Top 10 Washington Wizards Players of All-Time

Next season, the Washington Wizards franchise will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary since joining the National Basketball Association (NBA). The origins of the Wizards franchise began in the 1961-1962 season as the Chicago Packers. They stayed in Chicago for two seasons (changing their team name to the Zephyrs in the second season) before moving to Baltimore, changing their name to the Baltimore Bullets. It was in Baltimore where they began to gain success making the playoffs seven times in 10 seasons, including making their first NBA Finals in franchise history.

In the 1974-1975 NBA season, the Bullets moved across the beltway to Washington, DC, where they became the Washington Bullets. In that same season, the Washington Bullets made the NBA Finals for the second time but came up short as they did in their first appearance. During the 1977-1978 season, the Bullets finally got over the hump winning their first-ever NBA championship defeating the Seattle Supersonics in seven games. To this day, the Bullets hold the NBA record for the last regular-season wins by an NBA championship-winning team. They would make the NBA Finals again the following season in a rematch against the Seattle Supersonics, but they were unsuccessful the second time around.

Since the 1979-1980 season, it has been a struggle for the Wizards/Bullets franchise, only making the playoffs 16 times in the past 40 seasons. In that span, they were eliminated in the first round 11 times and have had three streaks of five or more seasons in which they missed the playoffs, including a span where they missed the playoffs 15 times in 16 seasons from the 1988-1989 season to the 2003-2004 season.

The Wizards franchise has had a slew of great players to play for the team. Let’s take a look at the ten players who had the most significant impact on the franchise.

DISCLAIMER: The criteria for this list are as follows: longevity, team success, and great individual numbers while a member of the Washington Wizards. So no Michael Jordan is not on this list because he only played two seasons with the team, Paul Pierce is not on this list because he only played one season there, and Dwight Howard will not be on this list because he also only played one season there. Also, and most importantly, this list is not ranked. Again, THIS LIST IS NOT RANKED! Players are placed in alphabetical order by last name. Ok now that we got that out the way on with the list:

1. Gilbert Arenas (2003-2011)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 357 Games, 25.0 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 20 Games, 24.2 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 3x NBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007), 3x All-NBA (2nd Team: 2007; 3rd Team: 2005, 2006), Second highest PPG total in Team History, Second most Three-Pointers made in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Fourth Highest Steals Average in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Fifth Most Steals in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Second and Third Highest Scoring Average in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Third Most Three-Pointers Made in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History

2. Bradley Beal (2012-Current)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 545 Games, 21.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 40 Games, 22.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 2x All-Star (2018, 2019), All-Rookie First Team, Most Three-Pointers made in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Second Most Points in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Most Three-Pointers Made in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History

3. Walt Bellamy (1961-1966)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 327 Games, 27.6 PPG, 16.6 RPG, 2.4 APG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 10 Games, 20.9 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 3.4 APG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 4x All-Star (1962-1965), Rookie of the Year, Member of the first team in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Member of the first Playoff Team in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Highest Point Per Game Average in Franchise History, Highest Rebound Per Game Average in Franchise History, Highest Scoring Average in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Highest Rebound Average in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History

4. Phil Chenier (1971-1980)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 546, 17.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 60 Games, 18.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 3x All-Star (1974, 1975, 1977), 1x All-NBA (2nd Team: 1975), All-Rookie First Team, Member of the 1975 Washington Bullets NBA Finals team, 1978 Washington Bullets NBA Championship team and 1979 Washington Bullets NBA Finals team, Third Most Points in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Fourth Most Steals in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Second Highest Steals Average in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History

5. Elvin Hayes (1972-1981)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 731 Games, 21.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.4 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 87 Games, 23.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.6 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 8x All-Star (1973-1980), 6x All-NBA (1st Team: 1975, 1977, 1979; 2nd Team: 1973, 1974, 1976),  Member of the 1975 and 1979 Washington Bullets NBA Finals Team, 1978 Washington Bullets NBA Championship team, Washington Wizards All-Time Leading Scorer, Most Blocks in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Second Highest Blocks Average in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Second Most Games Played in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Rebounds in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Third Most Steals in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Fourth Highest Rebound Average in Washington Wizards Franchise History

6. Antawn Jamison (2004-2010)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 421 Games, 20.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 26 Games: 20.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 2x All-Star (2005, 2008), Third Most Three-Pointers Made in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Sixth Most Rebounds in Washington Wizards Franchise History

7. Gus Johnson (1963-1972)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 560 Games, 17.5 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 2.7 APG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 34 Games, 13.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.2 APG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 5x All-Star (1965, 1968-1971), 4x All-NBA (2nd Team: 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971), 2x All-Defense (1st Team: 1970, 1971), All-Rookie First Team, Member of the First Playoff team in Washington Wizards franchise history, Third Highest Rebound Average in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Third Most Rebounds in Washington Wizards Franchise History

8. Jeff Malone (1983-1990)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 548 Games, 20.2 PPG, 2.8 APG, 2.7 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 21 Games, 17.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Career Accomplishments: 2x All-Star (1986, 1987), All-Rookie 1st Team, Third Most Points in Washington Wizards Franchise History

9. Wes Unseld (1968-1981)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 984 Games, 10.8 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 119 Games, 10.6 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 1969 NBA MVP, 1978 NBA Finals MVP, 5x All-Star (1969, 1971-1973, 1975), 1x All-NBA (1st Team: 1969), Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie First Team, Member of 1971, 1975, and 1979 Washington Bullets NBA Finals team, Member of the 1978 Washington Bullets NBA Championship team, Second Highest Rebound Average in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Most Games Played in Washington Wizards Franchise History

10. John Wall (2010-Current)

Regular Season Stats with Wizards: 19.0 PPG, 9.2 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Playoff Stats with Wizards: 37 Games, 21.9 PPG, 9.8 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Accomplishments with Wizards: 5x All-Star (2014-2018), 1x All-NBA (Third Team: 2017), 1x All-Defense (2nd Team: 2015) All-Rookie First Team, Highest Assist Average in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Most Assists in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Most Steals in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Fourth Most Three-Pointers Made in Washington Wizards Franchise History, Highest Assist Average in a Single Season in Washington Wizards Franchise History