1995–96 Washington Bullets season explained

Team:Washington Bullets
Team Link:Washington Wizards
End Year:1996
Wins:39
Losses:43
Division:Atlantic
Division Place:4
Conf Place:10
Coach:Jim Lynam
Arena:US Airways Arena (37 games)
Baltimore Arena (4 games)
Television:WBDC
Home Team Sports
Radio:WTOP
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Bbr Team:WSB

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Bullets' 35th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bullets had the fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected Rasheed Wallace from the University of North Carolina.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star guard Mark Price from the Cleveland Cavaliers,[7] [8] [9] [10] acquired Robert Pack from the Denver Nuggets,[11] [12] [13] and signed free agents Tim Legler,[14] [15] Chris Whitney and former Bullets guard Ledell Eackles.[16] However, injuries would be an issue as Chris Webber was limited to only just 15 games following the lingering effect to his injured left shoulder, averaging 23.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game.[17] [18] [19] [20] Meanwhile, Price only appeared in just seven games due to a foot injury,[21] [22] [10] and Pack, who only played just 31 games, was out with nerve damage in his right leg, averaging 18.1 points, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.[23] [24] [25]

The Bullets played around .500 for the first half of the season, but struggled losing 11 of their 14 games in February, and held a 22–24 record at the All-Star break.[26] After a 7-game winning streak, the Bullets lost their final four games and finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 record, which was an impressive 18-game improvement over their previous season.[27] However, they missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

Second-year star Juwan Howard averaged 22.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game,[28] [29] [30] [31] while 7' 7" center Gheorghe Mureșan averaged 14.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and was named Most Improved Player of the Year.[32] [33] [34] In addition, Calbert Cheaney provided the team with 15.1 points per game, while Wallace averaged 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Price's younger brother, Brent Price, contributed 10.0 points and 5.1 assists per game, Legler contributed 9.4 points per game off the bench, and led the league with .522 three-point field goal percentage, Eackles provided with 8.6 points per game, and second-year center Jim McIlvaine contributed 2.1 blocks per game off the bench.[35] Legler also won the Three-Point Shootout during the All-Star Weekend in San Antonio, Texas.[36] [37] [38]

Following the season, Wallace and Mitchell Butler were both traded to the Portland Trail Blazers,[39] [40] [41] [42] while Pack signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,[43] [44] [45] Mark Price signed with the Golden State Warriors,[46] [47] [48] while Brent Price signed with the Houston Rockets,[49] [50] McIlvaine signed with the Seattle SuperSonics,[51] [52] and Eackles was released to free agency.

Offseason

Draft picks

See main article: 1995 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
1 4 Forward North Carolina
2 32 Guard Texas

