Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – FEBRUARY 21: Chris Webber #2 of the Washington Bullets during a NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 21, 1995 at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – FEBRUARY 21: Chris Webber #2 of the Washington Bullets during a NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 21, 1995 at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Washington Bullets (1994-95, 21-61, -5.55 SRS)

After spending most of the 1970s and 1980s as playoff contenders, the Washington franchise fell into disarray. The once-proud Bullets became one of the NBA’s worst teams drafting and developing talented players along the way but failing to gain any year-to-year momentum.

The 1994-95 season stands out as one of the franchise’s worst. Not only were the Bullets in the midst of a franchise-worst six-year playoff drought but injuries and inconsistent play from their top draft picks began to make the franchise feel cursed.

In the 1994 NBA Draft, Washington went for the sure-fire pick selecting University of Michigan big man Juwan Howard with their top pick. That same night, Washington made another move traded their 1992 first round pick Tom Gugliotta along with three future first-round draft picks to the Golden State Warriors for Howard’s former Fab Five teammate at Michigan, Chris Webber.

The duo was to form the next great Washington Bullets team and get the franchise back to their winning ways. Or not. Howard sat out the first month of the season amid a contract holdout.

Washington started 4–1 on the season then promptly lost 25 of their next 28. Webber went down with a major shoulder injury and missed 19 games. Once Howard arrived he battled injuries throughout the year.

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The team that was at the beginning of the season pegged as a potential Eastern Conference champion had seen their season completely unravel sitting at 11-34 by the All-Star break. On paper, the Bullets looked like a fine team with Webber and Howard joining a solid core of Calbert Cheaney, Rex Chapman, Scott Skiles and young big man Gheorghe Muresan.

They just weren’t, well, good. Washington scored well but struggled on defense all season finishing near the bottom of the league in points allowed per game and defensive rating. A 13-game losing streak in the season’s final month sealed the deal as Washington limped to a franchise-worst 21-61 record.

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