As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the
game being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests
that players from different eras cannot be compared. However, I
have decided to defy those odds.
The Washington Wizards entered the NBA in 1961 as the Chicago
Packers before being renamed the Zephyrs one year later. The
franchise moved to Baltimore one year later and were rebranded as
the Baltimore Bullets. The franchise moved to Washington DC and
were then named the Capital Bullets. One year later, they were
named the Washington Bullets. In 1997, they were rebranded as
the Wizards.
The franchise has appeared in four NBA Finals with the lone title
coming in 1977-1978. The franchise has seven division titles. The
team remained a regular playoff participant in the 1980s but since
the 1987-1988 campaign postseason berths have been infrequent.
In the last 32 years, Washington has been to the playoffs just nine
times.
Today, I put together a Wizards Dream Team. There are some rigid
criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have
played for the Wizard for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions.
Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs
to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This roster is
all-encompassing from all eras.
Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.
This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is
the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The
number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with longevity
also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare
eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion.
Generational reminders
Being on the Wizards during a season of being a championship
team does not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on
the Heat during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on
this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get
considered.
To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into
positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players
encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position specific,
after that it will be the best of the rest with four years playing for the
franchise being the first requirement.
So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team, don’t
just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you would
remove. Before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask
yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”
Starting five
Point guard: John Wall
The previous three seasons have been injury-plagued ones for Wall
but his nine-year career has been strong enough that he's the best
point guard in franchise history and one of the best players
regardless of position. What was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010
draft.
During his career, Wall has averaged 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and
9.2 assists. Wall is a five-time All-Star and the Wizards all-time leader
in assists, assists per game and steals.
Shooting guard: Bradley Beal.
The Wizards selected Beal with the third overall pick in the 2012 draft.
Beal and teammate John Wall have formed an outstanding but
unheralded backcourt. Beal has been a tremendous long-range
shooter in over 500 career games with the Wizards.
Beal is a two-time All-Star and was NBA All-Rookie second team in
2013. He has career averages of 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0
assists. Beal has averaged at least 20 points per game and his last
five seasons.
Small forward: Greg Ballard.
Ballard's starring role with the Bullets came after he helped contribute
to the franchise's 1978 NBA championship. Ballard, however,
enjoyed a solidly productive career despite not making any All-Star
appearances.
Throughout his career with Washington, Ballard averaged 13.5 points,
6.4 rebounds, 2.4 and 1.2 steals per game. Ballard also helped the
franchise to multiple postseason appearances as a starter at small
forward.
Power forward: Elvin Hayes.
Hayes was acquired in a trade from the San Diego Rockets and
teamed with Hall of Famer Wes Unseld to form a dominating frontcourt
tandem. Hayes and Unseld led Washington to three NBA finals in a
five-year span with 1978 culminating in a championship.
On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Hayes was a 12-time All-Star
and six-time All NBA (three as a first-teamer) . He was also a two-time
NBA All-Defensive second team. In a Washington uniform, Hayes
averaged a double-double with 21.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per
game.
Center: Wes Unseld
Unseld spent all 13 years of his playing career with this franchise.
Unseld was known for his rebounding, ability to set screens and ignite
a fast-break with his outlet passes. Unseld made up for his lack of
size with brute strength and determination. Unseld, who later went on
to become the franchise’s head coach, helped lead Washington to
three NBA Finals appearances in five years with 1978 culminating
with a championship.
On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Unseld was NBA Finals MVP in
1978, NBA MVP in 1969, five-time All-Star, All NBA first team in 1969
and NBA Rookie of the Year in 1969. Unseld averaged 10.8 points
and 14.0 rebounds per game. He also averaged 3.8 assists per
contest.
