin Seraphin could've easily kept howling, mean-mugging and glaring as he ran down the floor. But the emphatic dunk, thrown down against one of the NBA's most storied franchises in front of a sellout crowd, was so startling that even Seraphin couldn't conceal his surprise. Seraphin pointed toward the Washington Wizards ' bench, noticed the joyous reaction of...

Jason Collins's barrier-shattering revelation that he is gay will have no influence on the Washington Wizards ' plans with him this offseason, a person with knowledge of the team's thinking said Tuesday. Bringing back a 34-year-old free agent center with limited skills was never among the team's priorities — and that has not changed. That doesn't mean Collins will not return to Washington, the person said, but if the 7-foot center wants to continue his NBA career it will likely be elsewhere.

CHICAGO — Down 11 points in the fourth quarter, against a Chicago Bulls team that possessed the NBA's best record and in an arena in which hardly any team leaves with a victory, the Washington Wizards could have easily decided to collect another loss on an otherwise forgettable season. Instead, they embarked on their most unlikely comeback, claiming a stunning 87-84 victory at United Center to guarantee they would avoid finishing with the worst winning percentage in...

CHICAGO – As he turned over on his left shoulder while being stretched out on Monday before the Washington Wizards played the Brooklyn Nets , John Wall glanced down at Bradley Beal, who was getting treatment on his right leg while watching film. The Wizards' season will end tonight in Chicago, very much the way it began, with half of their backcourt of the future playing ( Wall) while the other half recovers from stress injury in his leg ( Beal ). "We're basically back to where we were, full circle, with...

Kevin Seraphin approached Coach Randy Wittman at the conclusion of a recent Washington Wizards practice at George Mason University's Patriot Center, but Wittman interrupted before Seraphin could get the words out. "What? You got a problem with me?" Wittman said, as he looked up at the burly, 6-foot-10 big man. He then shouted, "You wanna fight me?" Wittman squared up, smiling as he held his hands by his side, and Seraphin leaned back, chuckling. Noticing the playful exchange, Jordan...

Add the resident owner of enormous and exotic snakes to the Washington Wizards ' list of big men seemingly snakebitten by injuries and illness this preseason. Kevin Seraphin , a collector of the slithery reptiles — including one creatively named, "Snakey" — will miss the Wizards' next game on Monday against the Brooklyn Nets , and possibly more, after straining his right calf in the first quarter of the team's 99-95 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers . The Wizards do not...

Ever since the Washington Wizards acquired Nene from Denver, Kevin Seraphin has sought out the veteran big man after games and practices for wisdom and advice. The conversations range from how to defend the pick-and-roll, to tips on footwear and even hairstyles. Nene dishes, Seraphin listens. When Seraphin twisted his hair into a dreadlock starter kit earlier this month, the long-haired Nene suggested that his young pupil try a different look. "Nene don't want anybody but him to...

For the first time in several weeks, Jan Vesely 's two-bedroom apartment in Northern Virginia is no longer crowded with visitors or filled with the aromas of his favorite dishes from his native Czech Republic. Vesely's mother, father, sister, brother in-law, grandmother and aunt are all back home, leaving his fiancee, Eva Kodouskova, as his only sounding board during his disappointing sophomore campaign with the Washington Wizards . "It means a lot to me that she's here," said Vesely, whose...

Jason Collins's barrier-shattering revelation that he is gay will have no influence on the Washington Wizards ' plans with him this offseason, a person with knowledge of the team's thinking said Tuesday. Bringing back a 34-year-old free agent center with limited skills was never among the team's priorities — and that has not changed. That doesn't mean Collins will not return to Washington, the person said, but if the 7-foot center wants to continue his NBA career it will likely be elsewhere.

When the Washington Wizards started the season with 12 straight losses and had just four victories after the first 32 games, Coach Randy Wittman didn't want to alienate the veterans who had earned their minutes or force them to surrender on a season that still had some faint promise once John Wall returned from a left knee injury . Instead of developing the four first-round picks the team has selected in the two of the past three NBA...

