Bang The Gavel

A new NBA season for the Washington Wizards sometimes means new traditions. This year is no different. New Wizards team, new in game announcers, new broadcast team, total loss pretty much all floor seats in the east end of the arena...I could go on but I'll stop there. Almost. The Wizards have decided to insert a new tradition into the pre-game announcements and it's just not working for me.

Get to a Wizards game prior to the team introductions like half of the crowd during an average home game and you might notice that after the lights are dimmed and in between the starting lineups for the visitors and the home team, there's a new pregame ritual where a special guest grabs an oversized gavel and bangs it on an even more oversized sound block (yes, I had to look that up) to get the crowd fired up for the introduction of the Wizards starting five.

I get the intent here. We are in Washington, D.C. where the Supreme Court (and many other courts for that matter) meets and there's a basketball pun tie over there with "court is now in session". Get it? Court. Basketball court. Basketball. Wizards. The reason why you are at Capital One Arena. It's cute, right? And no that's not my objection. Nor is the fact that the sound block just appears to be G Man's old drum head painted with wood colors.

If this were something that really got the crowd pumped up, I'd love it. But it's not. For a couple of reasons. 

First, introducing a new pre-game "get everyone excited" ritual is probably best initiated when the team is good and the Wizards just aren't this year. But more than that, this whole thing seems slid into a spot that needs to be passed over as quickly as possible and the lighting and fanfare employed by the Wizards isn't enough to get it noticed at all.

What I mean by all that is the visitors have just been introduced and the crowd expects the Wizards lineup next, which we get soon enough. If the Wizards really want to pull this off, they should intentionally break the action here and make it obvious that something exciting (or even just different) is happening. The Philadelphia 76ers have a similar ritual where someone rings a replica of the Liberty Bell and the New York Jets (speaking of teams that are no good) have someone famous lead the J! E! T! S! JETS! JETS! JETS! cheer before the game. They both work, because the entire atmosphere is focused on that event. The Wizards' treatment of this pre-game "ritual" needs more emphasis. Turn the lights on or create a custom graphic to blast on the fancy new scoreboard or move it to some other spot. But where it is now isn't working.

I'm interested to see how long the Wizards keep this up in its current format. If they do, they need to get whomever is banging the gavel a better prop than whoever did it during the Spurs game when the head actually fell off the gavel. And try getting some more recognizable folks. Dave Johnson was an awesome first choice for this. But the Bud Light guy from Nationals Park? Not cutting it for me. Get John King to do it. Or past Wizards players. Just my advice.

Apologies on the terrible photo on this post. I can only take so good a pic of this event from where I sit (probably because it's right in the corner of the court). Had to resort to a scoreboard pic.

Wizards Bobbleheads (Finally!)

I have been asking and pleading and begging the Washington Wizards to make more team-issued bobbleheads practically since I started writing this blog. I even one summer gave the Wiz permission to use my mocked up example bobbleheads for inspiration or blueprints or whatever they wanted to make it happen. Today, it appeared the Wizards have answered my asks and begs and prayers.

Behold...more Wizards bobbleheads than the annual freebie they have been giving away for the last I don't know how many years (probably nine or ten with maybe a year off would be my quick guess). This is glorious stuff!!!

I kind of called this. In my annual Bobblehead Nation post I expressed a little shock as to how the Wizards in all good conscience could have NOT made their one bobblehead giveaway this season a Rui Hachimura bobble. Now I know why. They were saving Rui for the bonus bobblehead package that they just rolled out this week. I'm chalking this whole thing up to Tommy Sheppard by the way. I might be way wrong on this one but that's what I'm sticking with.

So here's the deal: 

Friday, February 7 vs. Dallas is Isaiah Thomas bobblehead night. IT is displayed on a checkered base with lyrics from his friend and rap artist Nipsey Hussle's song "Dedication" on three of the four sides. Thomas has at least three tattoos inspired by Nipsey, who was gunned down in front of his Marathon clothing store in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Wednesday, March 25 vs. Phoenix is Rui Hachimura bobblehead night. It's also the Wizards' celebration of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. Rui, like the Cherry Blossoms, started out in Japan so there's a logical tie there, although I can't remember the Wizards ever celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival before. Timing is everything I guess.

