| Team: | Washington Bullets |
| Team Link: | Washington Wizards |
| End Year: | 1982 |
| Wins: | 43 |
| Losses: | 39 |
| Division: | Atlantic |
| Division Place: | 4 |
| Conf Place: | 5 |
| Coach: | Gene Shue |
| Gm: | Bob Ferry |
| Owner: | Abe Pollin |
| Arena: | Capital Centre |
| Playoffs: | Conference semifinals (lost to Celtics 1–4) |
| Bbr Team: | WSB |
| Television: | WDCA |
| Radio: | WTOP |
The 1981–82 NBA season was the Bullets’ 21st season in the NBA and their ninth in the city of Washington, D.C.[1] This for first since 1967–68 season Wes Unseld was not on the opening day roster. The Bullets finished 43–39 and won their first playoff round against the New Jersey Nets. They lost the semifinals to a powerful Boston Celtic outfit and their Nets win would prove their last playoff series win until 2004–05 against the Chicago Bulls.
See main article: article and 1981 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | PG | Wake Forest | |||
| 2 | 35 | SF | Vanderbilt | |||
| 2 | 41 | PF | Wisconsin | |||
| 2 | 44 | PF | South Dakota State | |||
| 3 | 48 | Colgate | ||||
| 4 | 79 | Ron Davis | Arizona | |||
| 5 | 103 | Holy Cross | ||||
| 6 | 125 | Robert Williams | Grambling State | |||
| 7 | 149 | Houston Baptist | ||||
| 8 | 170 | Wofford | ||||
| 9 | 193 | Valdosta State | ||||
| 10 | 212 | Houston Baptist |
Notes
| 1981–82 NBA records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 | |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| | @ Boston| L 100–124|||| Boston Garden| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| | Philadelphia| L 99–112|||| Capital Centre| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| | @ Milwaukee| L 90–98|||| MECCA Arena| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| | Detroit| W 86–82|||| Capital Centre| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| | Boston| L 84–90|||| Capital Centre| 1–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| | @ Atlanta| W 95–87|||| The Omni| 2–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| | Chicago| W 104–99|||| Capital Centre| 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 8| | Milwaukee| L 95–99|||| Capital Centre| 3–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 9| | @ Detroit| L 97–122|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 3–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 10| | Houston| L 94–95|||| Capital Centre| 3–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 11| | @ Chicago| L 105–117|||| Chicago Stadium| 3–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| | Golden State| W 107–88|||| Capital Centre| 4–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13| | @ Boston| L 100–113|||| Boston Garden| 4–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14| | Indiana| L 90–92|||| Capital Centre| 4–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 15| | San Antonio| L 99–110|||| Capital Centre| 4–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16| | @ New York| W 114–88|||| Madison Square Garden| 5–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 17| | Cleveland| W 94–87|||| Capital Centre| 6–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18| | @ Los Angeles| L 98–102|||| The Forum| 6–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19| | @ San Diego| W 106–102|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 7–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 20| | @ Phoenix| W 105–98|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 8–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 21| | Dallas| L 102–107|||| Capital Centre| 8–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22| | @ Cleveland| W 106–102|||| Richfield Coliseum| 9–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| | Boston| L 98–99|||| Capital Centre| 9–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| | @ Chicago| L 90–92|||| Chicago Stadium| 9–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| | Indiana| W 115–98|||| Capital Centre| 10–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 26| | @ New Jersey| W 105–90|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 11–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 27| | Detroit| W 129–125|||| Capital Centre| 12–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28| | @ Milwaukee| L 103–107|||| MECCA Arena| 12–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29| | @ Indiana| W 107–103|||| Market Square Arena| 13–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 30| | New Jersey| L 108–114|||| Capital Centre| 13–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 31| | @ Philadelphia| L 112–116|||| The Spectrum| 13–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 32| | @ Cleveland| W 109–100|||| Richfield Coliseum| 14–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 33| | @ New York| W 129–126 (OT)|||| Madison Square Garden| 15–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 34| | Philadelphia| L 92–95|||| Capital Centre| 15–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| | @ Detroit| W 121–114|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 16–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36| | Chicago| W 93–90|||| Capital Centre| 17–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 37| | Atlanta| W 96–78|||| Capital Centre| 18–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 38| | Seattle| W 106–95|||| Capital Centre| 19–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39| | Portland| W 110–97|||| Capital Centre| 20–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| | @ Kansas City| W 