Anzejs Pasecniks sets dubious franchise record in Wizards first win of the season

End of the bench center Anzejs Pasecniks saw his first action of the season in the Wizards’ 21-point victory in Minnesota. It did not go well. In six minutes, Pasecniks managed to commit five turnovers, which — according to Basketball-Reference — is a franchise record for most turnovers in 6 minutes or less of playing time.

Pasecniks is tied for second on the all-time list with Kevin Williams, who did the 5-in-6 for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1985. The record is held by James Ray, who somehow managed 6 turnovers in 4 minutes for the Denver Nuggets in a 1982 loss to the Washington Bullets.

Former Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton achieved 4 turnovers in 6 minutes in a loss to the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2008.

Backup center Robin Lopez matched Crittenton’s 4-in-6 in 2009 when he played for the Phoenix Suns. Perhaps Pasecniks was inspired by Lopez’s example.

Longtime Wizards/Bullets fans have been witness to debaculous garbage time turnovers five times through the years. In addition to James Ray’s record, and the accomplishments of Pasecniks and Crittenton, Washington helped Dennis Smith get a 4-in-6 for the New York Knicks in February 2020, and Don Reid get a 4-in-5 for the Detroit Pistons in 1996.

The Golden State Warriors are the franchise best at forcing garbage time turnovers — individual opponents have accomplished 4 or more turnovers in 6 or fewer minutes six times through the years, including a 19-year old Gerald Wallace who had 4 turnovers in 2 minutes. Wallace was the youngest player to join this exclusive club.

The Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Phoenix Suns are tied for the league lead in for games with 4 or more turnovers in 6 or fewer minutes with three each.

The undisputed champion of garbage time turnovers is Joe Bryant, better known as Kobe’s dad. Bryant is the only player to manage the feat twice, which he accomplished in a single week — 4 turnovers in 2 minutes on February 25, 1979 and 4 turnovers in 6 minutes on March 2, 1979.

Since 1983-84 (as far back as the Stathead search function would go), an individual has managed 4 or more turnovers in 6 or fewer minutes 48 times. Notable names in this group include Earl Boykins, Gerald Green, Juwan Howard (the oldest to do it at age 39), Oliver Miller, Jumaine Jones, Gerald Green, Kendall Marshall, Billy Knight, Benoit Benjamin, Jerome Lane, and Will Perdue.

Whatever else happens with the Wizards this season, they need some more blowout wins to give Pasecniks the garbage time he needs to make another run at James Ray’s record.