Trainer, John Lally
Asst. Coach, Bernie Bickerstaff
General Manager, Bob Ferry
Head Coach, Dick Motta
Bullets owners Irene and Abe Pollin
Meet the Champs
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Once Ballard’s playing days began to wind down, he focused on using his basketball knowledge for coaching. In 1989, he moved to Italy to become an assistant coach for Il Messaggero Roma. Ballard would later return to the States to become an assistant coach in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks and a scout for several teams, including the Wizards. Ballard passed away in 2016 due to prostate cancer, but he is forever remembered as one of the Bullets' favorite teammates.
0.8
3.5
4.9
Height: 6'7"
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
College: Oregon
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"Ballard takes great pride in his passing ability and could become one of those players who excels at the intangibles of basketball... He's a team player who knows the passing game, can set excellent screens and has been taught tough, hardnosed, physical team defense."
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The man nicknamed “Legend” has been one of the Wizards and Bullets top ambassadors since his playing days. After 30 years as the Wizards’ primary color TV analyst, Chenier now makes appearances in studio for NBC Sports Washington and does select games for the network. He also has a role at Monumental Sports Network and participates in community appearances, clinics, and alumni events. Chenier’s No. 45 will be the fifth jersey number retired by the franchise in March.
2.0
2.8
14.1
Height: 6'3"
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
College: California
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"His critics forget that he's only 26 years old... His fans delight in that fact... Shoots the prettiest jumper anywhere, and gets such great height that he will challenge anyone with it... Former coach K.C. Jones said Chenier was the best he had seen at cutting off the passing lanes since Jerry West."
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The Bullets’ prized acquisition before the championship season was an assistant at Hampton University from 1987-1992. Since then, he has trained basketball players and worked with the NBPA. Today, Dandridge is the Washington Bullets/Wizards Alumni Association Executive Director. Forming the group in 2011 with the Wizards, Dandridge was the organization’s first official member. Dandridge drives in from Norfolk to D.C. for countless Wizards games, autograph sessions, event appearances, and other alumni responsibilities. He works hard to serve the community and connect former players back to the Wizards organization. In 1992, Dandridge was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
3.8
5.9
19.3
Height: 6'6"
Hometown: Richmond, VA
College: Norfolk St.
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"The perfect all-around small forward... Outstanding scoring ability (he ranked among the NBA's top 20 scorers each of the last three seasons)... Says Motta, 'he's a leader and a pro. He means so much to what we can do this year.'"
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A key rotation player on the championship team, Grevey has three children and owned a sports bar/restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia, called Grevey's. He hopes to reopen his restaurant again in another area in the DMV. Grevey is also a color commentator for men's college basketball games on Westwood One and a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers. He currently resides in Great Falls, Virginia.
1.9
3.6
15.5
Height: 6'5"
Hometown: Hamilton, OH
College: Kentucky
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"Played guard for the first time in his life this season... it was a revelation... after mixed reviews as a forward, made a quicker, smoother transition than anyone believed possible... with the injury to Phil Chenier creating a crying need for a big guard, Grevey filled the bill."
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A member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and an inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Hayes currently resides in Houston. He was a radio analyst for the Houston Cougars men's basketball team and has been involved with the Rockets. He is also involved with the Special Olympics and The Children's Charity. Hayes has four children and says life after basketball has been "an adventure in reality."
1.8
13.3
19.7
Height: 6'9"
Hometown: Rayville, LA
College: Houston
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"Majestic, graceful, powerful... One of the game's great athletes... runs, rebounds, shoots, blocks shots... great clutch shot-blocker... the best power dunker... became Bullets' all-time leading scorer this season... With Larry Wright, by far the most active Bullet in community affairs... Owns a small ranch in Texas..."
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Henderson was a tough, hard-nosed playmaker on the championship team. Since retiring from basketball in 1983, Henderson has focused his time as a foster care parent and an administrator and counselor at a Houston-area juvenile facility.
5.4
2.6
11.4
Height: 6'3"
Hometown: Newberry, SC
College: Hawaii
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"Has incredible running speed... There may not be a man alive who can outrace him while dribbling a basketball... Often times a fine passer... Coveted in trades by other NBA teams... Everybody wants a playmaker like Tom Henderson... starting guard on U.S. Olympics team in 1972."
