The Washington Wizards have been in the NBA for decades and there has been a diverse list of extremely talented players who have played for the Wizards. NBA fans have seen many years of success for Washington over the years. There have been many great talents who have all-time great stats and achievements to their name. In this article, we will take a look at the best players in Washington Wizards history.
Bernard King
Hall of Fame Inductee Bernard King has played for several teams throughout his NBA career. He played four seasons for Washington too, when the team was called the “Washington Bullets,” and gave amazing performances. One of four All-Star appearances for Bernard in the league came while playing for Washington. He posted a great 22 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4 assists per game to become an all-time great in Washington’s basketball history.
Gus Johnson
Gus Johnson was part of Washington’s team for a whole decade. During his run with them, Johnson became a top player in the league. While playing nine seasons with the team, Gus averaged 17.5 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. His five All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections proved that he was among the great players.
Chris Webber
Chris Webber spent only three years with the Washington Wizards, playing four seasons. Although he didn’t find an NBA home on the team, he put up strong statistics. Webber averaged 20.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He only had one All-Star appearance for the Wizards, as the team wasn’t winning much. Webber was eventually transferred to the Sacramento Kings, where he flourished the most. However, he deserves appreciation for his short but good tenure with the team.
Michael Jordan
Although the Washington Wizards didn’t win during Michael Jordan’s tenure on the team, he delivered well on the court. When Jordan returned to the NBA after his second retirement, he went on to play for the Wizards. MJ averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 6 rebounds per game. He led the team to a winning record and playoff contention and because of this, the franchise received heavy attention in two seasons, with Jordan making it to both All-Star teams.
Walt Bellamy
Bellamy was the first draft pick in Wizards franchise history. He was selected in 1961 for the team that was then called the Chicago Packers. Bellamy lived up to the team’s expectations and averaged 31.6 points and 19 rebounds per game in his rookie year, which is truly an amazing stat for a rookie. Unsurprisingly, he was awarded Rookie of the Year that season. Bellamy went on to become a four-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
Earl Monroe
Monroe began his NBA career with the Wizards when they were called the Baltimore Bullets. He made his only All-NBA selection and received one of his four All-Star appearances as part of the Bullets. “The Pearl” averaged 23.7 points, 4.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds over the course of five seasons in his Hall of Fame career.
Bradley Beal
Selected by the Washington Wizards, Beal was the third overall draft pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He played 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards and was traded to the Phoenix Suns in June 2023. During his stint with the Wizards, Beal made three All-Star appearances and one All-NBA selection. He is one of the best shooting guards in the league. He averaged 22.1 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game for the Wizards.
John Wall
John Wall was once the face of the Wizards franchise but was traded following his injuries, which disappointed many fans. Wall was the first overall pick by the Wizards in the 2010 NBA draft. He made all five All-Star appearances and his only All-NBA selection with the Wizards franchise. The team had deep playoff runs in some seasons before falling short and Wall is the one who led them to this far by averaging 19 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds during his nine seasons with them.
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Arenas gave impressive performances during his stint with the Golden State Warriors, but he became a dominant player in the league during most of his Wizards tenure. Arenas averaged 25 points, 5.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game, which proved him to be an incredible asset for the team. He made three All-Star appearances and received all three All-NBA appearances for Washington.
Elvin Hayes
While playing for the Washington Wizards early in their history, Elvin Hayes saw several changes in the franchise’s name and location. In nine seasons, Hayes averaged 21.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. He made the All-Star team in eight of his nine seasons and received all six of his All-NBA selections for the Wizards. The only NBA championship in the Wizards’ history came in 1978 and Hayes played a big role in that achievement.
Wes Unseld
Wes Unseld is arguably the greatest player in Washington Wizards history to date. He was the best player in the league in 1978, when the franchise won the NBA championship. Unseld was the Finals MVP that year. The following seasons saw a decline in Wes’s statistics, but he finished with averages of 10.8 points and 14 rebounds per game throughout his career for the Wizards. Unseld won the 1969 MVP award and made five All-Star appearances. He is one of the most decorated players in franchise history.
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