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1995–96 NBA records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta– 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
Boston0–4 – 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Charlotte1–3 2–2 – 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
Chicago4–0 3–0 3–1 – 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
Cleveland1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Dallas1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 – 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
Denver1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
Detroit2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
Golden State1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 – 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
Houston1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 – 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Indiana3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 – 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 – 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 – 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Miami2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 – 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Milwaukee2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 – 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
Minnesota1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
New Jersey0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 – 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
New York1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 – 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Orlando2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 – 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Philadelphia1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 – 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
Phoenix2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 – 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Portland0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 – 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
Sacramento0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 – 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
San Antonio2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 – 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Seattle2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 – 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
Toronto0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 – 0–2 1–1 3–1
Utah1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 – 4–0 1–1
Vancouver0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 – 0–2
Washington3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 61 || 3 || 14.1 || .384 || .217 || .578 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .7 || .2 || 3.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 70 || 70 || 33.2 || .471 || .338 || .706 || 3.4 || 2.2 || 1.0 || .3 || 15.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 5 || 0 || 6.8 || .300 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .2 || .2 || .0 || 2.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 55 || 26 || 22.5 || .427 || .422 || .831 || 2.7 || 1.6 || .5 || .1 || 8.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 10 || 0 || 13.8 || .393 || .200 || || .6 || 2.3 || .8 || .0 || 2.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 81 || 81 || 40.7 || .489 || .308 || .749 || 8.1 || 4.4 || .8 || .5 || 22.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 77 || 0 || 23.1 || .507 || .522 || .863 || 1.8 || 1.8 || .6 || .2 || 9.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 3 || 0 || 1.3 || .667 || || || .7 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 1.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 62 || 0 || 10.5 || .497 || .500 || .473 || 2.3 || .4 || .3 || .2 || 3.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 80 || 6 || 14.9 || .428 || || .552 || 2.9 || .1 || .3 || 2.1 || 2.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 76 || 76 || 29.5 || .584 || .000 || .619 || 9.6 || .7 || .7 || 2.3 || 14.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 31 || 31 || 35.0 || .428 || .265 || .846 || 4.3 || 7.8 || 2.0 || .0 || 18.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || || || || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 81 || 50 || 25.2 || .472 || .462 || .874 || 2.8 || 5.1 || 1.0 || .0 || 10.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 1 || 18.1 || .300 || .333 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 2.6 || .9 || .0 || 8.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 2 || 0 || 11.0 || .667 || 1.000 || .667 || 1.0 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .0 || 3.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 0 || 4.4 || .167 || || .500 || 1.7 || .0 || .1 || .0 || .4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 65 || 51 || 27.5 || .487 || .329 || .650 || 4.7 || 1.3 || .6 || .8 || 10.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 15 || 15 || 37.2 || .543 || .441 || .594 || 7.6 || 5.0 || 1.8 || .6 || 23.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 11 || 0 || 5.3 || .348 || .333 || || .6 || .3 || .4 || .0 || 1.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 21 || 0 || 16.0 || .455 || .432 || .932 || 1.6 || 2.4 || .9 || .0 || 7.1|}