Friday, April 3 vs. Philadelphia is Bradley Beal as Black Panther bobblehead night. This is not the first time an NBA team has rolled out a Black Panther bobblehead. The Brooklyn Nets have given one of these away each of the last two seasons.

There's a catch. I mean of course there is. There has to be a little irony in the Wizards finally giving away more bobbleheads. 

These things are not on the promo schedule. You have to buy a separate ticket package as shown in the advertisement graphic above. I guess I'm going to have to fork over an extra $89 for these things. I'm surprised the games are actually as good as they are as part of this package. Dallas and Philly? And both on a Friday night? Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

NBA Bottom Five

The teams I love the most stink. I mean really stink. Like really bad. I know I've covered this subject on this blog in the past but this fall seems like an appropriate time to re-whine on the subject.

Before I go into full whinge mode, I should point out that this year's actually been a pretty good year, sports-wise. The Mystics are WNBA champions. England won the Cricket World Cup and finished runners-up in the Rugby World Cup. Tottenham finished second in the UEFA Champions League final (before totally crashing this season). And the Nationals just won the World Series. Not bad, right?

But the two teams I really love (those being the New York Jets and the Washington Wizards and I do mean like really really love) are now both 2-7 and the next six or so months of any hope for my teams winning anything (like even having a winning record) are gone. Already. Damn this stinks. I'm looking forward to next September when things might get better. Might! But probably not.

I've read a lot of tweets this year about how this year's Wizards team is going to be a lot of fun to watch. And on the surface of things, I might agree. I mean it's kind of liberating watching a team with nothing to lose with a ton of upside and see what develops. But two things cut against that: (1) I'm paying $8K or so for the privilege of watching this fun development and (2) they keep losing. Now I get that it's only nine games in so far but its started already. And it's about to be not fun. Call me impatient. 19 years of non-achievement as a season ticket holder will do that to a person.

How bad have the Wizards been in my 19 years? Really bad. Let's take a look at some numbers regular season and playoffs to get a sense of how bad I've had it. Spoiler alert: it ain't looking much better this year I don't think.

Let's start with overall record.

Fewest Average Wins Per Season (2000-2019)

1. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (31.5)

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (33.3)

3. New York Knicks (33.9)

4. Washington Wizards (34.5)

5. Philadelphia 76ers (34.6)

So over the past 19 seasons, the Wizards have posted the fourth fewest wins per season in the NBA. Yeah, it's been not much fun for any of the teams in this bottom five but at least the Timberwolves grabbed the number one seed (and a spot in the Conference Finals) in the West one year and the Sixers actually made the NBA Finals in 2001. I'd take either of those highs over the Wizards. Most wins per season by the way over this period: San Antonio (58.1) / Dallas (51.2) / Houston (45.6).

Most Sub-20 Win Seasons

1. (tie) Cleveland Cavaliers (3)

1. (tie) Minnesota Timberwolves (3)

1. (tie) Philadelphia 76ers (3)

4. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (2)*

5. (tie) New York Knicks (2)

5. (tie) Washington Wizards (2)

* In 15 seasons.

Does this list look familiar? Don't worry, this will happen more than once in this post. It should come as no surprise that the teams with the fewest average wins per season also log the most dismal seasons. The one addition? The Cleveland Cavaliers, who have also made it to five Finals with one championship over that same span. Give me a title in exchange for futility every year the rest of my life. 12 teams, by the way, have had no sub-20 win seasons since I first bought season tickets. Definitely can't relate.

This list does include the strike shortened season of 2011-2012 and yes, I'm categorizing teams by franchise, not by city, in this post. That means the old Charlotte Hornets are counted against the current New Orleans Pelicans franchise. Not a huge needle mover because the Pels show up later in this post. Just explaining.

Fewest 50 Win Seasons

1. Washington Wizards (0)

2. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (0)*

3. (tie) Charlotte Hornets / New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans (1)

3. (tie) New Jersey Nets / Brooklyn Nets (1)

3. (tie) New York Knicks (1)

* In 15 Seasons.