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After a season-ending injury to his college teammate Phil Chenier, GM Bob Ferry signed Johnson only hours before a game in which the Bullets were shorthanded, and Johnson flew into D.C. that night. He would then have to be taken on a helicopter to Capital Centre, in which he barely made it in time to suit up for the game. “CJ” would average 8.3 points per game as a member of that championship team. Many Bullets players, coaches, and front office members attributed the team’s success and season turnaround with the addition of CJ. Johnson passed away from cancer in 2007 at the age of 58, but is forever remembered as being a part of one of the most memorable and important stories in franchise history.
2.1
2.4
8.3
Height: 6'3"
Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
College: California
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"Johnson is a familiar face to the Bullets. He was a starting guard on the 1975 Golden State team that beat the Bullets for the NBA championship. He is a six-year NBA veteran, who is known for his tenacious defense. A high school track star, he once long jumped 24-7 and high jumped 6-5. Answers to 'CJ'."
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Kupchak retired in 1986 to become assistant general manager under Jerry West for the Los Angeles Lakers. In the 2000-01 season, Jerry West moved to the Memphis Grizzlies organization and Kupchak became the GM of the Lakers. During his time as the Lakers' GM, Kupchak and the Lakers won seven NBA Championships, including the back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and 2010. His tenure as the Lakers' GM ended in 2017.
1.1
6.9
15.9
Height: 6'9"
Hometown: Brentwood, NY
College: North Carolina
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"His style is best described as Dave Cowens contemporary. Knows only one way to play the game - 100 percent at all times. Will knock over friend and foe alike in search of a rebound or loose ball. Said Dick Motta, 'Mitch is a 6-11 Jerry Sloan who can shoot.'"
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Since his playing days, Pace resides in the Seattle, WA area and keeps up with his teammates.
0.5
3.9
2.7
Height: 6'10"
Hometown: New Brunswick, NJ
College: Coppin St.
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"A potentially brilliant tallent. Dick Motta said he has never coached a player with more natural ability... Incredible leaping ability... Good timing... Good shooter... Outstanding shot-blocker."
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Unseld was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players ever. After retiring in 1981, Unseld transitioned into a front office position with the Bullets. He was vice president for six years and then became head coach in 1987, holding that position until 1994. He was then the team’s general manager from 1996 to 2000. Currently residing in Maryland, Unseld’s wife Connie runs The Unseld School, where their daughter Kim is also one of the school’s primary teachers. Their son, Wesley Jr., was the school’s first graduate and is now the associate head coach of the Denver Nuggets.
4.1
7.6
11.9
Height: 6'9"
Hometown: Louisville, KY
College: Louisville
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"The Wes Unseld style has become as familiar to basketball fans as the circle at midcourt... Still one of the game's fine rebounders... Nobody has yet set a better pick... if not still the master of the outlet pass, then unquestionably still one of it's finest practitioners. The consummate family man, voracious reader, enjoys photography."
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The championship season was Walker’s lone NBA season, but it shaped his post-playing days. Walker has had over 30 years of success in business management, crediting that championship season as a reason for his work. He resides in Philadelphia where he is involved in a variety of projects and businesses.
1.4
4.5
1.3
Height: 6'3"
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
College: Millersville
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"Outstanding athlete... Even though he plays guard, was outstanding rebounder in college... Bob Ferry said 'He's a really good athlete, who will be a ballhandling guard.' Built like (Tom) Henderson."
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Wright returned to his alma mater Grambling State and became the team’s head coach from 1999 to 2008 after a few years as an assistant. He has also assisted in scouting efforts for both the Seattle SuperSonics and Washington Wizards in his post-playing days. This June, Wright will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He still resides in Louisiana and continues to give back to the basketball community.
3.7
9.2
1.5
Height: 6'3"
Hometown: Monroe, LA
College: Grambling St.
From the '78 Playoff Program:
"What a pleasure he's been for the Bullets... Hits the open man and definitely hits the open shot... His enthusiasm, like that of fellow sophomore Mitch Kupchak, is infectious... Signed his first Bullets contract at Western H.S. in Washington, D.C. from where he graduated in 1973."
