The Washington Wizards Play to Make Magic in the NBA Finals Again

ashington Wizards have already won one NBAfinished the season with a 44-38 record, and
Finals, as the Washington Bullets. Although thebarely snuck into the NBA playoffs. They
name has changed, the team plays to wingrounded the Atlanta Hawks (2-0), shocked the
another NBA Championship trophy for the city.San Antonio Spurs (4-2), and then vanquished the
What is in a name? Today's Washington WizardsPhiladelphia 76ers (4-2). The Spurs series was
have played as the Chicago Packers, the Chicagoparticularly interesting. In Game 6, the Spurs'
Zephyrs, the Baltimore Bullets, the Capital Bullets,player Mike Gale had to wear an inside-out Bullets
and the Washington Bullets. Interestingly,jersey, after he had misplaced his uniform.
however, the team's name change did not includeThe Bullets would face the Seattle Supersonics in
a change in the city that it represented. Today'sthe NBA Finals. Washington battled back three
Washington Wizards are the same team as thetimes to tie the series. In Game 7, the
Washington Bullets.Supersonics was a huge favorite over the Bullets.
In 1996, the owner of the Washington Bullets,However, the Bullets played solid team-basketball,
Abe Polan, chose to change the name of theand earned their first NBA Finals, with a 101-94
NBA's Washington team. That was due to thevictory.
increasing number of homicides in the city, whichThroughout their history, the Washington Bullets
began in the early 1990s. The Bullets feared thatWizards have retired four players' jersey
the name "Bullets" encouraged gun violence.numbers:
Interestingly, the homicide rate peaked in 2006.• Elvin Hayes - #11 (Forward): 1972
Nevertheless, the franchise would ultimately1973-1980/1981
choose "Wizards" over other finalists, includingTwice NBA rebounding champion (1970, 1974);
Dragons and Stallions.and 12 NBA All-Star games
The Washington Wizards played their first game• Gus Johnson - #25 (Forward): 1963
with a new name, in new jerseys and shorts, and1964-1971/1972
in a new arena (MCI Center) on December 2,Five NBA All-Star games and four All-NBA Second
1997. It was a magical night for the Wizards, asTeams with Bullets
they defeated the Seattle Supersonics 95-78.• Earl "The Pearl" Monroe - #10 (Guard):
While the Wizards completed the regular season1967/1968-1971/1972
with a 42-40 record, they missed qualifying forFamous for stylish dribbling and passing; NBA
the playoffs, by a single game.Rookie of the Year
Albeit the Washington Wizards have made four• Wes Unseld - #41 (Center): 1968
consecutive playoff appearances from 2005-2008,1969-1980/1981
the team achieved its greatest success in theNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP (1969);
1970s, as the Washington Bullets. During thatBasketball Hall of Fame (1988)
decade, the Bullets won six division crowns, andWhat is in a name? Although the Washington
appeared in four NBA Finals. In fact, the BulletsBullets are now the Washington Wizards, the
earned a spot in the NBA Finals, in each year thatteam shares a history and a tradition of
they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finalsexcellence. Use Washington Wizards merchandise
(1971, 1975, 1978, 1979).to cheer on the team as it tries to make magic in
Unquestionably, the Washington Bullets' 1977-1978the NBA Finals again.
season was particularly memorable. The Bullets