I swear I'm not making up these categories to make the Wizards look bad. They manage to do that on their own. It's not going to be good to be on any of these lists, let alone make most or all of them. I see 50 wins as a mark of a quality year. The Wiz have none of them, not a single one in 19 seasons (this will be 20). They edge the current Hornets in this category because that team has only been around for the last 15 seasons. The Nets are to this list as the Cavaliers are to the last one. Two NBA Finals appearances in the early 2000s. The most 50 win seasons? San Antonio (17) / Dallas (12) / Houston (9). San Antonio even had one in the 2011-12 season when each team only played 66 games.

Fewest Division Titles

1. Vancouver / Memphis Grizzlies (0)

2. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (0)*

3. (tie) Atlanta Hawks (1)

3. (tie) Charlotte Hornets / New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans (1)

3. (tie) Denver Nuggets (1)

3. (tie) New York Knicks (1)

3. (tie) Philadelphia 76ers (1)

3. (tie) Washington Wizards (1)

* In 15 seasons.

The fact that the Grizzlies and current Hornets franchises haven't won any division titles since I first signed up for this Wizards journey I'm on makes me feel no better about the Wizards solitary Southeast Division crown. Nor does the fact that five other teams have finished atop their own divisions just once. There are only five teams in the Southeast Division and it's been that way for 15 years. The law of averages says each team should have at least three at this point, right? Doesn't work that way, I know. There are four franchises that have won seven or more over the last 19 years. San Antonio has 12 followed by Miami with nine and the Lakers and Celtics with seven apiece.

Feeling bad about the Wizards' regular season campaigns? Get ready for the playoffs. It's actually better than the regular season. Mostly.

Fewest Playoff Appearances

1. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (2)

2. (tie) Minnesota Timberwolves (5)

2. (tie) New York Knicks (5)

2. (tie) Sacramento Kings (5)

5. Los Angeles Clippers (7)

Finally a futility list in this post that the Wizards do NOT appear on. If I had gone six deep, they would have. The Wizards have made the playoffs eight times in the 19 seasons I've been a season ticket holder. The Kings are a bit of surprise to me on this list since they were such a good team when I first became a season ticket holder. There have been some long and lean years since Webber / Divac / Williams / Bibby / Turkoglu graced the court for Sacto. Who has the most playoff appearances between 2001 and 2019? Well the Spurs of course with a perfect 19. Right behind them: Dallas (16) and Boston (15).

Fewest Playoff Wins / Year

1. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (0.2)

2. New York Knicks (0.5)

3. Minnesota Timberwolves (0.7)

4. Sacramento Kings (1.2)

5. (tie) Denver Nuggets (1.5)

5. (tie) Portland Trail Blazers (1.5)

Once again, the Wizards miss the list, although once again only just. The Nuggets and Blazers have exactly one fewer postseason victory than the Wizards. This list is average playoff wins per season, not average playoff wins per postseason appearance. I'm shocked by Denver and Portland on this list. I would have thought (without thinking too hard) that those Denver teams with Carmelo Anthony would have had more postseason success. Although since both Denver and the Knicks are on this list...maybe not. Most wins per year? Do I even need to tell you it's San Antonio? 7.9 wins average. Lakers are next with 5.7 then Miami at 5.4. Think there's not a lot of difference between number 3 at 5.4 and number 25 at 1.5? You're wrong. There is.

Fewest Playoff Series Wins

1. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (0)

2. New York Knicks (1)

3. Minnesota Timberwolves (2)

4. Denver Nuggets (3).

5. (tie) Los Angeles Clippers (4)

5. (tie) Vancouver  / Memphis Grizzlies (4)

5. (tie) Milwaukee Bucks (4) 

5. (tie) Charlotte Hornets / New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans (4)

5. (tie) Portland Trail Blazers (4)

5. (tie) Sacramento Kings (4)

5. (tie) Washington Wizards (4)

If you need any proof that the same teams dominate the postseason every year, this is the list. And yes, the Wizards are back on the list here. The newcomer on this list is the Bucks who have just four playoff series victories in 19 years: two in 2001 en route to the Eastern Conference Finals and a loss to the 76ers and two last year when they lost in the Conference Finals to Toronto. A whole lot of nothing in between. The Spurs, by the way, have two fewer playoff series wins (32) than all 11 teams listed above. Lakers are second with 25 and Miami has 22. 

