Baltimore Bullets

Lore & Background

The franchise has played in four NBA Finals, winning in 1978. They have appeared in 28 playoffs, won four conference titles (1971, 1975, 1978, 1979), and won eight division titles (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 2017). Their best season record, in 1974–75, was 60–22. Wes Unseld is the only player in franchise history to be named NBA MVP (1969) and Finals MVP (1978). Four players (Walt Bellamy, Terry Dischinger, Earl Monroe, and Unseld) have won the Rookie of the Year award. Unseld won both league MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Baltimore Civic Center hummed with a tension that only a playoff series could generate. Under the harsh glare of the arena lights, Wes Unseld stood at the free-throw line, his jersey soaked in sweat, eyes locked on the rim. The crowd, a sea of red and white, held its breath as he snapped the ball backboard-first, the sound echoing like a gavel strike. It wasn't just about points; it was about territory. Every rebound grabbed by Unseld felt like reclaiming ground for the city itself, a physical manifestation of Baltimore's grit against the odds.

Reader's Guide

The Wizards began playing as the Chicago Packers in 1961, as the NBA's first expansion team. Rookie Walt Bellamy was the team's star, averaging 31.6 points per game, 19.0 rebounds per game, and leading the NBA in field goal percentage. Bellamy was named the league Rookie of the Year, but the team finished with the NBA's worst record at 18–62. The team's original name was a reference to Chicago's meatpacking industry; their home arena was the International Amphitheater. After only one year, the organization changed its name to the Chicago Zephyrs and played its home games at the Chicago Coliseum. In their only season as the Zephyrs, Terry Dischinger won Rookie of the Year honors. In 1963 the franchise moved to Baltimore, and became the Baltimore Bullets, playing their home games at the Baltimore Civic Center. In their first year in Baltimore, the Bullets finished fourth in a five–team Western Division. Prior to the 1964–65 season the Bullets traded for Bailey Howell, Don Ohl, Bob Ferry and Wali Jones. Howell helped the Bullets reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Bullets stunned the St. Louis Hawks 3–1, and advanced to the Western Conference finals, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2. Within the first two months of that season, the Bullets were purchased by Abe Pollin, Earl Foreman and Arnold Heft for $1.1 million, on November 23, 1964. In the late 1960s, the Bullets drafted Earl Monroe in 1967 and Wes Unseld in 1968, both number two overall. The team improved to 57 wins in the 1968–69 season, and Unseld received both the rookie of the year and MVP awards. In the 1970–71 season, the Bullets advanced to their first NBA Finals, but were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks. After acquiring Elvin Hayes and drafting Kevin Porter, the Bullets moved to the Washington area in 1973, becoming the Capital Bullets, then the Washington Bullets. The 60–22 Bullets made it back to the 1975 NBA Finals, but were swept by the Golden State Warriors. In 1977–78, the Bullets finished 44–38 and won the NBA championship.

Did You Know?

• Wes Unseld is the only player in franchise history to be named NBA MVP (1969) and Finals MVP (1978).
• Four players (Walt Bellamy, Terry Dischinger, Earl Monroe, and Wes Unseld) have won the Rookie of the Year award.
• The franchise's best season record was 60–22 in 1974–75.
• The team was originally established in 1961 as the Chicago Packers.