# 1978–79 Washington Bullets season

The 1978–79 Washington Bullets won their second consecutive Eastern Conference Championship, making it to the NBA Finals before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics. They finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA, at 54–28.
Coming off of their NBA Championship the previous season, the Bullets were transferred to the Atlantic Division. The Bullets would continue to remain one of the top teams in the league, as they captured the Atlantic Division championship with a league best record of 54–28. The Bullets ended the regular season losing 8 of their last 11 games, but rebounded in the playoffs with victories in both the Eastern Conference semifinals and Eastern Conference finals over the Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs, respectively. The Bullets would proceed to have a 38-year drought without a division title until 2017; by then they had been renamed the Washington Wizards. This is the most recent appearance in the conference finals or NBA Finals for the franchise.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

* Round 1: Roger Phegley, Dave Corzine
* Round 2: Terry Sykes (Never played in the NBA)
* Round 4: Lawrence Boston

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Washington Bullets | 54 | 28 | .659 | – | 31–10 | 23–18 | 11–5 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 9–7 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 17 | 25–16 | 12–29 | 7–9 |
| New York Knicks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 23 | 23–18 | 8–33 | 7–9 |
| Boston Celtics | 29 | 53 | .354 | 25 | 21–20 | 8–33 | 6–10 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Washington Bullets | 54 | 28 | .659 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 |
| 5 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 |
| 6 | x-New Jersey Nets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 17 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 23 |
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 30 | 52 | .366 | 24 |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 30 | 52 | .366 | 24 |
| 10 | Boston Celtics | 29 | 53 | .354 | 25 |
| 11 | New Orleans Jazz | 26 | 56 | .317 | 28 |

### Record vs. opponents

1978-79 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Denver | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Detroit | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Kansas City | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Los Angeles | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| San Diego | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1978–79 game log Total: 54–28 (home: 31–10; road: 23–18) :
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
October 18
@ Philadelphia
W 121–111
Johnson (19)
Unseld (11)
Henderson, Unseld (6)
The Spectrum 12,065
3–0
6
October 25
@ Seattle
L 92–121
Dandridge (16)
Ballard (9)
Dandridge (6)
Kingdome 15,089
4–2
9
October 31
Atlanta
L 108–110
Dandridge (26)
Kupchak (10)
Unseld (10)
Capital Centre 5,487
4–5 :
November: 11–2 (home: 6–1; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11
November 4
San Antonio
W 124–119
Hayes (28)
Hayes (14)
Henderson (11)
Capital Centre 12,619
6–5
13
November 10
Philadelphia
L 122–123
Hayes (36)
Unseld (17)
Dandridge, Grevey, Henderson (5)
Capital Centre 14,697
7–6
14
November 11
@ San Antonio
L 124–143
Kupchak (27)
Hayes (11)
Henderson (8)
HemisFair Arena 12,363
7–7 :
December: 9–5 (home: 5–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
24
December 2
Kansas City
L 109–110
Capital Centre 14,297
16–8
28
December 9
Phoenix
W 101–98
Dandridge (23)
Unseld (20)
Henderson (9)
Capital Centre 17,438
19–9
32
December 20
@ Phoenix
W 137–129
Dandridge (36)
Hayes (11)
Henderson (13)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,789
23–9 :
January: 10–3 (home: 7–1; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
38
January 5
Phoenix
W 104–94
Kupchak (25)
Hayes (26)
Henderson (10)
Capital Centre 14,929
26–12
39
January 6
@ Atlanta
W 106–102
Hayes (26)
Hayes (13)
Wright (6)
The Omni 9,105
27–12
45
January 23
Seattle
L 100–103
Dandridge (23)
Unseld (13)
Dandridge (7)
Capital Centre 15,232
31–14
47
January 26
@ Kansas City
L 128–142
Kemper Arena 10,301
32–15
49
January 30
Atlanta
W 109–105
Hayes (23)
Hayes (18)
Dandridge (6)
Capital Centre 14,398
34–15 :
February: 8–4 (home: 3–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
50
February 1
@ San Antonio
W 123–122
Dandridge (36)
Unseld (19)
Henderson (10)
HemisFair Arena 12,516
35–15
All-Star Break
53
February 11
@ Philadelphia
L 99–107
Dandridge (29)
Dandridge (17)
Dandridge (6)
The Spectrum 15,151
37–16
55
February 15
@ Phoenix
L 108–119
Dandridge (30)
Hayes (13)
Henderson (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
38–17
57
February 18
@ Seattle
W 105–94
Hayes (33)
Hayes (16)
Dandridge (7)
Kingdome 21,935
39–18
59
February 23
Seattle
W 132–110
Hayes (32)
Unseld (13)
Henderson, Unseld (7)
Capital Centre 19,035
40–19 :
March: 9–6 (home: 5–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
62
March 4
San Antonio
W 129–128
Hayes (32)
Hayes (20)
Henderson (10)
Capital Centre 17,181
43–19
64
March 9
@ Kansas City
L 116–121
Kemper Arena 13,681
43–21
74
March 27
Philadelphia
L 97–100
Hayes (23)
Unseld (16)
Unseld (7)
Capital Centre 18,741
50–24 :
April: 3–3 (home: 2–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
81
April 7
@ Atlanta
L 102–103
Hayes (29)
Unseld (15)
Unseld (7)
The Omni 15,641
54–27 :
1978–79 schedule :

