The Wes Unseld Era
The Late 60’s
In the late 1960s, the Bullets made pivotal draft choices that would shape their legacy. In 1967, they secured the remarkable talent of Earl Monroe as the second overall pick, followed by Wes Unseld, another future Hall of Famer, in the 1968 draft, also number two overall.
Their arrival signaled an immediate turning point for the team—the Bullets soared from 36 wins the season before to an impressive 57 during the 1968–69 season. It was during this remarkable period that Unseld not only received the Rookie of the Year accolade but also the MVP award, solidifying his exceptional talent and contribution to the team’s success.
These two stellar athletes not only elevated the Bullets’ game but also captured the hearts of fans with their unique playing styles and undeniable skill on the court. Their arrival marked the beginning of an era that would forever be etched in the history of the Washington Wizards franchise.
Playoff Powerhouse
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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 21: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Wes Unseld #41 of the Baltimore Bullets fight for position during Game One of the 1971 NBA Finals on April 21, 1971 at the Milwaukee Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1971 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images) 1970–71 Season: The Bullets won the conference title for the first time in franchise history, securing a spot in the NBA Finals. They faced the Knicks in an intense Eastern Conference finals, capitalizing on the absence of Knicks’ captain Willis Reed due to injury. Despite their efforts, they were swept in the NBA Finals by the Milwaukee Bucks.
- 1971–72 Season: The Bullets stunned fans and the entire league by trading Earl “The Pearl” Monroe to the New York Knicks. In a less successful season, the Bullets were able to win the division title, but lost to the Knicks, 2-4 in the semifinals. The Bullets made a significant move in the offseason, acquiring future hall of famer Elvin Hayes from the Houston Rockets.
- 1972–73 Season: The Bullets clinched the Central Division title for the third straight year but faced another playoff loss against the Knicks, 1-4.
- 1973–74 Season: The team announced a move to the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, and became the Capital Bullets. They again won the division title, and in the playoffs lost to the New York Knicks for the fifth time in six years, this time in seven games. After the season, they changed their name to the
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1980: Elvin Hayes #11 of the Washington Bullets in action against the San Diego Clippers during an NBA basketball game circa 1980 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Hayes played for the Bullets from 1972-81. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) Washington Bullets.
- 1974–75 Season: The Washington Bullets achieved a franchise-high regular season record of 60-22, being nearly unbeatable at home with a record of 36-5. They returned to the make their second NBA Finals, facing the Golden State Warriors, but suffered another crushing sweep.
- 1975–76 Season: Despite a decline in regular-season wins, they entered the playoffs and were eliminated in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- 1976–77 Season: Once again making the playoffs, they were eliminated in the first round, this time by the Houston Rockets.
These seasons marked a period of disappointment. The Bullets were one of the strongest regular-season teams in the NBA, propelling themselves to the playoffs consistently, but consistently falling short.
NBA Championship
In the 1977-78 season, with the Wes Unseld era seeming to be coming to an end, the Bullets finished with a record of 44-38 and were a longshot to win the NBA Finals. Unseld and Hayes’s age and injuries appeared to be catching up to them. With all odds against them, the Bullets ran a strong playoff rally to win the NBA Finals versus the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 7. This remains the only championship title won by the Washington NBA organization.
In the 1978-79 season, the Bullets finished with a stronger record of 54-28 and would win the division title. They again rallied all the way to the NBA championship, a rematch versus the SuperSonics. They won the first game, but lost the next four. The Bullets were the only team to play in the NBA Finals four times during the 1970s.
Washington, DC 5/24/1979
CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X23451 TK2 R7 F6 )
The Washington Bullets struggled to see success in later years, unable to make an appearance in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years during the 1980-1981 season.
Following this season, Wes Unseld retired and Elvin Hayes was traded to the Houston Rockets. The 1981-82 was the first season since the 1967-68 season where Wes Unseld was not on the opening day roster. They did manage to sneak into the playoffs again, although their first round win versus the New Jersey Nets in the 1981-82 season would prove to be their last playoff series win until 2005.
The Bullets made the playoffs five years consecutively from 1984 to 1988, eliminated in the first round each time. In 1987-88, Wizards coach Kevin Loughery was fired midway through the season after a rocky regular season start. Wes Unseld was named the new head coach, where he would lead the team to the playoffs. He served that role until the 1993-94 season, with an unfortunate 202–345 record (.369)
In 1995, team owner Abe Polin decided he would rename the team due to its links to violence in a crime-heavy Washington D.C.
In the 1996-97 season, the Chris Webber, Rod Strickland, and Juwan Howard – led Bullets made the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. The Bullets were swept by the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen defending-champion Chicago Bulls squad, who would go on to win their fifth championship in seven years. This was the last season the franchise was known as the Bullets and would also prove to be their final playoff appearance until 2005.
Courtesy of: https://www.lines.com/nba/history-of-nba-teams/wizards