109–106 (OT)|||| Kemper Arena| 21–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| | Chicago| W 94–84|||| Capital Centre| 22–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 42| | New York| L 98–102|||| Capital Centre| 22–20|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| | Cleveland| L 99–100|||| Capital Centre| 22–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 44| | @ Philadelphia| L 96–122|||| The Spectrum| 22–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45| | Los Angeles| L 87–90|||| Capital Centre| 22–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 46| | Denver| L 115–124|||| Capital Centre| 22–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47| | @ San Antonio| W 112–110|||| HemisFair Arena| 23–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 48| | @ Dallas| W 119–102|||| Reunion Arena| 24–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| | @ Houston| L 104–111|||| The Summit| 24–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| | @ Portland| W 100–97|||| Memorial Coliseum| 25–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| | @ Seattle| L 87–105|||| Kingdome| 25–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| | @ Golden State| L 102–110|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 25–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| | Utah| L 106–113|||| Capital Centre| 25–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54| | Kansas City| W 100–98|||| Capital Centre| 26–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55| | New York| W 113–109 (OT)|||| Capital Centre| 27–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| | New Jersey| L 124–130 (2OT)|||| Capital Centre| 27–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 57| | @ Denver| L 126–127|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 27–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| | @ Utah| W 127–113|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 28–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| | Phoenix| L 95–103|||| Capital Centre| 28–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| | Indiana| W 110–105|||| Capital Centre| 29–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| | @ New York| W 109–99|||| Madison Square Garden| 30–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| | Atlanta| W 92–85|||| Capital Centre| 31–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 63| | Boston| L 97–98 (OT)|||| Capital Centre| 31–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64| | @ Philadelphia| L 93–102|||| The Spectrum| 31–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65| | San Diego| W 108–98|||| Capital Centre| 32–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 66| | New York| W 110–109|||| Capital Centre| 33–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 67| | @ Atlanta| L 87–107|||| The Omni| 33–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| | @ Indiana| W 114–106|||| Market Square Arena| 34–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| | New Jersey| W 104–88|||| Capital Centre| 35–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| | @ Cleveland| W 104–101|||| Richfield Coliseum| 36–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 71| | Detroit| W 127–98|||| Capital Centre| 37–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 72| | @ Boston| L 109–119|||| Boston Garden| 37–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| | @ New Jersey| L 96–98|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 37–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| | @ Atlanta| L 101–106|||| The Omni| 37–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| | Cleveland| W 94–85|||| Capital Centre| 38–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| | @ Indiana| W 97–85|||| Market Square Arena| 39–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77| | @ Chicago| W 114–98|||| Chicago Stadium| 40–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 78| | Milwaukee| W 115–114|||| Capital Centre| 41–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 79| | @ Milwaukee| W 109–99|||| MECCA Arena| 42–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| | @ New Jersey| L 94–98|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 42–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 81| | Philadelphia| L 96–100|||| Capital Centre| 42–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82| | Atlanta| W 99–96|||| Capital Centre| 43–39
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | @ New Jersey| W 96–83| Jeff Ruland (18)| Jeff Ruland (20)| Frank Johnson (11)| Brendan Byrne Arena
14,015| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| | New Jersey| W 103–92| Kevin Grevey (23)| Rick Mahorn (11)| Frank Johnson (9)| Capital Centre
19,035| 2–0|-|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| | @ Boston| L 91–109| Spencer Haywood (17)| Greg Ballard (9)| Frank Johnson (6)| Boston Garden
15,320| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| | @ Boston| W 103–102| Johnson, Haywood (26)| Jeff Ruland (10)| Frank Johnson (8)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| | Boston| L 83–92| Spencer Haywood (19)| Rick Mahorn (14)| Frank Johnson (8)| Capital Centre
15,035| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| | Boston| L 99–103 (OT)| Spencer Haywood (28)| Rick Mahorn (10)| Frank Johnson (7)| Capital Centre
16,295| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| | @ Boston| L 126–131 (2OT)| Jeff Ruland (33)| Jeff Ruland (13)| Frank Johnson (10)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–4|-