Wes Unsled is the only Wizards player to win the regular-season MVP.
The Washington Wizards franchise began as the Chicago Packers in the 1961-62 season. They eventually became the Washington Bullets, then the Wizards in 1997-98. Over their long history, Wes Unseld stands as their lone regular-season MVP winner. Let’s highlight his MVP campaign and the stats that helped him earn the honor.
Wes Unseld – 1969 NBA MVP
The then-Baltimore Bullets selected Unseld with the second overall pick, behind Elvin Hayes, in the 1968 Draft. Not only did Unseld win Rookie of the Year in 1968-69, but he was also named regular-season MVP. He dominated the glass, averaging 18.2 rebounds per game, along with 13.8 points and 2.6 assists. Unseld also earned an All-Star nod and was named First Team All-NBA that season.
Unseld is one of only two players in NBA history to win league MVP during their rookie season. The other is Wilt Chamberlain, who won both MVP and Rookie of the Year in 1959-60.
Unseld followed up his MVP campaign by averaging 16.2 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 1969-70, shooting 51.8% from the field, an improvement over his 47.6% in his rookie season. While he didn’t make the All-Star team that year, he did finish eighth in MVP voting. Unseld began his career with five straight seasons averaging at least 15.9 rebounds per game.
He made four more All-Star teams during his career, including three straight starting in 1970-71. In 1974-75, he led the league in rebounding with 14.8 per game and finished ninth in MVP voting. After that season, he never placed higher than 11th in MVP voting for the remainder of his career.
Unseld spent his entire 13-season career with the Washington franchise, appearing in 984 games. He averaged 10.8 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, shooting 50.9% from the field.
Across his 13 seasons, Unseld made 12 playoff appearances. He lost in the NBA Finals in 1970-71 and 1974-75 before finally capturing a championship in 1977-78, when he was named Finals MVP after averaging 9.4 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists over 18 playoff games. In 119 career playoff games, Unseld averaged 10.6 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
