WASHINGTON – For the second consecutive year, the Timberwolves had two off days in Washington before playing the Wizards, and again they used some of their extra time to make a trip to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
A lot of Wolves players, even those who weren't on the team last season, had been there before, but the museum is so vast and time-consuming they learn new things upon each return.
It was the second time for Josh Okogie, who was moved by an Emmitt Till exhibit on his first trip last season. This time the interactive exhibits stood out to him.
"They'll put you in a scenario, help you visualize how things were actually done back then, whether it was sit-ins or how they used to boycott …" Okogie said. "But there's so many artifacts, so much knowledge and history in that building. You can go six times and learn something new."
Guard Shabazz Napier said he noticed how an exhibit on the history of slavery was staged on a ramp that kept rising from one floor to another.
"Maybe that ramp signifies that you're climbing up and you're keeping going, prospering," Napier said. "I thought that was cool, whether they meant to do that or not. It made me feel a certain way about it."
Added Napier: "One of the staff members told me it's always great to know your history, whether it's good or bad, and I guess that's one perspective to look at. No matter how bad or how good your history is, it's always good to look at it."
Maryland native Treveon Graham said it was his third time, and he plans to bring back family members for another visit.