Fewest Conference Finals Appearances

1. (tie) Los Angeles Clippers (0)

1. (tie) Charlotte Hornets / New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets / New Orleans Pelicans (0)

1. (tie) New York Knicks (0)

1. (tie) Washington Wizards (0)

5. Charlotte Bobcats / Hornets (0)*

* In 15 seasons.

This list is it. If there's a more chilling indictment of lack of success in the NBA over the past almost two decades, this is it. There are only five teams which have failed to make it to a conference finals. The Bob-nets get a bit of pass here because they've only had 15 tries at making it that far in the playoffs. With zero playoff series victories and no superstar talent, I don't think those extra four chance will mean much. By then, these other four teams will have had 23 cracks at it and they won't have made it either. No surprise here but San Antonio leads the good end of the category with nine. Five other teams including Detroit and Cleveland are second with six each. 

Where does all this leave me? Well for a start, I feel for all the fans in Charlotte. That team is actually the worst. I mean hands down no dispute the worst in the NBA. After that is it the Wizards? I could make a case that it is based on the lack of 50 win seasons and conference finals appearances. If they are not second, they can't be any higher than fourth if you consider the Knicks and Timberwolves worse. There you go. Bottom four for sure. Make an argument against. I'd love to debate. I don't see you winning though.

My season tickets are in Row E of Section 109. This season I'm sitting a couple of rows and the width of an aisle away from seats in 110 earmarked for the Wizards new power structure, namely John Thompson III and Sashi Brown, two of the components of a front office that looks nothing like the Wizards front office has ever looked like before. During Friday's game, Ted Leonsis chatted with those two just two rows from me while the miserable Cleveland Cavaliers took down my beloved Wiz at home. I would have loved his input on this post. His ownership, which at first looked so different than Abe Pollin's, has yielded no different results and I don't see anything different happening this season. Always next year, right?

What's New At Cap One

We are now four regular season and three preseason games in to the 2019-2020 Wizards home schedule and if you haven't been down to 601 F Street NW yet, you are in for a few changes when you get here, assuming the current Wizards roster actually piques your interest.

This summer, Capital One Arena went through phase two (of two, I believe) of a renovation that started in the summer of 2018 using (and I'm assuming here) a massive influx of Capital One sponsorship cash. Last season we saw the concourses renovated on all levels, the old Acela Club moved out and replaced (yes, I know the Acela name is years old...), some new seats installed and some snazzy new signage. This summer, they finished the job. Mostly. Here's what to expect.

The Scoreboard

So let's start with the most obvious upgrade over the summer: the new massively bright scoreboard right in the center of the arena. I remember when the former scoreboard was installed in what was then probably MCI Center. I recall reading how Abe Pollin was determined to have the first high definition scoreboard in the NBA. So he did. That was a long time ago.

It's aged a bit since then and as I've traveled around the NBA, I've realized just how much technology has passed the Wizards' home by. It was especially noticeable in Detroit last year. This thing brings us on par with the rest of the league. While the sheer surface area of video display is probably overwhelming, I love the advanced stats available (no longer have to look to the corner of the upper deck and wait for the stats to get to the home side) and the coordinated displays with the rest of the signage in the arena during team introductions are pretty impressive.

The Other Video Displays

So you can't talk about the scoreboard without noticing the rest of the video displays installed in the arena. The video bands below the 200 and 400 levels pretty much match what was there last year. But above the 400 level there's a larger video ring and the old black and yellow bulb stat displays in the upstairs corners are gone and replaced with massive LED full color screens that slide up and down depending on how full the upper deck is. The overall effect is pretty spectacular. Worth all the money? I don't know. But the larger screens in the corners of the upper deck are very welcome.

The District

If you are are completely in love with the new scoreboard and video screens, let me bring you back down to Earth a little.

As if crowd noise wasn't enough of an issue in the Wizards home building, ownership has, in all its wisdom, decided to actually remove seats from the floor area of the arena. That's right, they decided over the summer to add a standing area at the east end of the building for VIP ticket holders to eat and drink beer (or whatever else they want, I guess) while they try to see over the five rows of tiered courtside seats in front of them.

