Malcolm Brogdon isn’t one for dramatics. His demeanor has always leaned steady, thoughtful, intentional. So when he says it’s “dope” to play for the Washington Wizards — and calls it a “full circle moment” — you know he means it.
Back in the DMV and reunited with an old friend in Khris Middleton, Brogdon’s arrival in Washington isn’t just another chapter in his career. It’s personal. It’s legacy. It’s home.
Back Where It All Started
For Brogdon, playing in the DMV area hits different. Long before he won NBA Rookie of the Year or carved out a reputation as one of the league’s most cerebral point guards, Brogdon was a standout at the University of Virginia — just two hours south of D.C.
“It felt great! And people thought that I was being funny but, this was always the jersey that I wanted to put on,” he said. “Being back in D.C.; I got family there and UVA is down the road… regardless of how the team and the organization was doing, I wanted to hang that in my career and say that I played in the city that I considered home.”
It’s not uncommon for players to want to return to their roots later in their career. For Brogdon, though, it wasn’t just about geography — it was about representation. A way to close the loop on a journey that started not far from the Wizards’ home arena.
A Full Circle Reunion with Khris Middleton
Washington’s offseason was filled with quiet-but-savvy moves, and one of the most intriguing ones was the arrival of Brogdon’s old Milwaukee Bucks teammate, Khris Middleton. The two were part of a core that brought Milwaukee back to relevance, and now they’re side-by-side again — albeit in a much different context.
“It’s cool, man. He was actually one of my vets when I came in,” Brogdon said. “And just seeing him have all the success and then being a full circle moment with him coming to the Wizards with me being here, it’s been dope.”
Middleton’s poise and quiet fire complement Brogdon’s cerebral play. Together, they form a veteran nucleus in Washington, charged not just with producing — but with reshaping a franchise.
Changing Culture in the Capital
While the Wizards have long been a team in transition, Brogdon sees something different brewing under the new regime led by team president Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins.
“You know, I’ve been with the new leadership — this is their second, maybe third year and the way they’re doing things as far as how organized they are; their approach with the young guys hanging with the vets,” he said. “And inside, it’s one of the more veteran-led organizations. They’re doing things on a high level over here.”
That internal culture — something often lost in national coverage — is why Brogdon believes the outside world is sleeping on what’s really happening in D.C.
“This isn’t what people think of when they hear ‘rebuilding,’” Brogdon hinted. “They’re building the right way.”
A Childhood Filled With Agent Zero and MJ
Brogdon grew up watching Gilbert Arenas put on a show in D.C. Agent Zero was appointment television in the mid-2000s, draining buzzer-beaters and lighting up the box score.
“Gilbert Arenas. Agent Zero!” Brogdon said, eyes lighting up at the mention of the Wizards’ former star. “I mean, my key memories are with him. Those All-Star teams that he was making and also he was making game-winning shots.”
But Brogdon’s basketball memory runs deeper than just Arenas. He also remembers the twilight years of Michael Jordan — the rarest version of MJ, still defying time in Wizards blue.
“Of course, Michael Jordan’s time on the Wizards,” Brogdon added. “People look at those years and they’re like, ‘Yeah yeah. That’s where he wanted to retire and he wasn’t that great…’”
But don’t get it twisted — Brogdon sees the real.
“Actually, in his career with the Wizards and his stats, he finished strong,” he said. “So he was still MICHAEL JORDAN even when he was with the Wizards.”
MJ vs. LeBron at 40 — A Respectful Nod to Longevity
The conversation around LeBron James and Michael Jordan never stops. But Brogdon doesn’t fall into the trap of comparisons. Instead, he acknowledges the greatness in both — especially what LeBron is doing now in Year 22.
“One, I think that it’s hard to compare greatness on that level. I think that they’re the greatest to play in regards to picking up a basketball,” Brogdon said.
“At 40, I think that LeBron is playing at a higher level but I think medicine and I think science has come a long way,” he added. “But I think also longevity has to be counted for LeBron — he’s the first player in this game to have longevity that is counted against him, you know? It’s one of his downfalls.”
That last point — subtle but powerful — speaks volumes. We’ve never seen anyone do what LeBron is doing this late in his career. And yet, Brogdon says, that same longevity is used by some as a knock.
“So you know I think that definitely it’s something that gives him a nod when you’re comparing the two.”
Will Brogdon Play Until 40 Like Bron and MJ?
With the way he carries himself — the professionalism, the physical and mental discipline — Brogdon seems like someone who could play until 40. But don’t count on it.
“No I do not! [laughs]… I got a family, I got kids and at some point I want to be at home!” Brogdon said with a grin.
Even if the clock runs out before he hits 40, Brogdon’s already left his imprint. Rookie of the Year. Playoff vet. Off-court leader. On-court stabilizer. And now — back in the city he quietly calls home — a voice for the next chapter of Washington Wizards basketball.
