Washington Bullets Legend Wes Unseld Passes Away at 74
By Jerry Trotta
The Washington Wizards have retired five numbers in franchise history. Unfortunately, the player that sported the iconic No. 41 for so many years has passed away.
ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Baltimore and Washington Bullets legend Wes Unseld has died at the age of 74. The Hall of Famer's family revealed that he had long battled health issues, most recently pneumonia.
Baltimore/Washington Bullets legend Wes Unseld has died, his family says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2020
In 13 seasons (984 games) with the Bullets, Unseld posted 10.8 points and 14 rebounds per contest. He famously won the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in 1969. Nine years later in 1978, he took home NBA Finals MVP honors after recording 9.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 52% from the floor against the Seattle SuperSonics.
The five-time All-Star was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. Though Elvin Hayes was undeniably the best players on those dominant Bullets teams, there's no doubting that Unseld was the engine that made them go.
A mountain of man, Unseld is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was MVP and Rookie of the Year in '68-'69, a five-time All-Star, four-time NBA finalist and '77-'78 champion with Washington. His son, Wes Unseld Jr., is an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. https://t.co/z43XquDNEE
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 2, 2020
Unseld was a force to be reckoned with in a truly unappreciated era of basketball in the 1970s. The sport of basketball has lost a great one and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.