It was fitting for the Wizards to begin their pre-draft workouts of potential rookies on Wednesday with Marquette small forward Wesley Matthews.
The Bullets selected his father, Wes Matthews, in the first round of the 1980 NBA draft with the 14th overall pick.
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“I don’t think I processed that my dad played here until I walked into the locker room and saw the Bullets,” said Matthews, after working out alongside Temple guard Dionte Christmas, Central Florida guard Jermaine Taylor and San Diego State forward Kyle Spain. “I thought about that, but now it’s my turn.”
The elder Matthews, a 6-foot-1 point guard, lasted only one season in Washington but spent nine seasons in the NBA, averaging 7.9 points and 4.2 assists. His son’s most vivid memories are the two rings he earned coming of the bench during the Los Angeles Lakers’ back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988.
Wesley Matthews averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and shot 48 percent from the field this past season with the Golden Eagles. Projected as a second-round pick at best, the next six weeks are crucial to make his lifelong dream come true.
“It basically feels like a season,” said Matthews, who’s also been to Portland, and visits Houston, Milwaukee and Detroit in the next week. “You’re in a hotel, you’re finding stuff to eat. You’re trying to make sure you get to bed on time, wake up, and handle you’re business the next day.”