Why Did The Washington Bullets Become the Wizards?
Washington changed their team name in the mid-90s.
The Washington Bullets were one of the original NBA teams.
They were formed in the '60s and had a storied history, where they went to the NBA Finals four times and won the championship once in 1977-78.
Additionally, NBA legends Earl Monroe, Moses Malone, Bernard King, Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and Manute Bol all donned the Bullets jersey.
However, the 90s were not a good era for the organization. They missed the playoffs 8 years in a row and were consistently at the bottom of the standings.
…Until the 1996-97 season.
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Now, back to the story…
Washington had two young stars Chris Webber and Juwan Howard (two of the Fab Five) leading the team. And under these two, the Bullets made it back to the playoffs after a multiyear drought.
They unfortunately were swept in the first round (they played the Chicago Bulls), but their future looked bright.
So, why would Washington change their team name from one with historical significance to one that was selected in a contest? Why did the Bullets become the Wizards in 1997, despite staying put in Washington?
Well, it’s because the team’s then-owner, Abe Pollen, didn’t like the violent connotation of the word “bullet.”
He told the Washington Post in 1995, when he was considering a name change that the meaning of the word “bullet” changed from when they were a franchise in Baltimore to when they moved to Washington.
Via Today:
“We haven’t made a final decision,” he told The Washington Post in 1995. “In the old days, our motto was ‘Faster than a speeding Bullet.’ That’s how we were envisioned in Baltimore. Today the connotation is a little different. It’s connected with so many horrible things that people do with guns and bullets. I don’t know. We’re considering it. We’ll make a decision this summer.”
Pollin added that the death of his good friend also played a role in the name change.
“I just came back from Israel, where I attended the funeral of my good friend, Prime Minister (Yitzhak) Rabin,” he was quoted as saying by The Washington Post in 1995. “My friend was shot in the back by bullets. The name Bullets for a sports team is no longer appropriate. This franchise has a history and we’ll maintain that history.”
So, that’s the story of why and how the Bullets became the Wizards.
Random Thoughts
Thoughts on the Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are on a 5-game winning streak and have won seven of their last eight games.
This is great for the fans and the team. Winning is always good.
But aren’t they tanking? I thought the Raptors were planning on tanking this season for a high draft pick because they couldn’t win games earlier in the season due to injuries.
And if they’re not, is it too late to make a playoff (or play-in) push?
Whatever they choose, I hope they commit to it -either try to make the playoffs or tank- because there’s no place worse than in the middle of the pack, where you’re too good to get a high draft pick and too bad to contend in the postseason.
Thoughts on the San Antonio Spurs
The Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox allegedly listed San Antonio as his preferred trade destination.
I’m not entirely sure how his playstyle would fit the Spurs, as I haven’t looked into it, but I don’t imagine it being bad.
What I do want to comment on is the potential players the Spurs would trade to attain him and I just hope they don’t include Chris Paul in the trade.
CP3 is a legend and he chose to go to San Antonio to help the young team out.
He’s also been good for them and I think it would be disrespectful to trade him for a younger point guard.
That’s all I wanted to say about this.
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