The 1977–78 Washington Bullets season was the team's 17th season in the NBA and their 5th season in the city of Washington, D.C. It would prove to be their most successful season, as they would win their first and only NBA championship . In the NBA Finals, they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in seven games.

The Bullets got off to a slow start in the regular season, losing 6 of their first 10 games. On January 13, the Bullets beat the defending Champion Portland Trail Blazers to improve to 24–15, capping an 18–5 run over 23 games. Injuries would begin to have an effect on the team as the Bullets struggled, as they would lose 13 of their next 18 games. Hovering a few games above .500 for the rest of the season, the Bullets managed to make the playoffs with a 44–38 record. They hold the record for the lowest winning percentage () of any NBA Championship winning team. The 1968–69 Boston Celtics, 1974–75 Golden State Warriors, 1976–77 Portland Trail Blazers, and 1994–95 Houston Rockets are the only other NBA championship teams to have won below 50 games in non-lockout seasons since 1958; all of them won more than 44 games.

Offseason

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/HS/Club Team Notes 1 4 Greg Ballard F Oregon from Atlanta 17 Bo Ellis F Marquette 2 39 Phil Walker G Millersville 3 57 Steve Puidokas C Washington State from Chicago 61 Jerry Schellenberg F Wake Forest 4 83 David Reavis F Georgia 5 105 Bruce Parkinson G Purdue 6 127 Ernie Wansley C Virginia Tech 7 147 Calvin Brown G American 8 166 Pat McKinley F Towson State

Roster

Season standings

Record vs. opponents vs. Eastern Conference

vs. Atlantic Division 1977–78 NBA recordsTeamBOSBUFNJNNYKPHITotal Atlanta 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 Cleveland 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–1 3–1 Houston 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 New Orleans 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 San Antonio 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–1 3–1 Washington 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 12–8

vs. Central Division 1977–78 NBA recordsTeamATLCLEHOUNOJSASWSBTotal Atlanta — 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–3 1–3 Cleveland 0–0 — 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 Houston 0–0 0–0 — 0–0 0–0 1–3 1–3 New Orleans 0–0 0–0 0–0 — 0–0 0–4 0–4 San Antonio 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 — 2–2 2–2 Washington 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 2–2 — 14–6

vs. Western Conference

vs. Midwest Division 1977–78 NBA recordsTeamCHIDENDETINDKCKMILTotal Atlanta 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–1 Cleveland 0–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–3 Houston 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 New Orleans 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–1 San Antonio 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 Washington 1–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 8–15

vs. Pacific Division 1977–78 NBA recordsTeamGSWLALPHOPORSEATotal Atlanta 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 Cleveland 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–3 1–3 Houston 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 4–0 4–0 New Orleans 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 San Antonio 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 Washington 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 3–1 10–9

Game log Preseason

Regular season

| 1 | October 21, 19778:05p.m. EDT | Detroit | W 117–109 | Kupchak (29) | Dandridge,Unseld (9) | Henderson (12) | Capital Centre13,276 | 1–0 |- | 2 | October 22, 19778:05p.m. EDT | @ New York | L 115–141 | Hayes (26) | Hayes (14) | Henderson,Unseld,Wright (4) | Madison Square Garden15,261 | 1–1 |- | 3 | October 28, 19778:05p.m. EDT | @ Indiana | L 127–136 | Wright (43) | Unseld (15) | Henderson (9) | Market Square Arena12,542 | 1–2 |- | 4 | October 29, 19778:35p.m. EDT | @ Kansas City | L 106–120 | Wright (19) | Unseld (11) | Chenier,Henderson,Wright (5) | Kemper Arena9,220 | 1–3

| 5 | November 4, 19778:05p.m. EST | Phoenix | W 113–96 | Dandridge (24) | Hayes (14) | Henderson (10) | Capital Centre8,742 | 2–3 |- | 6 | November 5, 19779:05p.m. EST | @ Houston | L 105–116 | Wright (20) | Dandridge,Unseld (9) | Henderson,Unseld,Wright (3) | The Summit9,449 | 2–4 |- | 7 | November 6, 19778:35p.m. EST | @ New Orleans | W 108–97 | Dandridge,Hayes (21) | Hayes (20) | Wright (4) | Louisiana Superdome26,474 | 3–4 |- | 8 | November 10, 19778:05p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 103–106 | Dandridge (25) | Hayes (13) | Unseld,Wright (6) | Capital Centre7,139 | 3–5 |- | 9 | November 12, 19778:05p.m. EST | Philadelphia | W 116–98 | Dandridge (28) | Hayes (16) | Wright (10) | Capital Centre18,355 | 4–5 |- | 10 | November 13, 19777:05p.m. EST | @ Detroit | L 102–104 | Hayes (29) | Hayes (16) | Henderson (8) | Cobo Arena5,149 | 4–6 |- | 11 | November 15, 19778:05p.m. EST | Seattle | W 111–109 | Hayes (22) | Hayes (14) | Unseld (6) | Capital Centre5,593 | 5–6 |- | 12 | November 18, 19778:05p.m. EST | New York | W 123–103 | Hayes (27) | Hayes (12) | Henderson (9) | Capital Centre17,242 | 6–6 |- | 13 | November 19, 19778:35p.m. EST | @ Kansas City | W 131–125 (OT) | Kupchak (32) | Dandridge (12) | Henderson (7) | Omaha Civic Auditorium6,534 | 7–6 |- | 14 | November 21, 19777:30p.m. EST | @ Buffalo | W 114–97 | Kupchak (21) | Dandridge (14) | Henderson (7) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium6,125 | 8–6 |- | 15 | November 22, 19778:05p.m. EST | Denver | L 114–119 | Dandridge (29) | Hayes (12) | Wright (7) | Capital Centre8,363 | 8–7 |- | 16 | November 26, 19778:05p.m. EST | Houston | W 93–91 | Hayes (24) | Pace (10) | Dandridge (7) | Capital Centre18,387 | 9–7 |- | 17 | November 30, 19778:05p.m. EST | San Antonio | W 116–105 | Kupchak (26) | Unseld (15) | Unseld (10) | Capital Centre7,092 | 10–7