Whether they were done in by fatigue, attrition or a simple lack of focus, the Washington Wizards were unable to capture a goal set since the all-star break. The playoffs were essentially out of the question when they started the season with 12 straight losses (and 28 in their first 32 games), but Coach Randy Wittman kept urging his players to keep pushing for ninth in the Eastern Conference. The goal of finishing as the best of the worst may have seemed small, but it kept the Wizards motivated through a time of the...

When the Washington Wizards started the season with 12 straight losses and had just four victories after the first 32 games, Coach Randy Wittman didn't want to alienate the veterans who had earned their minutes or force them to surrender on a season that still had some faint promise once John Wall returned from a left knee injury . Instead of developing the four first-round picks the team has selected in the two of the past three NBA...

OKLAHOMA CITY — Whenever John Wall plays the Oklahoma City Thunder, he keeps an eye out for shot-blocking specialist Serge Ibaka . He either tries to avoid him entirely, or seeks to draw contact when he drives. In the first quarter of the Washington Wizards ' 103-80 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday, however, Ibaka had his sights set on Wall. Ibaka switched onto Wall after Kevin Seraphin set a screen near the three-point line, but Wall couldn't shake the long-armed 6-foot-9 defender.

OAKLAND — At some point, the lack of healthy bodies and grueling schedule were going to lead to a dud performance for the Washington Wizards . The team has been losing players and still winning games, but couldn't avoid a 101-92 loss on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors after John Wall , the catalyst for much of their success, was tossed after picking up his second technical foul for threatening Klay Thompson in the...

PHOENIX — The visiting locker room at US Airways Center was filled with the usual laughter and playful banter that comes following a victory, but the Washington Wizards ' celebration of a much-needed road win over the Phoenix Suns was tempered some by what was happening behind a glass window leading to the training room. There, rookie Bradley Beal sat with a white towel covering his head, left leg elevated as he received treatment on a troublesome ankle that he...

For the first time in several weeks, Jan Vesely 's two-bedroom apartment in Northern Virginia is no longer crowded with visitors or filled with the aromas of his favorite dishes from his native Czech Republic. Vesely's mother, father, sister, brother in-law, grandmother and aunt are all back home, leaving his fiancee, Eva Kodouskova, as his only sounding board during his disappointing sophomore campaign with the Washington Wizards . "It means a lot to me that she's here," said Vesely, whose...

Whether they were done in by fatigue, attrition or a simple lack of focus, the Washington Wizards were unable to capture a goal set since the all-star break. The playoffs were essentially out of the question when they started the season with 12 straight losses (and 28 in their first 32 games), but Coach Randy Wittman kept urging his players to keep pushing for ninth in the Eastern Conference. The goal of finishing as the best of the worst may have seemed small, but it kept the Wizards motivated through a time of the...

TORONTO — Nick Young was dribbling above the three-point line, near the Washington Wizards ' bench, when Kevin Seraphin moved up to set a pick to free him up. Young moved around the screen but continued to dribble, seemingly without a purpose, until Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard knocked the ball away. Wizards Coach Randy Wittman lifted his hands, shook his head, and started walking down the bench. Before J.J. Redick could even pull up for a wide three-pointer on the...

NEW YORK — John Wall saw Deron Williams standing near half court early in the third quarter of the Washington Wizards ' 95-78 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night and felt compelled to figure out what exactly was going on. Wall approached Williams, smiled and asked, "You ate your Wheaties or something?" The point guards shared a laugh, but how Williams made his first eight three-pointers and set an NBA record for three-pointers in a half (nine) was beyond explanation.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Washington Wizards have seen Jordan Crawford go on scoring binges built from unconscionable shots, Bradley Beal get into a zone from beyond the three-point line, Martell Webster collect four-point plays, John Wall form a one-man parade down the lane and Nene play with such force inside that his dreadlocks have come loose from the elastic band meant to keep them together. What the Wizards haven't seen this season is any player on their roster ...