1995–96 Washington Bullets season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Washington Bullets Washington Wizards 1996 39 43 Atlantic 4 10 Jim Lynam US Airways Arena (37 games) Baltimore Arena (4 games) WBDC Home Team Sports WTOP Did not qualify WSB The 1995–96 Washington Bullets season was the 35th season for the Washington Bullets in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd 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 received the fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected power forward Rasheed Wallace from the University of North Carolina. Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board The New York Times June 29, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/29/sports/pro-basketball-underclassmen-rule-atop-nba-draft-board.html July 25, 2021 Heisler Mark NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way Los Angeles Times June 29, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-29-sp-18377-story.html December 3, 2022 1995 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1995.html December 1, 2022 During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star guard Mark Price from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sports People: Pro Basketball: Cavaliers Trade Price to Bullets The New York Times September 28, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/28/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-cavaliers-trade-price-to-bullets.html July 29, 2021 Wire Services Cavaliers Trade Price to Washington Bullets for 1996 Draft Pick The Spokesman-Review September 28, 1995 https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/sep/28/cavaliers-trade-price-to-washington-bullets-for/ January 4, 2023 Justice Richard Price Could Make the Bullets Right: Pro Basketball: Top Rookie Wallace Signs, But the Deal for Veteran Point Guard on the Same Day Could Be More Crucial to Washington's Immediate Success Los Angeles Times September 29, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-29-sp-51414-story.html May 5, 2023 acquired Robert Pack from the Denver Nuggets, Associated Press Pro Basketball: The Bullets Pick Up Pack The New York Times October 31, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/31/sports/pro-basketball-the-bullets-pick-up-pack.html December 30, 2021 Justice Richard Maclean, Overton Traded The Washington Post October 31, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/10/31/maclean-overton-traded/aeacfd89-8eec-45f7-a99f-1b98317a4a82/ July 24, 2022 Bembry Jerry Bullets Get to Point, Trading for Pack; MacLean, Overton Go to Nuggets for Guard The Baltimore Sun October 31, 1995 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/10/31/bullets-get-to-point-trading-for-pack-maclean-overton-go-to-nuggets-for-guard/ January 30, 2023 and signed free agents Tim Legler, Justice Richard Nomadic Legler Gets Shot, and Shows He Has One The Washington Post November 29, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/11/29/nomadic-legler-gets-shot-and-shows-he-has-one/24da2c28-51b1-4077-b45d-5cf09f65691d/ July 25, 2022 Bembry Jerry Shooting Into Spotlight: Tim Legler: First-Year Bullet Is Making Most of His Shots, and Making Up for Past NBA Disappointment The Baltimore Sun December 29, 1995 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/12/29/shooting-into-spotlight-tim-legler-first-year-bullet-is-making-most-of-his-shots-and-making-up-for-past-nba-disappointment/ April 6, 2023 Chris Whitney and former Bullets guard Ledell Eackles. Wilbon Michael Eackles Gets Chance to Rebound The Washington Post December 14, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/12/14/eackles-gets-chance-to-rebound/005a4516-abf9-4ccb-bded-9fca14b767d4/ July 1, 2022 Regular season However, the team dealt with injuries all season long; Chris Webber only played just 15 games due to the lingering effect to his injured left shoulder, Justice Richard Bullets' Webber Re-injures Shoulder The Washington Post October 22, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/10/22/bullets-webber-re-injures-shoulder/a6eec718-2a22-4af3-8373-50436aeb5739/ June 7, 2022 Bembry Jerry Injured Webber Questions Doctors; Told Painful Shoulder Is OK, He Separates It The Baltimore Sun October 23, 1995 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/10/23/injured-webber-questions-doctors-told-painful-shoulder-is-ok-he-separates-it/ February 1, 2023 Justice Richard Webber Injured in Bullets' Win The Washington Post December 30, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/12/30/webber-injured-in-bullets-win/a919670b-120b-4aba-8d4d-2fdccac7a3fd/ January 1, 2023 while Mark Price only appeared in just seven games due to a foot injury, Justice Richard Bullets' Price Seeks Opinions The Washington Post October 26, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/10/26/bullets-price-seeks-opinions/5f5ac0c3-d7d7-4d83-b482-5ea0d604b1b9/ January 4, 2023 Justice Richard Mark Price Has Surgery on Left Foot The Washington Post November 11, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/11/11/mark-price-has-surgery-on-left-foot/7568da14-5394-4711-a4c0-eca6ff94267c/ July 24, 2022 Justice Richard In Trade for M. Price, Bullets Got Off on the Wrong Foot The Washington Post November 16, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/11/16/in-trade-for-m-price-bullets-got-off-on-the-wrong-foot/0d5c442a-5696-467c-8d3a-1bc17e774e3b/ January 18, 2022 and Pack only played just 31 games due to nerve damage in his right leg. Justice Richard Still No Return in Sight for Bullets' Injured Pack The Washington Post February 6, 1996 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/02/06/still-no-return-in-sight-for-bullets-injured-pack/50f7f99d-3c67-440f-9342-3693ac75ad52/ November 10, 2022 Justice Richard Way Back in the Pack, Bullets Point to Road The Washington Post March 12, 1996 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/03/12/way-back-in-the-pack-bullets-point-to-road/69ef52ec-8401-4a10-a355-15e478d08f56/ January 30, 2023 Weidie Kyle Remembering Robert Pack, a Bullet Flash in the Pan Bullets Forever August 4, 2008 https://www.bulletsforever.com/2008/8/4/586094/remembering-robert-pack-a June 17, 2021 All three players were out for the remainder of the season. With the addition of Pack, Wallace and Legler, the Bullets got off to a 7–10 start to the regular season, and then posted a five-game winning streak in December afterwards. The team played around .500 in winning percentage for the first half of the season, holding a 22–24 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=8&year=1996 July 18, 2022 However, the team struggled in February losing 11 of their 14 games during the month, plus posting a six-game losing streak. After a seven-game winning streak, the Bullets lost their final four games of the season, and finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 39–43 record, which was an impressive 18-game improvement over their previous season; 1995–96 Washington Bullets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1996_games.html June 22, 2021 however, the team missed the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. Webber averaged 23.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while 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 Pack provided the team with 18.1 points, 7.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. In addition, Calbert Cheaney contributed 15.1 points per game, while 7' 7" center Gheorghe Mureșan averaged 14.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, led the team in field-goal percentage, and was named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year, Justice Richard Muresan Is NBA's Most Improved The Washington Post May 2, 1996 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/05/02/muresan-is-nbas-most-improved/46d68891-2169-4fbe-a656-620a62ec9ef4/ June 27, 2022 Muresan Is NBA's Most Improved Player United Press International May 2, 1996 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/05/02/Muresan-is-NBAs-Most-Improved-Player/1330831009600/ October 7, 2022 NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mip.html November 29, 2022 and Wallace provided with 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Meanwhile, Mark Price's younger brother, Brent Price, contributed 10.0 points and 5.1 assists per game, and led the Bullets with 139 three-point field goals, while off the bench, Legler contributed 9.4 points per game and 128 three-point field goals, and also led the league with .522 in three-point field-goal percentage, and Eackles provided with 8.6 points per game. Mark Price averaged 8.0 points and 2.6 assists per game during his short seven-game stint, while Whitney provided with 7.1 points and 2.4 assists per game in 21 games, Mitchell Butler contributed 3.9 points per game, and second-year center Jim McIlvaine averaged 2.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. 1995–96 Washington Bullets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1996.html June 22, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Howard was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was his first and only All-Star appearance. Bembry Jerry NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve The Baltimore Sun January 31, 1996 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/01/31/nba-coaches-recognize-howards-star-quality-bullets-2nd-year-player-named-eastern-reserve/ April 19, 2023 NBA.com Staff 1996 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1996 May 16, 2023 1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1996.html November 27, 2021 Meanwhile, Wallace was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference Rookie team, Pro Basketball The Gainesville Sun February 10, 1996 15 https://books.google.com/books?id=n0RWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA31&dq=1996+nba+rookie+game+stoudamire+stackhouse+wallace+henderson&article_id=3767,2375962&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSk6WGtuCPAxVxmYkEHfeFOUcQ6AF6BAgGEAM#v=onepage&q=1996%20nba%20rookie%20game%20stoudamire%20stackhouse%20wallace%20henderson&f=false September 18, 2025 1996 NBA Rising Stars: East 94, West 92 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1996_rookie.html September 18, 2025 and Legler won the NBA Three-Point Shootout. Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Notebook: The Clippers' Barry Hits the High Notes in His Jam Session The New York Times February 11, 1996 https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/11/sports/pro-basketball-notebook-clippers-barry-hits-high-notes-his-jam-session.html June 30, 2022 Wilbon Michael An Outside Shot Comes In The Washington Post February 11, 1996 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/02/11/an-outside-shot-comes-in/6834e7b8-6140-463c-a14b-c0b1879902e1/ November 10, 2022 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html July 11, 2025 Howard also finished tied in 14th place in Most Improved Player voting. 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1996.html January 6, 2025 The Bullets finished 18th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 669,598 at USAir Arena during the regular season. 1995–96 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1996.html January 22, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Wallace and Butler were both traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, Bembry Jerry Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price The Baltimore Sun July 16, 1996 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/07/16/bullets-get-strickland-grant-from-trail-blazers-washington-deals-wallace-and-butler-signs-murray-rockets-get-brent-price/ December 3, 2022 Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets Tampa Bay Times July 16, 1996 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/07/16/blazers-trade-strickland-to-bullets/ June 20, 2023 Asher Mark Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold The Washington Post July 22, 1996 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/07/22/strickland-decision-has-bullets-on-hold/5627bb16-1e28-45aa-9a1f-349a2e370ba7/ July 24, 2022 while Pack signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets, Associated Press Pro Basketball: Nets and Pack Agree on Deal The New York Times July 25, 1996 https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/25/sports/pro-basketball-nets-and-pack-agree-on-deal.html December 30, 2021 Nets, Pack Agree on 3-Year Deal United Press International July 25, 1996 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/25/Nets-Pack-agree-on-3-year-deal/2016838267200/ October 7, 2022 Asher Mark Strickland Risk for Bullets The Washington Post July 25, 1996 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/07/25/strickland-risk-for-bullets/2d2bcce6-755f-44e3-804a-72d91f1c3596/ January 30, 2023 and Mark Price signed with the Golden State Warriors. Associated Press Warriors Sign Mark Price The New York Times July 22, 1996 https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/22/sports/warriors-sign-mark-price.html January 18, 2022 Associated Press Warriors Sign Mark Price to Multi-Year Deal Deseret News July 22, 1996 https://www.deseret.com/1996/7/22/19255759/warriors-sign-mark-price-to-multiyear-deal December 27, 2022 Steele David Price Wants to Show That Warriors Made Right "Risk" SFGate September 21, 1996 https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Price-Wants-to-Show-That-Warriors-Made-Right-2965785.php October 7, 2022 Meanwhile, Brent Price signed with the Houston Rockets, Hawks Sign Mutombo, Trade Augmon, Long Tampa Bay Times July 16, 1996 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/07/16/hawks-sign-mutombo-trade-augmon-long/ June 20, 2023 Rockets Sign Free Agent G Brent Price United Press International July 16, 1996 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/16/Rockets-sign-free-agent-G-Brent-Price/3845837489600/ June 30, 2022 McIlvaine signed with the Seattle SuperSonics, Allen Percy Mcilvaine Solution in Middle? The Seattle Times July 23, 1996 https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19960723&slug=2340633 July 24, 2022 Taylor Phil Spotlight: Jim McIlvaine: Seattle Is Gambling $35 Million on a Former Backup Center to Help It Hit the Jackpot Sports Illustrated Vault November 11, 1996 https://vault.si.com/vault/1996/11/11/spotlight-jim-mcilvaine-seattle-is-gambling-35-million-on-a-former-backup-center-to-help-it-hit-the-jackpot October 27, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20211129174609/https://vault.si.com/vault/1996/11/11/spotlight-jim-mcilvaine-seattle-is-gambling-35-million-on-a-former-backup-center-to-help-it-hit-the-jackpot November 29, 2021 dead and Eackles was released to free agency. Offseason Draft picks 1995 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 4 Rasheed Wallace PF United States North Carolina 2 32 Terrence Rencher PG United States Texas Roster Washington Bullets 1995–96 #C9143A white #0344AD white 32 Mitchell Butler G 6 5 210 1970–12–15 UCLA 40 Calbert Cheaney G 6 7 209 1971–07–17 Indiana 21 Ledell Eackles G 6 5 220 1966–11–24 New Orleans 5 Juwan Howard F 6 9 240 1973–02–07 Michigan 23 Tim Legler G 6 4 200 1966–12–16 La Salle 55 Bob McCann F 6 6 244 1964–04–22 Morehead State 22 Jim McIlvaine C 7 1 240 1972–07–30 Marquette 77 Gheorghe Mureșan C 7 7 303 1971–02–14 Romania 14 Robert Pack basketball G 6 2 180 1969–02–03 USC yes 20 Brent Price G 6 1 165 1968–12–09 Oklahoma 15 Mark Price G 6 0 170 1964–02–15 Georgia Tech yes 34 Bob Thornton F 6 10 225 1962–07–10 UC Irvine 30 Rasheed Wallace F 6 10 225 1974–09–17 North Carolina yes 4 Chris Webber F 6 9 245 1973–03–01 Michigan yes 12 Chris Whitney G 6 0 168 1971–10–05 Clemson Jim Lynam Derek Smith Bob Staak https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WSB/1996.html Regular season Season standings WSB WSB z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Game log January 2011 Player statistics Regular season Washington Bullets |- | style="text-align:left;"|Mitchell Butler | 61 || 3 || 14.1 || .384 || .217 || .578 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .7 || .2 || 3.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Calbert Cheaney | 70 || 70 || 33.2 || .471 || .338 || .706 || 3.4 || 2.2 || 1.0 || .3 || 15.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Michael Curry basketball† | 5 || 0 || 6.8 || .300 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || .2 || .2 || .0 || 2.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Ledell Eackles | 55 || 26 || 22.5 || .427 || .422 || .831 || 2.7 || 1.6 || .5 || .1 || 8.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Greg Grant basketball, born 1966† | 10 || 0 || 13.8 || .393 || .200 || || .6 || 2.3 || .8 || .0 || 2.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Juwan Howard | 81 || 81 || 40.7 || .489 || .308 || .749 || 8.1 || 4.4 || .8 || .5 || 22.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Tim Legler | 77 || 0 || 23.1 || .507 || .522 || .863 || 1.8 || 1.8 || .6 || .2 || 9.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Cedric Lewis | 3 || 0 || 1.3 || .667 || || || .7 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 1.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Bob McCann | 62 || 0 || 10.5 || .497 || .500 || .473 || 2.3 || .4 || .3 || .2 || 3.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Jim McIlvaine | 80 || 6 || 14.9 || .428 || || .552 || 2.9 || .1 || .3 || 2.1 || 2.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Gheorghe Mureșan | 76 || 76 || 29.5 || .584 || .000 || .619 || 9.6 || .7 || .7 || 2.3 || 14.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Robert Pack basketball | 31 || 31 || 35.0 || .428 || .265 || .846 || 4.3 || 7.8 || 2.0 || .0 || 18.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Mike Peplowski† | 2 || 0 || 2.5 || || || || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Brent Price | 81 || 50 || 25.2 || .472 || .462 || .874 || 2.8 || 5.1 || 1.0 || .0 || 10.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Mark Price | 7 || 1 || 18.1 || .300 || .333 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 2.6 || .9 || .0 || 8.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kevin Pritchard | 2 || 0 || 11.0 || .667 || 1.000 || .667 || 1.0 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .0 || 3.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Bob Thornton | 7 || 0 || 4.4 || .167 || || .500 || 1.7 || .0 || .1 || .0 || .4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Rasheed Wallace | 65 || 51 || 27.5 || .487 || .329 || .650 || 4.7 || 1.3 || .6 || .8 || 10.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Chris Webber | 15 || 15 || 37.2 || .543 || .441 || .594 || 7.6 || 5.0 || 1.8 || .6 || 23.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Jeff Webster | 11 || 0 || 5.3 || .348 || .333 || || .6 || .3 || .4 || .0 || 1.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Chris Whitney | 21 || 0 || 16.0 || .455 || .432 || .932 || 1.6 || 2.4 || .9 || .0 || 7.1 |} † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Bullets only. Player statistics citation: Awards and records Gheorge Muresan, NBA Most Improved Player Award Juwan Howard, All-NBA Third Team Rasheed Wallace, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team References See also 1995–96 NBA season Category:Washington Wizards seasons Wash Wiz Wiz