## Playoffs

1979 playoff game log :
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–2; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 15
Atlanta
W 103–89
Hayes (31)
Hayes (15)
Wright (6)
Capital Centre 15,721
1–0
2
April 17
Atlanta
L 99–107
Dandridge (36)
Unseld (10)
Henderson (8)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–1
3
April 20
@ Atlanta
W 89–77
Hayes (19)
Unseld (16)
Unseld (8)
The Omni 15,798
2–1
4
April 22
@ Atlanta
W 120–115 (OT)
Hayes (29)
Hayes (17)
Dandridge (5)
The Omni 15,798
3–1
5
April 24
Atlanta
L 103–107
Hayes (26)
Hayes (14)
Henderson (11)
Capital Centre 19,035
3–2
6
April 26
@ Atlanta
L 86–104
Hayes (24)
Unseld (12)
Unseld (6)
The Omni 15,978
3–3
7
April 29
Atlanta
W 100–94
Hayes (39)
Hayes (15)
Dandridge (8)
Capital Centre 19,035
4–3 :
Eastern Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 4
San Antonio
L 97–118
Dandridge (25)
Hayes (20)
Henderson (5)
Capital Centre 19,035
0–1
2
May 6
San Antonio
W 115–95
Unseld (26)
Unseld (22)
Henderson (9)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–1
3
May 9
@ San Antonio
L 114–116
Dandridge (28)
Hayes (23)
Unseld (8)
HemisFair Arena 15,318
1–2
4
May 11
@ San Antonio
L 102–118
Hayes (23)
Unseld (21)
Dandridge (9)
HemisFair Arena 16,055
1–3
5
May 13
San Antonio
W 107–103
Hayes (24)
Hayes (22)
Henderson (9)
Capital Centre 19,035
2–3
6
May 16
@ San Antonio
W 108–100
Hayes (25)
Hayes (14)
Dandridge, Henderson (8)
HemisFair Arena 16,055
3–3
7
May 18
San Antonio
W 107–105
Dandridge (37)
Hayes (15)
Wright (7)
Capital Centre 19,035
4–3 :
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 20
Seattle
W 99–97
Wright (26)
Unseld (12)
Henderson (6)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–0
2
May 24
Seattle
L 82–92
Dandridge (21)
Hayes (14)
Dandridge (5)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–1
3
May 27
@ Seattle
L 95–105
Dandridge (28)
Hayes, Unseld (14)
Dandridge (5)
Kingdome 35,928
1–2
4
May 29
@ Seattle
L 112–114 (OT)
Grevey, Hayes, Johnson (18)
Unseld (16)
Henderson (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,098
1–3
5
June 1
Seattle
L 93–97
Hayes (29)
Hayes (14)
Dandridge (7)
Capital Centre 19,035
1–4 :
1979 schedule :

## Awards and honors

* Bob Ferry, NBA Executive of the Year Award
* Elvin Hayes, All-NBA First Team
* Bob Dandridge, All-NBA Second Team
* Bob Dandridge, NBA All-Defensive First Team