| 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| October 30| @ Boston| L 100–124|||| Boston Garden| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| November 3| Philadelphia| L 99–112|||| Capital Centre| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| November 5| @ Milwaukee| L 90–98|||| MECCA Arena| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| November 6| Detroit| W 86–82|||| Capital Centre| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| November 10| Boston| L 84–90|||| Capital Centre| 1–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| November 12| @ Atlanta| W 95–87|||| The Omni| 2–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| November 14| Chicago| W 104–99|||| Capital Centre| 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 8| November 17| Milwaukee| L 95–99|||| Capital Centre| 3–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 9| November 19| @ Detroit| L 97–122|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 3–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 10| November 20| Houston| L 94–95|||| Capital Centre| 3–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 11| November 21| @ Chicago| L 105–117|||| Chicago Stadium| 3–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| November 24| Golden State| W 107–88|||| Capital Centre| 4–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13| November 27| @ Boston| L 100–113|||| Boston Garden| 4–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14| November 28| Indiana| L 90–92|||| Capital Centre| 4–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 15| December 1| San Antonio| L 99–110|||| Capital Centre| 4–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16| December 3| @ New York| W 114–88|||| Madison Square Garden| 5–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 17| December 5| Cleveland| W 94–87|||| Capital Centre| 6–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18| December 8| @ Los Angeles| L 98–102|||| The Forum| 6–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19| December 11| @ San Diego| W 106–102|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 7–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 20| December 12| @ Phoenix| W 105–98|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 8–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 21| December 15| Dallas| L 102–107|||| Capital Centre| 8–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22| December 16| @ Cleveland| W 106–102|||| Richfield Coliseum| 9–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| December 18| Boston| L 98–99|||| Capital Centre| 9–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| December 22| @ Chicago| L 90–92|||| Chicago Stadium| 9–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| December 25| Indiana| W 115–98|||| Capital Centre| 10–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 26| December 26| @ New Jersey| W 105–90|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 11–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 27| December 29| Detroit| W 129–125|||| Capital Centre| 12–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28| December 30| @ Milwaukee| L 103–107|||| MECCA Arena| 12–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29| January 2| @ Indiana| W 107–103|||| Market Square Arena| 13–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 30| January 5| New Jersey| L 108–114|||| Capital Centre| 13–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 31| January 6| @ Philadelphia| L 112–116|||| The Spectrum| 13–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 32| January 7| @ Cleveland| W 109–100|||| Richfield Coliseum| 14–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 33| January 10| @ New York| W 129–126 (OT)|||| Madison Square Garden| 15–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 34| January 12| Philadelphia| L 92–95|||| Capital Centre| 15–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| January 14| @ Detroit| W 121–114|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 16–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36| January 15| Chicago| W 93–90|||| Capital Centre| 17–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 37| January 17| Atlanta| W 96–78|||| Capital Centre| 18–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 38| January 20| Seattle| W 106–95|||| Capital Centre| 19–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39| January 22| Portland| W 110–97|||| Capital Centre| 20–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| January 23| @ Kansas City| W 109–106 (OT)|||| Kemper Arena| 21–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| January 26| Chicago| W 94–84|||| Capital Centre| 22–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 42| January 28| New York| L 98–102|||| Capital Centre| 22–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| February 2| Cleveland| L 99–100|||| Capital Centre| 22–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 44| February 3| @ Philadelphia| L 96–122|||| The Spectrum| 22–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45| February 5| Los Angeles| L 87–90|||| Capital Centre| 22–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 46| February 7| Denver| L 115–124|||| Capital Centre| 22–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47| February 9| @ San Antonio| W 112–110|||| HemisFair Arena| 23–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 48| February 10| @ Dallas| W 119–102|||| Reunion Arena| 24–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| February 13| @ Houston| L 104–111|||| The Summit| 24–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| February 16| @ Portland| W 100–97|||| Memorial Coliseum| 25–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| February 18| @ Seattle| L 87–105|||| Kingdome| 25–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| February 20| @ Golden State| L 102–110|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 25–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| February 23| Utah| L 106–113|||| Capital Centre| 25–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54| February 26| Kansas City| W 100–98|||| Capital Centre| 26–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55| February 28| New York| W 113–109 (OT)|||| Capital Centre| 27–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| March 2| New Jersey| L 124–130 (2OT)|||| Capital Centre| 27–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 57| March 5| @ Denver| L 126–127|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 27–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| March 6| @ Utah| W 127–113|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 28–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| March 9| Phoenix| L 95–103|||| Capital Centre| 28–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| March 12| Indiana| W 110–105|||| Capital Centre| 29–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| March 13| @ New York| W 109–99|||| Madison Square Garden| 30–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| March 14| Atlanta| W 92–85|||| Capital Centre| 31–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 63| March 16| Boston| L 97–98 (OT)|||| Capital Centre| 31–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64| March 17| @ Philadelphia| L 93–102|||| The Spectrum| 31–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65| March 19| San Diego| W 108–98|||| Capital Centre| 32–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 66| March 21| New York| W 110–109|||| Capital Centre| 33–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 67| March 23| @ Atlanta| L 87–107|||| The Omni| 33–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| March 24| @ Indiana| W 114–106|||| Market Square Arena| 34–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| March 26| New Jersey| W 104–88|||| Capital Centre| 35–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| March 28| @ Cleveland| W 104–101|||| Richfield Coliseum| 36–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 71| March 30| Detroit| W 127–98|||| Capital Centre| 37–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 72| March 31| @ Boston| L 109–119|||| Boston Garden| 37–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| April 2| @ New Jersey| L 96–98|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 37–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| April 3| @ Atlanta| L 101–106|||| The Omni| 37–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| April 6| Cleveland| W 94–85|||| Capital Centre| 38–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| April 7| @ Indiana| W 97–85|||| Market Square Arena| 39–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77| April 9| @ Chicago| W 114–98|||| Chicago Stadium| 40–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 78| April 10| Milwaukee| W 115–114|||| Capital Centre| 41–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 79| April 13| @ Milwaukee| W 109–99|||| MECCA Arena| 42–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| April 14| @ New Jersey| L 94–98|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 42–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 81| April 16| Philadelphia| L 96–100|||| Capital Centre| 42–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82| April 18| Atlanta| W 99–96|||| Capital Centre| 43–39
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 20| @ 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| April 23| 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| April 25| @ Boston| L 91–109| Spencer Haywood (17)| Greg Ballard (9)| Frank Johnson (6)| Boston Garden
15,320| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 28| @ Boston| W 103–102| Johnson, Haywood (26)| Jeff Ruland (10)| Frank Johnson (8)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 1| Boston| L 83–92| Spencer Haywood (19)| Rick Mahorn (14)| Frank Johnson (8)| Capital Centre
15,035| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 2| 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| May 5| @ Boston| L 126–131 (2OT)| Jeff Ruland (33)| Jeff Ruland (13)| Frank Johnson (10)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–4|-