| 18 | December 2, 19779:05p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | W 108–95 | Hayes (29) | Hayes (19) | Henderson (11) | MECCA Arena10,938 | 11–7 |- | 19 | December 3, 19778:05p.m. EST | Boston | W 103–93 | Dandridge (21) | Kupchak (12) | Dandridge (8) | Capital Centre18,424 | 12–7 |- | 20 | December 4, 19777:30p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | W 100–94 | Chenier (28) | Hayes (16) | Henderson (6) | Richfield Coliseum9,765 | 13–7 |- | 21 | December 6, 19778:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 108–116 | Chenier,Hayes (22) | Unseld (12) | Dandridge,Unseld (5) | Chicago Stadium10,093 | 13–8 |- | 22 | December 7, 19778:05p.m. EST | Cleveland | W 96–95 | Dandridge (21) | Unseld (20) | Henderson (5) | Capital Centre7,627 | 14–8 |- | 23 | December 9, 19778:05p.m. EST | New Orleans | W 101–97 | Henderson (22) | Unseld (16) | Henderson (9) | Capital Centre10,292 | 15–8 |- | 24 | December 11, 19777:35p.m. EST | New Jersey | L 95–106 | Hayes (27) | Hayes (20) | Dandridge,Henderson,Unseld,Wright (4) | Capital Centre5,774 | 15–9 |- | 25 | December 13, 19778:05p.m. EST | Golden State | W 102–96 | Chenier (25) | Hayes (17) | Henderson (6) | Capital Centre8,693 | 16–9 |- | 26 | December 16, 19779:35p.m. EST | @ Denver | W 117–112 (OT) | Hayes (33) | Hayes (20) | Dandridge (10) | McNichols Sports Arena15,922 | 17–9 |- | 27 | December 17, 197711:00p.m. EST | @ Portland | L 104–117 | Dandridge (17) | Hayes (10) | Wright (5) | Memorial Coliseum12,666 | 17–10 |- | 28 | December 18, 197710:00p.m. EST | @ Seattle | L 109–111 (OT) | Henderson (24) | Unseld (13) | Hayes (5) | Seattle Center Coliseum13,563 | 17–11 |- | 29 | December 20, 197711:00p.m. EST | @ Los Angeles | L 115–120 | Kupchak (23) | Kupchak (10) | Wright (9) | The Forum13,475 | 17–12 |- | 30 | December 25, 19777:35p.m. EST | Atlanta | W 100–93 | Dandridge (24) | Unseld (14) | Henderson (9) | Capital Centre8,358 | 18–12 |- | 31 | December 26, 19778:10p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | W 113–106 | Henderson (21) | Hayes (13) | Henderson (8) | The Omni8,321 | 19–12 |- | 32 | December 28, 19778:05p.m. EST | Buffalo | W 106–87 | Hayes (18) | Unseld (15) | Hayes,Unseld,Wright (4) | Capital Centre11,394 | 20–12 |- | 33 | December 30, 19778:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 119–126 | Kupchak (22) | Unseld (14) | Dandridge (8) | The Spectrum18,276 | 20–13

