1988–89 Washington Bullets season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Washington Bullets Washington Wizards 1989 40 42 Atlantic 4 9 Wes Unseld Bob Ferry Capital Centre (38 games) Baltimore Arena (3 games) WDCA Home Team Sports (Mel Proctor, Phil Chenier) WTOP (Charlie Slowes) Did not qualify WSB thumb|right|125px|A ticket for a November 1988 game between the Bullets and the Charlotte Hornets. The 1988–89 Washington Bullets season was the 28th season for the Washington Bullets in the National Basketball Association, and their 16th season in Washington, D.C. Washington Wizards Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/ August 10, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Bullets had the twelfth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected small forward Harvey Grant from the University of Oklahoma; the team also selected shooting guard Ledell Eackles from the University of New Orleans with the 36th overall pick. Cotton Anthony Three-Team Trade Leaves Clippers with Manning, Smith, Gary Grant The Washington Post June 29, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/29/three-team-trade-leaves-clippers-with-manning-smith-gary-grant/18fec016-31d8-45cc-a5b3-9b1ebedcd976/ June 20, 2023 Aldridge David Bullets Get Sooners' Harvey Grant in Short Draft The Washington Post June 29, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/29/bullets-get-sooners-harvey-grant-in-short-draft/aae81246-c49e-4b05-ad5b-f66e25ee5176/ December 25, 2022 1988 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1988.html June 20, 2023 During the off-season, the Bullets acquired Dave Feitl from the Golden State Warriors. Sports People: Bol Traded for Feitl The New York Times June 9, 1988 https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/09/sports/sports-people-bol-traded-for-feitl.html December 25, 2022 Wilbon Michael Bullets Send Bol to Golden State for Center Feitl The Washington Post June 9, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/06/09/bullets-send-bol-to-golden-state-for-center-feitl/f80e178b-d86d-4219-a081-c3568cba26da/ December 25, 2022 Regular season Under Wes Unseld's first full season as head coach, Cotton Anthony Unseld Will Return as Bullets' Coach The Washington Post April 13, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/04/13/unseld-will-return-as-bullets-coach/8cc9955b-dc2a-4cf2-a911-6d1fef71de26/ December 25, 2022 and with the addition of Grant and Eackles, Aldridge David Old, New Mingle as Bullets Get Serious The Washington Post October 7, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/10/07/old-new-mingle-as-bullets-get-serious/2262dcce-e47d-4bac-9c7b-4465fef87ac2/ December 25, 2022 Aldridge David Eackles Discovering What Is in Store The Washington Post October 14, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/10/14/eackles-discovering-what-is-in-store/a97fbd17-f5c2-4a37-9b15-2f6089b244d0/ December 25, 2022 the Bullets struggled posting a seven-game losing streak in December, which led to a 4–14 start to the regular season, Aldridge David Bol Blocks Bullets' Way, 109-102 The Washington Post December 11, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/12/11/bol-blocks-bullets-way-109-102/7eb2c222-692e-4705-b748-9f59548acefd/ April 3, 2023 and later on held a 17–28 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 9, 1989 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=9&year=1989 December 6, 2022 However, the team played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, winning 11 of their 16 games in March. The Bullets finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 40–42 record, which was two more wins than the previous season; however, the team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs, finishing just two games behind the 8th–seeded Boston Celtics. Aldridge David Bullets' Season Ends with Loss to 76ers, Lottery Pick The Washington Post April 24, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/04/24/bullets-season-ends-with-loss-to-76ers-lottery-pick/b255731c-aa90-44e4-b34c-b7f2aa3281d6/ December 25, 2022 1988–89 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1989_games.html February 12, 2022 Jeff Malone led the Bullets in scoring averaging 21.7 points per game, while Bernard King averaged 20.7 points per game, and sixth man Hot Plate Williams provided the team with 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game off the bench. In addition, Eackles contributed 11.5 points per game, while Terry Catledge provided with 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and Darrell Walker contributed 9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Meanwhile, Mark Alarie averaged 6.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, Steve Colter provided with 6.7 points and 2.8 assists per game, Grant contributed 5.6 points per game, Feitl provided with 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, and defensive center Charles Jones averaged 2.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, 1988–89 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1989.html February 12, 2022 but only played 53 games due to a knee injury. Aldridge David Bullets Center Jones Out with Knee Injury The Washington Post December 20, 1988 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/12/20/bullets-center-jones-out-with-knee-injury/c1eb3d65-8e1b-4083-9737-0d9da4497e1f/ December 31, 2022 Aldridge David Jones Back in Week for Bullets The Washington Post February 7, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/02/07/jones-back-in-week-for-bullets/1d0f70a1-2f10-465c-af21-3dc9a4e4de26/ December 31, 2022 Williams finished in fourth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, Associated Press Suns' Johnson Wins NBA's 6th Man Award Los Angeles Times May 8, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-08-sp-2691-story.html December 27, 2022 1988–89 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1989.html December 27, 2022 while Unseld finished in fifth place in Coach of the Year voting. Associated Press Fitzsimmons Coach of Year Los Angeles Times May 25, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-25-sp-1088-story.html December 28, 2022 The Bullets finished last in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 253,980 at the Capital Centre during the regular season, which was 25th in the league. 