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History of the Washington Bullets
The Washington Bullets were one of the NBA's most successful franchises during the 1970s and 1980s. Originally founded as the Chicago Packers in 1961, the franchise became the Chicago Zephyrs, relocated to Baltimore as the Baltimore Bullets, and finally moved to the Washington metropolitan area in 1973. After one season as the Capital Bullets, the team adopted the name Washington Bullets in 1974. During the Bullets era, the franchise reached four NBA Finals, won the 1978 NBA Championship, and featured Hall of Fame stars including Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, and Earl Monroe. In 1997, the organization was renamed the Washington Wizards.
Arrival in Washington
Following a decade of success in Baltimore, owner Abe Pollin relocated the franchise to the Washington, D.C., area for the 1973–74 season. The team played one year as the Capital Bullets before shortening the name to the Washington Bullets in 1974.
The Bullets played their home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, which became one of the NBA's premier arenas during the 1970s and 1980s.
Building a Championship Team
Washington assembled one of the league's deepest rosters under head coach Dick Motta. The foundation of the team included:
- Wes Unseld
- Elvin Hayes
- Bob Dandridge
- Phil Chenier
- Kevin Grevey
- Mitch Kupchak
The combination of Hayes' scoring, Unseld's rebounding and leadership, and a balanced supporting cast made Washington one of the NBA's elite teams.
NBA Finals Success
The Bullets became regular contenders throughout the 1970s, reaching the NBA Finals three times in four seasons.
1975 NBA Finals
Washington reached its first Finals after defeating the Buffalo Braves and Boston Celtics. The Bullets were swept by the Golden State Warriors, but the appearance established the franchise as a championship contender.
1978 NBA Championship
The 1977–78 Bullets entered the playoffs with a modest 44–38 record but caught fire at the perfect time.
Washington defeated the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers before facing the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA Finals.
The Bullets won the series in seven games to capture the franchise's first and only NBA championship.
Wes Unseld was named NBA Finals MVP for his leadership, rebounding, defense, and unselfish play.
1979 NBA Finals
Washington returned to the NBA Finals the following season but lost a seven-game rematch against the Seattle SuperSonics.
The 1980s
Although the championship core gradually aged, the Bullets remained competitive throughout much of the 1980s.
Stars during the decade included:
- Jeff Malone
- Bernard King
- Moses Malone
- Manute Bol
The team consistently reached the playoffs but never advanced beyond the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Chris Webber Era
The Bullets selected Chris Webber with the first overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft.
Webber won the 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and helped return excitement to the franchise. Alongside Juwan Howard, Washington appeared poised for long-term success.
However, injuries and roster changes prevented the team from becoming a serious championship contender.
The End of the Bullets Name
Prior to the 1997–98 season, owner Abe Pollin changed the team's nickname from the Bullets to the Washington Wizards, citing concerns that the name "Bullets" carried negative associations with gun violence.
The rebranding ended 23 seasons under the Washington Bullets name while preserving the franchise's history and records.
Home Arena
| Years |
Arena |
| 1973–1997 |
Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland |
Washington Bullets Timeline
| Year |
Event |
| 1973 | Relocate to Washington as the Capital Bullets. |
| 1974 | Become the Washington Bullets. |
| 1975 | Reach first NBA Finals. |
| 1978 | Win the NBA Championship. |
| 1979 | Return to the NBA Finals. |
| 1993 | Draft Chris Webber first overall. |
| 1994 | Chris Webber wins NBA Rookie of the Year. |
| 1997 | Franchise renamed the Washington Wizards. |
Franchise Greats
- Wes Unseld
- Elvin Hayes
- Earl Monroe
- Bob Dandridge
- Phil Chenier
- Kevin Grevey
- Mitch Kupchak
- Jeff Malone
- Bernard King
- Moses Malone
- Chris Webber
- Juwan Howard
- Manute Bol
Notable Coaches
- Dick Motta
- Gene Shue
- Jim Lynam
Awards and Achievements
- 1978 NBA Champions
- 3 NBA Finals appearances as the Washington Bullets (1975, 1978, 1979)
- Wes Unseld – 1978 NBA Finals MVP.
- Multiple Central Division and Atlantic Division championships.
- One of the NBA's most successful franchises during the 1970s.
Legacy
The Washington Bullets era represents the golden age of professional basketball in the nation's capital. Led by Hall of Famers Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes, the franchise reached multiple NBA Finals and captured its only NBA championship in 1978. Their disciplined, team-oriented style under Dick Motta made the Bullets one of the NBA's most respected organizations.
Although the franchise adopted the Washington Wizards name in 1997, the accomplishments of the Bullets remain an important part of NBA history. The championship team, Hall of Fame players, and loyal fan base continue to define one of the league's proudest eras.
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