This sucks. It's a distraction to people like me who sit all the time at the Wizards bench end of the building and during times of the games when you need a ton of crowd noise (it DOES happen sometimes for the Wiz), there's going to be a huge hole in the crowd. Someone somewhere in the hierarchy of Monumental Sports must have thought (a) this was a great idea or (b) it would make ownership a couple of bucks more. If it was the first one, it's not a great idea.

Budweiser Brewhouse / Devil's Backbone Lounge

It's been a pregame ritual for me for the last few years to spend time before games with my favorite bartender, Roxy, at the Budweiser Brewhouse on the club level. This year, it's gone. Under renovation. Or more accurately right now, NOT under renovation but still closed.

So where to get a pregame $12.25 25 oz. can of Budweiser before the game. Well if you want to hang out with the Budweiser Brewhouse crew. head up the 400 level to the Devil's Backbone Lounge. It was sparsely populated during the season opener. It was dead by game three vs. the Pistons and it wasn't much better last Friday night against the Cavs. I get that it's a long way to go but you'll get great service (I mean, hey...there's nobody there) and you can get the $3 season ticket holder discount on your overpriced Bud or Bud Light. If you decide to stop by, say hi to me. I'll likely be there.

Silver lining here? Beer price didn't go up over the summer, at least not for the large cans of Bud and Bud Light. Yep, I know these things are like $2 or something at 7-11.

New TV Crew

So in general the exiling of Steve Buckhantz after kicking out Phil Chenier two seasons prior is a super dark cloud over the decision makers at Monumental Sports and Zach Leonsis in particular who allegedly runs the media arm of the the Wizards. Maybe they needed someone cheaper because they can't really have been seeking an upgrade for Buck. They replaced Kara Lawson (who was awesome and for me an upgrade over Phil) who quit with a combination of Drew Gooden (who's terrible) and Caron Butler (who I haven't heard call a game but come on...Tough Juice is a Wizards legend).

I get that whoever's calling the game on TV doesn't affect folks at the game itself because they don't broadcast over the sound system. But for those of us on the aisle between Sections 109 and 110, it's awesome to see Caron Butler stride to the announcing table and be able to yell "Tough JUUUUICE" as he walks by. It's the small things, I know.

Row Markers

Speaking of small things...

Phase one of the renovation last year got rid of all the purple seats (I mean...why??) and the purple and yellow (again...why??) signs on the concourse. But they didn't purge the entire place of purple. They missed the circular row markers cast into the concrete steps at the lowest level of the building. This time, they got them. And replaced them with red and white lettered markers. This is a good thing.

Rui Hachimura Shirts

And I mean lots and lots of Rui Hachimura shirts. For the past few years, Wizards fans have had to content themselves with slim pickings when it comes to player specific shirtwear (jerseys do not count as shirts). Want a John Wall t-shirt of some sort? Got a bunch of those! Brad Beal, too? Yep, Beal too. Anyone else? Not so much. Rui is different.

They have a bunch of different choices for Rui apparel over at Capital One Arena (remember, there are discounts on merch using either your season ticket holder pass or Capital One card). These include the jersey-like t-shirts with the number 8 and Hachimura on the back just like there are for Wall and Beal. But there are also other shirts including the one above and a giant silhouette of Rui's head with hair and his name in enormous letters where his face should be. That last one's pretty cool. Had to pick myself one of those up at the season opener.

I'm sure I've missed some things but that's what I've got out of my first few games this year. There are some new food options but they are not as sweeping as the past couple of years. Alex McCoy's Lucky Buns is gone this year and replaced with a Ben's Chili Bowl. No loss for Wizards fans there I don't think. 

There's still the issue of what happens to the Budweiser Brewhouse but it looks like the transformation of Cap One is complete. I'm just hoping they replaced the roof while they were doing all this.

Bobblehead Nation 2019 Update

So it's been a couple of weeks since I posted my annual post letting all NBA fans (OK, so the 20 or so people who read this blog) know where to get the choicest bobbleheads around the NBA. When I published my Bobblehead Nation 2019 post back in October, I had just over half the NBA teams' promotional schedules and I hadn't even started checking out the G League quite yet. Three weeks or so later, I have done that (the G League part). Time for an update.