1988–89 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1989.html February 15, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Catledge was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic expansion team, Brown Clifton Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft The New York Times June 16, 1989 https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/16/sports/knicks-green-is-taken-first-in-nba-s-expansion-draft.html December 6, 2022 Howard-Cooper Scott NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers Los Angeles Times June 16, 1989 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-16-sp-1959-story.html December 6, 2022 1989 NBA Expansion Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1989_expansion.html February 13, 2022 and Feitl was released to free agency. Aldridge David Hammonds Is Ready to Go The Washington Post June 30, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/06/30/hammonds-is-ready-to-go/d965ac35-fbe0-4e25-93a9-e98fa4c9b9d8/ May 14, 2024 Draft picks 1988 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 12 Harvey Grant SF/PF Oklahoma 2 36 Ledell Eackles SG/SF New Orleans 3 60 Ed Davender Kentucky Roster Washington Bullets 1988–89 #C9143A white #0344AD white 31 Mark Alarie F 6 8 217 1963–12–11 Duke 33 Terry Catledge F 6 8 220 1963–08–22 South Alabama 20 Steve Colter G 6 3 165 1962–07–24 New Mexico State 21 Ledell Eackles G 6 5 220 1966–11–24 New Orleans 22 Dave Feitl C 6 11 235 1962–06–08 Texas-El Paso 44 Harvey Grant F 6 8 195 1965–07–04 Oklahoma 23 Charles Jones basketball, born 1957 C 6 9 215 1957–04–03 Albany State 51 Charles Jones basketball, born 1962 F 6 8 215 1962–01–12 Louisville 30 Bernard King F 6 7 205 1956–12–04 Tennessee 24 Jeff Malone G 6 4 205 1961–06–28 Mississippi State 5 Darrell Walker G 6 4 180 1961–03–09 Arkansas 34 John Williams basketball, born 1966 F 6 8 235 1966–10–26 LSU Wes Unseld Bill Blair Jeff Bzdelik Regular season Season standings WSB WSB z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log Regular season Washington Bullets 1989 #DC143C #0000CD Total: 40–42 (Home: 30–11; Road: 10–31) Washington Bullets November yes #0000CD #DC143C 2 3 2 4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | November 5 | Chicago | L 98–111 | | | | Capital Centre | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 8 | @ New Jersey | L 101–109 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 9 | New York | L 110–117 | | | | Capital Centre | 0–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | November 11 | Charlotte | W 96–87 | | | | Capital Centre | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 12 | @ New York | L 101–111 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 1–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 18 | @ Boston | L 108–114 | | | | Boston Garden | 1–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | November 19 | Boston | W 108–104 | | | | Capital Centre | 2–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 22 | Philadelphia | L 103–130 | | | | Capital Centre | 2–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | November 23 | @ Milwaukee | L 102–124 | | | | Bradley Center | 2–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 25 | @ Indiana | W 106–101 | | | | Market Square Arena | 3–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 26 | @ Charlotte | W 120–113 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 4–7 Washington Bullets December #0000CD #DC143C 3 2 1 9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | December 1 | @ Atlanta | L 115–127 | | | | The Omni | 4–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | December 2 | Detroit | L 114–120 | | | | Capital Centre | 4–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | December 4 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 112–119 (OT) | | | | The Forum | 4–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 15 | December 6 | @ Phoenix | L 92–130 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 4–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | December 7 | @ Utah | L 94–111 | | | | Salt Palace | 4–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 9 | @ Portland | L 90–93 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 4–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 10 | @ Golden State | L 102–109 | | | | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 4–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 13 | Boston | W 115–105 | | | | Capital Centre | 5–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | December 17 | @ New York | L 102–117 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 5–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | December 18 | L.A. Lakers | W 115–110 | | | | Capital Centre | 6–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | December 21 | Utah | L 82–98 | | | | Capital Centre | 6–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | December 25 | @ Philadelphia | L 110–125 | | | | The Spectrum | 6–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 26 | @ New Jersey | W 120–108 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 7–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 29 | Houston | W 126–109 | | | | Capital Centre | 8–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 30 | @ Cleveland | L 110–127 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 8–18 Washington Bullets January #0000CD #DC143C 8 3 0 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 | January 2 | Phoenix | L 122–125 | | | | Capital Centre | 8–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 4 | Charlotte | W 109–86 | | | | Capital Centre | 9–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | January 6 | Milwaukee(at Baltimore, Maryland) | L 121–128 (2OT) | | | | Baltimore Arena | 9–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | January 7 | @ Charlotte | L 104–107 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 9–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 10 | Denver | W 120–117 | | | | Capital Centre | 10–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 12 | Miami | W 106–100 | | | | Capital Centre | 11–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 13 | @ Detroit | L 103–119 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 11–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 16 | Atlanta | L 106–117 | | | | Capital Centre | 11–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 19 | San Antonio | W 115–112 | | | | Capital Centre | 12–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | January 21 | Philadelphia | W 107–105 | | | | Capital Centre | 13–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 26 | Indiana | W 126–106 | | | | Capital Centre | 14–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 27 | @ Chicago | L 106–117 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 14–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 29 | Cleveland(at Baltimore, Maryland) | W 122–117 (OT) | | | | Baltimore Arena | 15–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 31 | Boston | W 110–103 | | | | Capital Centre | 16–24 Washington Bullets February #0000CD #DC143C 3 1 3 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 | February 1 | @ Philadelphia | L 110–114 (OT) | | | | The Spectrum | 16–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | February 3 | @ Boston | L 108–117 | | | | Boston Garden | 16–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | February 4 | Milwaukee | L 102–113 | | | | Capital Centre | 16–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | February 7 | @ New York | L 105–117 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 16–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | February 9 | New Jersey | W 110–103 | | | | Capital Centre | 17–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | February 14 | @ Sacramento | W 107–99 | | | | ARCO Arena | 18–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | February 15 | @ Denver | L 106–117 | | | | Capital Centre | 18–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 17 | @ Seattle | L 112–126 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 18–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | February 18 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 98–93 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 19–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 21 | L.A. Clippers | W 123–109 | | | | Capital Centre | 20–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 24 | New York(at Baltimore, Maryland) | W 130–127 | | | | Baltimore Arena | 21–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | February 25 | @ Dallas | L 93–127 | | | | Reunion Arena | 21–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 27 | @ Houston | W 104–98 | | | | Capital Centre | 22–31 Washington Bullets March #0000CD #DC143C 9 0 2 6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | March 1 | New Jersey | W 120–105 | | | | Capital Centre | 23–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | March 4 | Dallas | W 119–105 | | | | Capital Centre | 24–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | March 5 | Charlotte | W 114–101 | | | | Capital Centre | 25–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 | March 7 | @ Milwaukee | L 101–121 | | | | Bradley Center | 25–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | March 8 | Atlanta | W 119–111 | | | | Capital Centre | 26–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | March 10 | Sacramento | W 114–97 | | | | Capital Centre | 27–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | March 12 | @ Detroit | L 104–110 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 27–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 13 | Seattle | W 106–101 | | | | Capital Centre | 28–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | March 17 | @ New Jersey | W 124–121 (OT) | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 29–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 18 | Philadelphia | W 123–114 | | | | Capital Centre | 30–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 | March 20 | @ Cleveland | L 97–103 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 30–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 22 | @ Indiana | L 92–101 | | | | Market Square Arena | 30–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 23 | @ Charlotte | W 102–97 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 31–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 25 | Indiana | W 111–108 (OT) | | | | Capital Centre | 32–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 28 | @ San Antonio | L 114–130 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 32–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 29 | @ Atlanta | L 102–120 | | | | The Omni | 32–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 31 | Portland | W 107–105 | | | | Capital Centre | 33–37 Washington Bullets April #0000CD #DC143C 5 2 2 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | April 2 | Golden State | W 120–103 | | | | Capital Centre | 34–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | April 4 | New Jersey | W 104–96 | | | | Capital Centre | 35–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | April 6 | @ Miami | W 101–93 | | | | Miami Arena | 36–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | April 7 | Cleveland | W 107–96 | | | | Capital Centre | 37–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | April 9 | New York | L 92–94 | | | | Capital Centre | 37–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | April 10 | Detroit | L 100–124 | | | | Capital Centre | 37–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | April 16 | @ Detroit | L 98–104 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 38–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 18 | @ Boston | W 121–113 | | | | Boston Garden | 39–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 20 | Chicago | W 100–98 | | | | Capital Centre | 40–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 21 | @ Chicago | L 113–115 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 40–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | April 23 | @ Philadelphia | L 106–115 | | | | The Spectrum | 40–42 WSB 1989 References See also 1988-89 NBA season Category:Washington Wizards seasons Wash Washing Washing