Washington Wizards guard John Wall isn’t just one of the most exciting players in the NBA. It turns out he’s an exciting referee, too.
Wall, a few of his teammates, players from the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and the Harlem Globetrotters all converged for a great cause. They helped out at the annual Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game in Washington D.C. Whether it was calling fouls, drawing up plays, or passing out water, the pro athletes were in in for one reason: To make sure a good time was had by all.
About 500,000 people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, which helps break down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities, and gives them a chance to work together on a team.
Here are a few highlights from the night.
ICYMI: Wizards, @WashMystics and @Globies team up with @SpecOlympics_DC! #RWord #Respect
▶: https://t.co/Szu16Dr5vPhttps://t.co/VZ5P89napn— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 16, 2016
A good shot of one of the Harlem Globetrotter @Globies setting the ball in motion @SpecOlympics_DC basketball game! pic.twitter.com/EXux1olkBO
— Andrew Logan (@lgnsnd) March 16, 2016
.@T_Cloud4 reffed alongside @JohnWall tonight at the Special Olympics Unified Game! #MysticsCares #RWord #Respect pic.twitter.com/uIwQl9aG80
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) March 15, 2016
Always a great time with the @WashWizards #SpreadTheWordToEndTheWord #playunified pic.twitter.com/ZRy4yTYHAg
— Special Olympics DC (@SpecOlympics_DC) March 16, 2016
“Seeing the guys on TV, just following them. And now they’re reffing our game and we can just talk to them,” Special Olympian James Black told Monumental Sports Network.
That’s inclusion at its finest.