First of all, let me say that the G League bobblehead schedule this year is pretty amazing. For the past couple of years, we've seen NBA team bobbles be handed out to fans at the minor league levels on a pretty regular basis. Canton and Santa Cruz have been notable in their rigor in treating Charge and Warriors fans to Cavaliers and...well...Warriors big league bobbleheads. This year, there's plenty of that and I've listed everything I could find below. But there are also a number of bobbleheads available which are exclusive to the G League and that's pretty exciting I think. Looks like some road trips are in order for some die-hard bobblehead collectors. Let's get right to the supplemental list, shall we?

Oh..and there have been a few new NBA promo schedules released. Only one of those (Houston) features bobbleheads. For those fans in Dallas, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Utah...better luck next year. Each of those teams have released promotional schedules since my post last month and there ain't no bobbleheads on them, although the Pels' schedule is mysteriously incomplete in its stopping in December. No way are there four promo nights in November and December and nothing the rest of the season. There has to be a Zion bobble, right? RIGHT??

November

9 Sugar Skull (Windy City Bulls)

Last year my bobblehead update was posted in December. Because the Windy City Bulls are handing out a bobblehead on November 9 (or tomorrow), I've been forced to go early this year. The Bulls are handing out a pretty sweet (no pun intended) Sugar Skull bobblehead (shown above) for their season opener this year. This type of bobblehead is typically handed out in late October to coincide with dia de los muertos. Since the G League season doesn't open until November 8, the Bulls are going with better late than never here. I'd show up to the Sears Centre for this one. The Bulls do note the bobble is available while supplies last. Get there early. This is generally true for all G League giveaways.

18 Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets)
One of the biggest offseason deals (top 3 after Anthony Davis and Kawhi/Paul George to LA?) has to be the Chris Paul and a like a half million draft picks to Oklahoma City for Russell Westbrook. I don't think Russ is winning a title in Houston; I also think the Rockets live to rue the day they made this trade. But if nothing else, Westbrook gets a bobblehead out of the deal.

29 Draymond Green San Francisco Edition (Santa Cruz Warriors)

The Warriors got bested by the Cavs in the bobblehead department at the NBA level this year. But they are still kings of the G League bobbles. Try six bobbleheads. That's more than they are giving out in San Francisco (remember there's no more Oakland...). Five of the six match giveaways scheduled at the brand new Chase Center. The last is a G League exclusive. First up? Draymond Green in the mysterious San Francisco Edition. If you miss this one six days earlier in San Fran, drive down to Santa Cruz.

December

13 Kevon Looney Stormtrooper (Santa Cruz Warriors)

Warriors bobblehead #2 in Santa Cruz, two days after the same giveaway in San Francisco. 

14 Austin Carr (Canton Charge)

This is the first of three Cleveland Cavaliers bobbleheads being handed out by the Charge this year. I'm assuming this is a duplicate of the Carr bobblehead given away in Cleveland two nights prior. First 1,500 fans only on this one, folks!

27 DeAndre Jordan Star Wars Night (Long Island Nets)

Brooklyn becomes the third NBA team to have a pile of parent club bobbles at the door of their G League franchise when they open up the arena on December 27. If you missed this one at Barclays on December 21, head out to this game six days later. The Brooklyn club doesn't have an image of this bobble on their website. The Long Island version does (above). First 1,000 fans only.

28 Whammer (Canton Charge)

Bobblehead night #2 in Canton is a repeat of the December 20 giveaway in Cleveland. First 1,500 fans here just like on December 14 in Canton.

January

4 Marvin the Martian and Gus T. Bull (Windy City Bulls)

Are you kidding me? I get that the Brooklyn Nets have co-opted about half the Marvel character list to tie in to their bobblehead promotions this year but Marvin the Martian? In the G League. I'm buying Windy City Bulls season tickets if I'm in the Chicago area. This thing is epic. Photo above. And remember...while supplies last.