| 34 | January 3, 19788:05p.m. EST | Denver | L 100–101 | Chenier (23) | Hayes (18) | Henderson (7) | Capital Centre9,457 | 20–14 |- | 35 | January 6, 19788:05p.m. EST | Indiana | W 146–114 | Dandridge (29) | Hayes,Unseld (10) | Dandridge (8) | Capital Centre9,215 | 21–14 |- | 36 | January 8, 19781:45p.m. EST | @ New Jersey | W 99–98 | Dandridge (20) | Hayes (16) | Henderson,Unseld (6) | Rutgers Athletic Center4,196 | 22–14 |- | 37 | January 10, 19788:05p.m. EST | Kansas City | W 123–115 | Hayes (27) | Ballard (13) | Henderson (11) | Capital Centre7,700 | 23–14 |- | 38 | January 11, 19788:10p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 95–100 | Hayes (24) | Ballard,Hayes (14) | Henderson (6) | Charlotte Coliseum2,162 | 23–15 |- | 39 | January 13, 19788:05p.m. EST | Portland | W 102–93 | Dandridge (22) | Hayes (13) | Henderson (6) | Capital Centre17,610 | 24–15 |- | 40 | January 14, 19787:30p.m. EST | @ Buffalo | L 93–130 | Dandridge (22) | Hayes,Unseld (9) | Unseld (4) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium5,036 | 24–16 |- | 41 | January 18, 197810:30p.m. EST | @ Golden State | L 106–113 | Dandridge (25) | Unseld (14) | Wright (9) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 24–17 |- | 42 | January 20, 197811:00p.m. EST | @ Los Angeles | L 99–121 | Walker (23) | Kupchak (9) | Wright (6) | The Forum13,064 | 24–18 |- | 43 | January 22, 19786:45p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 101–114 | Hayes (26) | Hayes (19) | Unseld (7) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,660 | 24–19 |- | 44 | January 24, 19788:05p.m. EST | Detroit | L 101–104 | Grevey (24) | Hayes (16) | Unseld,Wright (4) | Capital Centre6,717 | 24–20 |- | 45 | January 26, 19788:05p.m. EST | Chicago | W 135–107 | Dandridge (37) | Hayes (10) | Wright (11) | Capital Centre7,442 | 25–20 |- | 46 | January 29, 19781:45p.m. EST | Los Angeles | W 119–112 | Dandridge (29) | Hayes (19) | Wright (6) | Capital Centre17,779 | 26–20 |- | 47 | January 31, 19788:30p.m. EST | @ San Antonio | L 109–129 | Hayes (21) | Hayes (14) | Wright (6) | HemisFair Arena9,000 | 26–21

| 48 | February 2, 19788:00p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | L 93–110 | Dandridge (25) | Hayes (13) | Wright (6) | Richfield Coliseum7,553 | 26–22 |- | 49 | February 3, 19787:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 94–116 | Grevey (25) | Hayes (18) | Unseld (4) | Boston Garden12,206 | 26–23 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 50 | February 7, 197810:30p.m. EST | @ Golden State | L 102–105 | Hayes (25) | Unseld (18) | Henderson (8) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena9,935 | 26–24 |- | 51 | February 8, 197811:00p.m. EST | @ Seattle | W 106–100 | Hayes (25) | Hayes (21) | Wright (6) | Seattle Center Coliseum12,126 | 27–24 |- | 52 | February 12, 19786:45p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 109–121 | Hayes (34) | Hayes (16) | Henderson (7) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum12,467 | 27–25 |- | 53 | February 14, 19789:35p.m. EST | @ Denver | L 98–103 | Grevey (24) | Unseld (18) | Dandridge,Henderson (6) | McNichols Sports Arena15,636 | 27–26 |- | 54 | February 16, 19788:05p.m. EST | Buffalo | W 123–109 | Hayes (25) | Unseld (17) | Dandridge (7) | Capital Centre6,857 | 28–26 |- | 55 | February 17, 19788:05p.m. EST | @ Indiana | L 111–123 | Hayes (26) | Unseld (21) | Henderson,Unseld (5) | Market Square Arena10,637 | 28–27 |- | 56 | February 19, 19781:45p.m. EST | New Orleans | W 130–111 | Hayes (31) | Unseld (17) | Unseld,Wright (8) | Capital Centre16,505 | 29–27 |- | 57 | February 22, 19788:05p.m. EST | Portland | L 97–105 | Hayes (26) | Unseld (12) | Henderson (9) | Capital Centre11,554 | 29–28 |- | 58 | February 24, 19788:05p.m. EST | Phoenix | W 121–120 (OT) | Hayes (23) | Unseld (24) | Henderson (10) | Capital Centre12,432 | 30–28 |- | 59 | February 26, 19781:45p.m. EST | Golden State | W 121–110 | Hayes (37) | Hayes (18) | Unseld (7) | Capital Centre13,814 | 31–28 |- | 60 | February 28, 19789:05p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 135–136 (OT) | Johnson (25) | Unseld (27) | Henderson (7) | MECCA Arena10,938 | 31–29

| 61 | March 1, 19788:05p.m. EST | San Antonio | W 125–110 | Grevey (29) | Hayes (21) | Henderson (11) | Capital Centre8,425 | 32–29 |- | 62 | March 3, 19788:05p.m. EST | @ Detroit | W 124–108 | Grevey (32) | Hayes (27) | Henderson (7) | Cobo Arena5,033 | 33–29 |- | 63 | March 5, 19781:45p.m. EST | Houston | W 106–88 | Dandridge (26) | Hayes (15) | Henderson (7) | Capital Centre14,344 | 34–29 |- | 64 | March 10, 19789:05p.m. EST | @ Houston | W 117–114 | Grevey (43) | Unseld (18)