The 1971–72 Baltimore Bullets season was their 11th season in the NBA and ninth season in the city of Baltimore. The Bullets would stun their fans and the entire league by trading Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. The trade was done three games into the season and Monroe was sent to the rival New York Knicks.[1] The Bullets received Dave Stallworth, Mike Riordan, and cash.[1] The Bullets did not adjust well to not having Monroe as they finished the season with a 38–44 record. The losing record would still be good enough to win the Central Division. In the playoffs, the Bullets would face Monroe and the New York Knicks and be beaten by the Knicks in six games.
See main article: article and 1971 NBA draft.
| 1971–72 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 | |
| Baltimore | 4–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | |
| Boston | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | |
| Buffalo | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–6 | — | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 | |
| Cincinnati | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — | 6–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 2–6 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–4 | |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–5 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | |
| Golden State | 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 5–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | |
| Houston | 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | |
| Los Angeles | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | — | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | |
| New York | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 | |
| Phoenix | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–1 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | |
| Portland | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–6 | — | 0–6 | |
| Seattle | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 6–0 | — | |
| 1971–72 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 15 | 82–106 | Jack Marin (20) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 16 | 93–108 | Earl Monroe (27) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 19 | 114–134 | Earl Monroe (28) | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 22 | 110–87 | Jack Marin (23) | 1–3 | ||
| 5 | October 23 | 109–101 | Jack Marin (31) | 1–4 | ||
| 6 | October 26 | 90–120 | Archie Clark (18) | 1–5 | ||
| 7 | October 27 | 98–128 | Jack Marin (26) | 2–5 | ||
| 8 | October 29 | @ Detroit | 105–119 | Jack Marin (25) | 2–6 | |
| 9 | October 30 | 94–101 | Archie Clark (32) | 3–6 | ||
| 10 | November 2 | @ Golden State | 91–106 | Jack Marin (28) | 3–7 | |
| 11 | November 5 | 106–110 | Jack Marin (30) | 3–8 | ||
| 12 | November 7 | 109–106 | Jack Marin (42) | 4–8 | ||
| 13 | November 10 | Chicago | 125–106 | Archie Clark (23) | 4–9 | |
| 14 | November 13 | 105–111 | Archie Clark (27) | 5–9 | ||
| 15 | November 16 | Houston | 107–110 | Phil Chenier (26) | 6–9 | |
| 16 | November 17 | 113–103 | Jack Marin (24) | 7–9 | ||
| 17 | November 19 | 105–126 | Jack Marin (24) | 8–9 | ||
| 18 | November 20 | @ New York | 114–125 | Archie Clark (27) | 8–10 | |
| 19 | November 23 | @ Cleveland | 102–104 | Archie Clark (30) | 8–11 | |
| 20 | November 24 | New York | 114–94 | Archie Clark (29) | 8–12 | |
| 21 | November 26 | 118–105 | Archie Clark (40) | 9–12 | ||
| 22 | November 27 | N Boston | 120–125 | Jack Marin (37) | 10–12 | |
| 23 | November 30 | Cincinnati | 118–103 | Jack Marin (20) | 10–13 | |
| 24 | December 2 | N Buffalo | 109–105 | Marin, Stallworth (21) | 10–14 | |
| 25 | December 3 | 117–106 | Archie Clark (37) | 10–15 | ||
| 26 | December 8 | 97–115 | Archie Clark (30) | 11–15 | ||
| 27 | December 10 | @ Chicago | 102–118 | Archie Clark (25) | 11–16 | |
| 28 | December 11 | Milwaukee | 107–101 | Jack Marin (25) | 11–17 | |
| 29 | December 14 | Cleveland | 88–85 | Archie Clark (24) | 11–18 | |
| 30 | December 17 | Atlanta | 103–114 | Jack Marin (31) | 12–18 | |
| 31 | December 18 | @ Atlanta | 94–123 | Archie Clark (18) | 12–19 | |
| 32 | December 19 | @ Milwaukee | 96–111 | Archie Clark (22) | 12–20 | |
| 33 | December 22 | Los Angeles | 127–120 | Archie Clark (35) | 12–21 | |
| 34 | December 25 | @ Philadelphia | 117–114 | Jack Marin (24) | 13–21 | |
