Washington wizards player with gun9/8/2023 ![]() ![]() He also led the league in steals per game during three of his nine seasons with the Bullets.Ĭhenier was snubbed because of a back injury that left him unable to play in the 1978 NBA Finals that would "eventually derail his playing career," as Dan Steinberg wrote in a 2013 Washington Post article. A three-time All-Star, he averaged at least 19.7 points per game for five straight seasons. The last player left off the list, and perhaps the most unfortunate, is Phil Chenier. In 2010, Arenas was suspended indefinitely after bringing a gun into Washington's locker room and allegedly pulling it out during a dispute with a teammate, according to an ESPN article from 2010.Īrenas was left out of the top five because his problems and knee injuries limited his longevity, but he deserves credit nonetheless for helping the Wizards find their most consistent success since the late 1980s. ![]() ![]() He was limited to just 10 starts in two seasons from 2007 to 2009 because of lingering knee issues. His career would go downhill from there, though. In three of those seasons, Arenas averaged at least 25.5 points per game. He also sits ahead of current point guard John Wall in career steals per game, but his career was short-lived.ĭespite making the playoffs just once between 19, the Wizards made the playoffs in four straight seasons from 2005 to 2008. He averaged 25 points per game during his career with Washington, which ranks second in franchise history. He was traded to the New York Knicks in 1971 after just four seasons with the Bullets. His short time with Baltimore and inability to foster long-term success kept him off this list.Īnother talented guard left out of the top five was Gilbert Arenas, a more recent star for the Washington Wizards. He was "a dazzling ball-handler and one-on-one virtuoso," according to his biography on NBA.com.ĭespite helping the Bullets go from last to first in their division in 1969, Monroe did not establish any long-term success or change for the franchise. Monroe won Rookie of the Year as a guard with the Baltimore Bullets in 1968, averaging 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. "Earl the Pearl" Monroe, also known as "Black Magic," is one Hall of Famer who was snubbed from the top five. Three players in particular were strong candidates to make the list, but one or two crucial factors kept them all on the outside looking in. Here are some of the players who just missed the list, followed by the top five players in Washington basketball history.īefore getting to the five players who did make the list, it's only fair to point out some of the best players who just missed it. And ignoring the recent impact that Wall and Arenas have had in turning the team's fortunes around would be a mistake. It's nearly impossible to overstate the role that Hayes and Unseld played in the franchise's only championship run in 1978. The most important factor in making this list was each player's historical place in Washington's most memorable playoff series, seasons and eras. Longevity with the team, individual awards and outstanding statistics were certainly considered as well. Hall of Fame distinction played a role in the selection process. Identifying the five best players in Washington's storied history was not easy. ![]() The franchise has had 11 Hall of Famers, three Rookie of the Year winners and one league MVP. Name changes have not stopped the Wizards from producing all-time great players, though. Some played for the Chicago Zephyrs, Baltimore Bullets, Capitol Bullets or Washington Bullets. Some played for the franchise during its inaugural year, when it was named the Chicago Packers. Most of Washington's best players never played as Wizards, though. Old-school Hall of Famers Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld come to mind, but so do modern players, such as John Wall and Gilbert Arenas. Scott Cunningham/Getty Imagesĭespite a history defined by change and an underwhelming amount of success, the Washington Wizards have had some of the most distinguished players in the history of basketball. The Washington Wizards have had many great players, past and present, throughout the history of the franchise. ![]()
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