1995–96 Washington Bullets season

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]

1995–96 Washington Bullets season
Head coachJim Lynam
ArenaUS Airways Arena (37 games)
Baltimore Arena (4 games)
Results
Record39–43 (.476)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Atlantic)
Conference: 10th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWBDC
Home Team Sports
RadioWTOP

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
Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
14Rasheed WallaceForward United StatesNorth Carolina
232Terrence RencherGuard United StatesTexas

Roster
1995–96 Washington Bullets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 32 Butler, Mitchell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1970–12–15 UCLA
G 40 Cheaney, Calbert 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1971–07–17 Indiana
G 21 Eackles, Ledell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1966–11–24 New Orleans
F 5 Howard, Juwan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–02–07 Michigan
G 23 Legler, Tim 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1966–12–16 La Salle
F 55 McCann, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1964–04–22 Morehead State
C 22 McIlvaine, Jim 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1972–07–30 Marquette
C 77 Mureșan, Gheorghe 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 303 lb (137 kg) 1971–02–14 Romania
G 14 Pack, Robert Injured 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1969–02–03 USC
G 20 Price, Brent 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1968–12–09 Oklahoma
G 15 Price, Mark Injured 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech
F 34 Thornton, Bob 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–07–10 UC Irvine
F 30 Wallace, Rasheed Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1974–09–17 North Carolina
F 4 Webber, Chris Injured 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1973–03–01 Michigan
G 12 Whitney, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1971–10–05 Clemson
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
y – Orlando Magic6022.73212.037–423–1821–382
x – New York Knicks4735.57325.026–1521–2016–882
x – Miami Heat4240.51230.026–1516–2513–1282
Washington Bullets3943.47633.025–1614–2710–1482
Boston Celtics3349.40239.018–2315–2612–1282
New Jersey Nets3052.36642.020–2110–318–1782
Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.011–307–345–1982
Eastern Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1z – Chicago Bulls7210.878–82
2y – Orlando Magic6022.73212.082
3x – Indiana Pacers5230.63420.082
4x – Cleveland Cavaliers4735.57325.082
5x – New York Knicks4735.57325.082
6x – Atlanta Hawks4636.56126.082
7x – Detroit Pistons4636.56126.082
8x – Miami Heat4240.51230.082
9Charlotte Hornets4141.50031.082
10Washington Bullets3943.47633.082
11Boston Celtics3349.40239.082
12New Jersey Nets3052.36642.082
13Milwaukee Bucks2557.30547.082
14Toronto Raptors2161.25651.082
15Philadelphia 76ers1864.22054.082
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1995–96 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta –4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4–2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2–1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1–4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4–2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2–2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2–1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1–2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2–2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2–2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2–2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2–0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0–2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2–3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3–1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1–1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1–2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2–1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1–4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4–0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0–2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2–1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1–1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1–2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2–1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1–0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0–4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4–0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

Game log

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

References
  1. 1995-96 Washington Bullets
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  3. Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995). "NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. "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. Associated Press. June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
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  10. Justice, Richard (November 16, 1995). "In Trade for M. Price, Bullets Got Off on the Wrong Foot". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
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  23. Justice, Richard (February 6, 1996). "Still No Return in Sight for Bullets' Injured Pack". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
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  45. Asher, Mark (July 25, 1996). "Strickland Risk for Bullets". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  46. "Warriors Sign Mark Price". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 22, 1996. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  47. "Warriors Sign Mark Price to Multi-Year Deal". Deseret News. Associated Press. July 22, 1996. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  48. Steele, David (September 21, 1996). "Price Wants to Show That Warriors Made Right 'Risk'". SFGate. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  49. "Hawks Sign Mutombo, Trade Augmon, Long". Tampa Bay Times. July 16, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  50. "Rockets Sign Free Agent G Brent Price". United Press International. July 16, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  51. Allen, Percy (July 23, 1996). "Mcilvaine Solution in Middle?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
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See also
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