| 35 | December 26 | @ Cleveland | 102–108 | Wes Unseld (22) | 13–22 | |
| 36 | December 28 | Cincinnati | 87–119 | Archie Clark (26) | 14–22 | |
| 37 | December 30 | @ New York | 110–102 | Jack Marin (33) | 15–22 | |
| 38 | January 5 | Detroit | 89–111 | Archie Clark (31) | 16–22 | |
| 39 | January 7 | @ Chicago | 104–94 | Archie Clark (32) | 17–22 | |
| 40 | January 8 | Atlanta | 102–110 | Jack Marin (29) | 18–22 | |
| 41 | January 9 | N Phoenix | 103–109 | Jack Marin (28) | 19–22 | |
| 42 | January 11 | @ Portland | 106–114 | Archie Clark (30) | 19–23 | |
| 43 | January 13 | @ Seattle | 107–112 | Clark, Marin (32) | 19–24 | |
| 44 | January 15 | @ Golden State | 95–105 | Archie Clark (26) | 19–25 | |
| 45 | January 16 | @ Phoenix | 107–104 | Archie Clark (32) | 20–25 | |
| 46 | January 21 | @ Detroit | 102–107 | Archie Clark (32) | 20–26 | |
| 47 | January 22 | N Portland | 99–116 | Archie Clark (24) | 21–26 | |
| 48 | January 23 | Cincinnati | 101–132 | Archie Clark (26) | 22–26 | |
| 49 | January 26 | Buffalo | 114–115 (OT) | Jack Marin (31) | 23–26 | |
| 50 | January 28 | @ Cincinnati | 132–124 | Jack Marin (38) | 24–26 | |
| 51 | January 30 | N Milwaukee | 116–112 | Archie Clark (24) | 24–27 | |
| 52 | February 1 | Boston | 115–108 | Archie Clark (30) | 24–28 | |
| 53 | February 4 | Chicago | 110–108 | Archie Clark (23) | 24–29 | |
| 54 | February 6 | @ Los Angeles | 127–151 | Archie Clark (38) | 24–30 | |
| 55 | February 8 | @ Golden State | 107–111 | Clark, Chenier (24) | 24–31 | |
| 56 | February 10 | @ Phoenix | 98–131 | Jack Marin (24) | 24–32 | |
| 57 | February 11 | @ Houston | 95–116 | Jack Marin (20) | 24–33 | |
| 58 | February 13 | N Los Angeles | 121–110 | Phil Chenier (28) | 24–34 | |
| 59 | February 15 | Houston | 98–113 | Jack Marin (39) | 25–34 | |
| 60 | February 16 | @ Atlanta | 103–105 | Archie Clark (31) | 25–35 | |
| 61 | February 18 | Atlanta | 81–106 | Archie Clark (25) | 26–35 | |
| 62 | February 19 | @ Philadelphia | 121–105 | Jack Marin (27) | 27–35 | |
| 63 | February 21 | Philadelphia | 101–102 | Archie Clark (30) | 28–35 | |
| 64 | February 22 | @ Buffalo | 98–99 | Archie Clark (23) | 28–36 | |
| 65 | February 23 | Milwaukee | 113–105 | Archie Clark (23) | 28–37 | |
| 66 | February 26 | @ New York | 104–97 | Archie Clark (30) | 29–37 | |
| 67 | February 27 | N New York | 97–95 (OT) | Archie Clark (23) | 29–38 | |
| 68 | February 29 | Seattle | 118–117 (OT) | Archie Clark (32) | 29–39 | |
| 69 | March 1 | @ Phoenix | 95–90 | Jack Marin (23) | 30–39 | |
| 70 | March 3 | @ Portland | 90–80 | Archie Clark (24) | 31–39 | |
| 71 | March 5 | @ Los Angeles | 108–94 | Jack Marin (29) | 32–39 | |
| 72 | March 7 | @ Seattle | 105–98 | Mike Riordan (21) | 33–39 | |
| 73 | March 12 | N Detroit | 97–102 | Jack Marin (23) | 34–39 | |
| 74 | March 14 | Cleveland | 127–118 (OT) | Archie Clark (31) | 34–40 | |
| 75 | March 16 | @ Cleveland | 105–101 | Archie Clark (24) | 35–40 | |
| 76 | March 17 | Seattle | 107–112 | Dave Stallworth (27) | 36–40 | |
| 77 | March 19 | @ Boston | 125–112 | Mike Riordan (30) | 37–40 | |
| 78 | March 21 | @ Buffalo | 100–114 | Riordan, Stallworth (18) | 37–41 | |
| 79 | March 22 | Golden State | 121–101 | Mike Riordan (15) | 37–42 | |
| 80 | March 24 | @ Cincinnati | 114–132 | Jack Marin (25) | 37–43 | |
| 81 | March 25 | Houston | 106–85 | Archie Clark (18) | 37–44 | |
| 82 | March 26 | Buffalo | 101–119 | Archie Clark (29) | 38–44 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 31| New York| W 108–105 (OT)| Archie Clark (38)| Wes Unseld (18)| Wes Unseld (6)| Baltimore Civic Center
12,289| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 2| @ New York| L 88–110| Archie Clark (18)| Unseld, Tresvant (10)| Archie Clark (7)| Madison Square Garden
19,588| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 4| New York| W 104–103| Archie Clark (35)| Unseld, Tresvant (12)| Unseld, Clark (9)| Baltimore Civic Center
12,289| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 6| @ New York| L 98–104| Archie Clark (22)| Wes Unseld (16)| Archie Clark (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,588| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 9| New York| L 82–106| Mike Riordan (16)| Wes Unseld (13)| Archie Clark (9)| Baltimore Civic Center
10,244| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 11| @ New York| L 101–107| Archie Clark (31)| John Tresvant (8)| Archie Clark (11)| Madison Square Garden
19,588| 2–4|-