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National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards
Eastern Conference/Southeast Division

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History of the Wizards

Entering their 46th season, the Wizards have had many incarnations.  Beginning as the Chicago Packers in the 1961/62 then Chicago Zephyrs in the 1962/63 campaign, the Bullets would move to the Baltimore Civic Center and played as the Baltimore Bullets from the 1963/64 season to the 1972/73 season.  After moving to Landover, the team became the Capital Bullets in the 1973/74 season.

The team again changed names in the 1974/75 season to the Washington Bullets and would continue using that moniker until the 1997/98 season when owner Abe Polan decides to change the name due to the number of high profile shootings.  The teams became the Washington Wizards and have continued using that name.

The 1978 Washington Bullets team, coached by Legend Dick Motta, and led by Elvin Hayes and Bob Dandridge, posted a 44-38 record which was good enough for 2nd place in the Central Division and a trip to the playoffs.  In the playoffs, the Bullets would sweep the Atlanta Hawks 2 games to none, stun the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 2 and spurned the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 en route to their 1st NBA Championship against the Seattle Supersonics.  The Sonics would not go easy as it took the Bullets 7 games to dispose of them and the Bullets emerged with their first and only NBA Championship.

The Bullets/Wizards have made 27 playoff appearances in 46 seasons, have been Division Champions 7 times (1969, 1971, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78 and 79), have made it to the Conference Finals 5 times (1965, 1971, 75, 78, and 1979), have been to the NBA Finals 4 times (1971, 1975, 1978 and 1979) and won the NBA Finals 1 time (1978).

The Bullets/Wizards have had 7 Hall of Famers on their rosters: Walt Bellamy (1963/64-1965/66), Dave Bing (1975/76-1976/77), Elvin Hayes (1972/73-1980/81), Bailey Howell (1964/65-1965/66), Moses Malone (1986/87-1987/88), Earl Monroe (1967/68-1971/72) and Wes Unseld (1968/69-1980/81).

The team has retired 4 jerseys: #10 Earl Monroe, #11 Elvin Hayes, #25 Gus Johnson and #41 Wes Unseld. 

Team Awards include: 2 NBA Coach of the Year Awards (1969 Gene Shue and 1982 Gene Shue), 3 Most Improved Player Awards (1992 Pervis Elision, 1994 Don MacLean and 1996 Gheorghe Muresan), 2 Rookie of the Year Awards (1968 Earl Monroe and 1969 Wes Unseld) and 1 NBA MVP Award (1969 Wes Unseld).



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