6 Raptors Alumni Night (Raptors 905)

No promises here for a bobblehead but the Raptors' minor league franchise is hosting three Alumni Nights (on January 6, February 22 and March 11). All three nights advertise "special appearances, bobblehead giveaways and more." The focus here seems to be on Raptors players who have spent time in the G League. Pascal Siakam, maybe? Fred Van Vleet? Just my own guesses there. I don't see a promo schedule on the Raptors site right now. Could these be exclusive G League collectibles?

11 James Harden Space Bobble (Houston Rockets)
If it seems like every year I write this post, I'm writing about a James Harden bobblehead in Houston, you'd be correct. Seems like they are giving out these things more often than Harden travels in a game (not gets called for traveling, because that wouldn't be very often at all, but actually does travel). In the past five years, there have been four James Harden bobblehead nights in Houston. 2019-20 makes it five out of six. Apparently this one is space themed...cool!

18 Mark Price (Canton Charge)

Bobblehead night #3 in Canton matches the January 4 game in Cleveland. Just like the two prior bobblehead nights for the Charge, there are only 1,500 of these things available.

24 D'Angelo Russell (Santa Cruz Warriors)

Bobblehead night #3 in Santa Cruz is January 24 when the guy traded for Kevin Durant get his own plastic bobble likeness. 10 days earlier, he gets distributed at the Chase Center.

25 Gus T. Bull ASL Bobblehead (Windy City Bulls)

ASL is American Sign Language and this is the third not-available-at-the-parent-club-level bobblehead to be handed out by the Windy City Bulls. This is awesome that a bobblehead is actually addressing a cause of some sort rather than just spitting out an image of a player or mascot for the fans.

February

22 Alumni Night (Raptors 905)

See January 6 above.

28 Klay Thompson Headband Edition (Santa Cruz Warriors)

Well when I speculated about what this bobblehead would look like in my prior post, I was right. It is, in fact, Klay Thompson wearing a headband. And, yes, it's the same color as the one he wore when he dropped 52 on the Bulls.

29 Ben Wallace (Grand Rapids Drive)

No bobbleheads on the schedule for Pistons fans in Detroit but head west to Grand Rapids in late, late February (like, really late) and you can pick up a Ben Wallace bobblehead. Gotta think some Pistons fans are hopping in their cars for this one. I would.

March 

11 Alumni Night (Raptors 905) 

See January 6 above.

14 Stephen Curry Santa Cruz Warriors (Santa Cruz Warriors)

This is the only one of the six bobbleheads available this year in Santa Cruz that's exclusive to the G League. Surprise, surprise, it's Steph Curry. Presumably wearing a Santa Cruz jersey. If the Capital City Go-Go handed out a John Wall Go-Go jersey bobblehead I'd be there for sure. Of course, it's a bit further from San Francisco to Santa Cruz than it is from D.C. to another part of D.C. I'm seeing some Dubs faithful making this drive.

18 Stephen Curry Popcorn Edition (Santa Cruz Warriors)

The Steph in front of a giant tub of popcorn bobblehead that so befuddled me in my prior post shows up in Santa Cruz in mid-March. Go for it.

27 Dr. J as Black Panther (Long Island Nets)

The second Long Island Nets offering in the bobblehead department is the same as Brooklyn's giveaway three weeks prior. If the image above is true to life, I'm not sure how Dr. J is Black Panther. Maybe the real version is different? Looks like the Nets are making 2,000 of these available for G League fans. Get there early.

That's all I got bobblehead-wise until (a) the Thomas Bryant bobblehead gets released at Capital One Arena or (b) the Wizards by some miracle decide that there's another way Wiz fans get a different bobblehead this year (come on...there's got to be a Rui Hachimura bobblehead ticket package somehow). 

I'm still missing some lists from some NBA teams but there have been some bobblehead-less schedules published at the G-League level. Get ready to be disappointed some of you. Hoping for bobbleheads in Aguas Calientes (Clippers), Erie (Bayhawks but the Pelicans G League team), Greensboro (Hornets), Iowa (Wolves, short for Timberwolves), Salt Lake City (Stars which is way better than Utah Jazz) and Stockton (Kings).

Good luck NBA (and G League) bobblehead collectors!!!