Bench (Alphabetical order)
Gilbert Arenas:
Though Arenas is known for his firearms possession, he had eight
highly successful seasons with Washington. Arenas spent his first
two seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. While with
Washington, he was a three-time All-Star, All-NBA second team in
2007 and two more times as a third-team choice. He was the NBA
Most Improved Player in 2003. In a Washington uniform, Arenas
averaged 25.0 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Walt Bellamy:
Bellamy's five years with the franchise overlapped the eras with the
Chicago Packers and Zephyrs along with the Baltimore Bullets.
Bellamy was the Rookie of the Year in 1962 and made four
consecutive All-Star appearances. During his time with the franchise,
Bellamy averaged 27.6 points and 16.6 rebounds per game on the
way to a Hall of Fame career.
Phil Chenier:
Though Chenier's time with the franchise overlapped both the
Baltimore and Washington areas. Chenier spent eight of these 11
seasons with the franchise and helped deliver a championship in
1978. He was a three-time All-Star and two-time All NBA. During
his time with Washington, Chenier averaged 17.9 points per game
and was one of the best shooting guards in the NBA.
Bob Dandridge:
Dandridge spent much of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks but
had for impactful seasons with Washington. In a Bullets uniform,
Dandridge averaged 18.3 points per game and was an All-Star in
1979. He also helped the bullets become champions in 1977-78.
Antwan Jamison:
Jamison played six of his 17 seasons with Washington. Jamison
along with Tom Chambers are the only two players in NBA history
to have scored at least 20,000 career points and not be inducted
into the Hall of Fame. Both of Jamison's All-Star appearances
came in a Washington uniform. During his career with the franchise,
Jamison averaged 20.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Gus Johnson:
Johnson was one of the best two-way players of his time as he
spent nine of his 11 NBA seasons with the franchise during their
time as the Baltimore Bullets. All five of Johnson's All-Star
appearances came as a Bullet. He was also four-time All-NBA
second team, two-time NBA All Defensive first team and NBA
All-Rookie first team. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of
Fame.
Bernard King:
Though King is a Hall of Famer, and in a sense his legacy is
“what could have been” because he missed two full seasons
with a knee injury. However, based on what he did on the court,
he is more than deserving of his Hall of Fame status. King was one
of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Though he only played
with the Bullets for five seasons, King averaged 22.0 points per
game with Washington.
Jeff Malone:
Malone was a very efficient scorer and an excellent mid-range
jump shooter. He spent eight seasons with Washington with both
of his All-Star appearances coming with the franchise. As a member
of the Bullets, Malone averaged 20.2 points per contest
Jack Marin:
Marin played six of his 13 Seasons with the Baltimore Bullets. He
was NBA All-Rookie first team in 1967. During his time as a Bullet,
he averaged 16.7 points per game.
Earl Monroe:
Monroe was given the nicknames “Black Jesus” and “Earl the Pearl."
He was the perfect blend of basketball and showmanship. Though
the majority of his career was as a New York Knick, his time with the
Baltimore Bullets we're still quite impactful. He helped lead the
Bullets to an NBA Finals appearance in 1971. With the Bullets,
Monroe averaged 21.7 points, 4.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
Head coach: Dick Motta
Motta only coached the Bullets for five seasons and is the only
coach in franchise history to lead them to an NBA championship.
Until another coach accomplishes that feat, one will be hard-
pressed to surpass Motta, who led the Bullets to 185 victories and
a franchise-record 27 playoff wins. Motta was known as a strict
disciplinarian who built physically tough teams.
Team: 1977-1978
Though the regular season record may not look impressive at
44-38, the fact that this is the only team in franchise history to hoist
the Larry O'Brien trophy makes it hard to go any other way. The
Bullets are one of four NBA champions to win fewer than 50 regular
season games in a non-lockout shortened campaign. The Bullets
were beset by injuries to the point where they lost 13 of 18 games
at one point but the team rallied to make the postseason defeating
the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers on
the way to the NBA finals where they defeated the Seattle
SuperSonics in seven games. Hayes and Dandridge each
averaged over 19 points per game.