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/1996.html 1995-96 Washington Bullets
  2. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board . The New York Times . June 29, 1995 . July 25, 2021.
  3. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
  4. News: Associated Press . NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte . Los Angeles Times . June 29, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
  5. News: Nakamura . David . Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick . The Washington Post . June 29, 1995 . June 3, 2023.
  6. Web site: 1995 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
  7. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Cavaliers Trade Price to Bullets . The New York Times . September 28, 1995 . July 29, 2021.
  8. News: Wire Services . Cavaliers Trade Price to Washington Bullets for 1996 Draft Pick . The Spokesman-Review . September 28, 1995 . January 4, 2023.
  9. News: Justice . Richard . Price Could Make the Bullets Right: Pro Basketball: Top Rookie Wallace Signs, But the Deal for Veteran Point Guard on the Same Day Could Be More Crucial to Washington's Immediate Success . Los Angeles Times . September 29, 1995 . May 5, 2023.
  10. News: Justice . Richard . In Trade for M. Price, Bullets Got Off on the Wrong Foot . The Washington Post . November 16, 1995 . January 18, 2022.
  11. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; The Bullets Pick Up Pack . The New York Times . October 31, 1995 . December 30, 2021.
  12. News: Justice . Richard . Maclean, Overton Traded . The Washington Post . October 31, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
  13. News: Bembry . Jerry . Bullets Get to Point, Trading for Pack; MacLean, Overton Go to Nuggets for Guard . The Baltimore Sun . October 31, 1995 . January 30, 2023.
  14. News: Justice . Richard . Nomadic Legler Gets Shot, and Shows He Has One . The Washington Post . November 29, 1995 . July 25, 2022.
  15. News: Bembry . Jerry . Shooting Into Spotlight; Tim Legler: First-Year Bullet Is Making Most of His Shots, and Making Up for Past NBA Disappointment . The Baltimore Sun . December 29, 1995 . April 6, 2023.
  16. News: Wilbon . Michael . Eackles Gets Chance to Rebound . The Washington Post . December 14, 1995 . July 1, 2022.
  17. News: Justice . Richard . Bullets' Webber Re-injures Shoulder . The Washington Post . October 22, 1995 . June 7, 2022.
  18. News: Bembry . Jerry . Injured Webber Questions Doctors; Told Painful Shoulder Is OK, He Separates It . The Baltimore Sun . October 23, 1995 . February 1, 2023.
  19. News: Justice . Richard . Webber Injured in Bullets' Win . The Washington Post . December 30, 1995 . January 1, 2023.
  20. News: Bembry . Jerry . Bullets Beat Knicks, Webber Scare Shoulder Injury Just Strain; Hex Ends in OT . The Baltimore Sun . December 30, 1995 . September 24, 2022.
  21. News: Justice . Richard . Bullets' Price Seeks Opinions . The Washington Post . October 26, 1995 . January 4, 2023.
  22. News: Justice . Richard . Mark Price Has Surgery on Left Foot . The Washington Post . November 11, 1995 . July 24, 2022.
  23. News: Justice . Richard . Still No Return in Sight for Bullets' Injured Pack . The Washington Post . February 6, 1996 . November 10, 2022.
  24. News: Justice . Richard . Way Back in the Pack, Bullets Point to Road . The Washington Post . March 12, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  25. News: Weidie . Kyle . Remembering Robert Pack, a Bullet Flash in the Pan . Bullets Forever . August 4, 2008 . June 17, 2021 .
  26. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
  27. Web site: 1995–96 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 22, 2021.
  28. News: Bembry . Jerry . NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve . The Baltimore Sun . January 31, 1996 . April 19, 2023.
  29. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes . Los Angeles Times . February 11, 1996 . January 2, 2023.
  30. News: NBA.com Staff . 1996 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
  31. Web site: 1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
  32. News: Justice . Richard . Muresan Is NBA's Most Improved . The Washington Post . May 2, 1996 . June 27, 2022.
  33. News: Muresan Is NBA's Most Improved Player . United Press International . May 2, 1996 . October 7, 2022.
  34. News: NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners . Basketball-Reference . November 29, 2022.
  35. Web site: 1995–96 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 22, 2021.
  36. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; The Clippers' Barry Hits the High Notes in His Jam Session . The New York Times . February 11, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
  37. News: Wilbon . Michael . An Outside Shot Comes In . The Washington Post . February 11, 1996 . November 10, 2022.
  38. News: Associated Press . Barry Soars Higher Than His Dad Ever Did . Deseret News . February 11, 1996 . December 19, 2022.
  39. News: Bembry . Jerry . Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price . The Baltimore Sun . July 16, 1996 . December 3, 2022.
  40. News: Hall . Landon . Blazers Send Strickland, Grant to Bullets for Wallace, Butler . Associated Press . July 16, 1996 . July 29, 2021.
  41. News: Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets . Tampa Bay Times . July 16, 1996 . June 20, 2023.
  42. News: Asher . Mark . Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold . The Washington Post . July 22, 1996 . July 24, 2022.
  43. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets and Pack Agree on Deal . The New York Times . July 25, 1996 . December 30, 2021.
  44. News: Nets, Pack Agree on 3-Year Deal . United Press International . July 25, 1996 . October 7, 2022.
  45. News: Asher . Mark . Strickland Risk for Bullets . The Washington Post . July 25, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  46. News: Associated Press . Warriors Sign Mark Price . The New York Times . July 22, 1996 . January 18, 2022.
  47. News: Associated Press . Warriors Sign Mark Price to Multi-Year Deal . Deseret News . July 22, 1996 . December 27, 2022.
  48. News: Steele . David . Price Wants to Show That Warriors Made Right 'Risk' . SFGate . September 21, 1996 . October 7, 2022.
  49. News: Hawks Sign Mutombo, Trade Augmon, Long . Tampa Bay Times . July 16, 1996 . June 20, 2023.
  50. News: Rockets Sign Free Agent G Brent Price . United Press International . July 16, 1996 . June 30, 2022.
  51. News: Allen . Percy . Mcilvaine Solution in Middle? . The Seattle Times . July 23, 1996 . July 24, 2022.
  52. News: Wire Reports . McIlvaine Signs with Sonics . The Spokesman-Review . July 23, 1996 . January 1, 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "1995–96 Washington Bullets season".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.