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Washington Wizards: 25 Best Players To Play For The Wizards

By Phil Watson

Jan 28, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; A general view of the scoreboard at Verizon Center, as the Washington Wizards changed their name to the Baltimore Bullets for one game as part of throwback night against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets won 117-113. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; A general view of the scoreboard at Verizon Center, as the Washington Wizards changed their name to the Baltimore Bullets for one game as part of throwback night against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets won 117-113. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Original Caption) Johnny Green (11) of the New York Knicks, Walter Bellamy (8) and John Cox (25) of the Chicago Zephyrs battle for a rebound under the net, October 16th, during a game at Madison Square Garden. Gene Comley of the Knicks moves in on the play at the right. Knicks just managed to hold their lead against the fast-closing Zephyrs for a 121-119 victory.
(Original Caption) Johnny Green (11) of the New York Knicks, Walter Bellamy (8) and John Cox (25) of the Chicago Zephyrs battle for a rebound under the net, October 16th, during a game at Madison Square Garden. Gene Comley of the Knicks moves in on the play at the right. Knicks just managed to hold their lead against the fast-closing Zephyrs for a 121-119 victory. /

<strong>How acquired:</strong> 1st overall pick from Indiana, 1961 NBA Draft.. C. 1961-65. Walt Bellamy. 3. player. 142

The expansion Chicago Packers were looking for a foundation piece with the first overall pick in the 1961 NBA Draft. They found it in Indiana All-American Walt Bellamy, who had averaged almost 22 points and 18 rebounds per game as a senior.

Bellamy was the Rookie of the Year in 1961-62 and a four-time All-Star with the franchise, which became the Chicago Zephyrs in 1962-63 before moving to Baltimore and being renamed the Bullets in 1963.

WAS_03_BELLAMY
WAS_03_BELLAMY /

He led the NBA in field-goal percentage as a rookie in 1961-62, finishing second in scoring, third in rebounding and fifth in minutes per game. In 1962-63, Bellamy was second in field-goal percentage, third in rebounding and fifth in both scoring and minutes per game.

In 1963-64, he checked in at third in field-goal percentage, fourth in rebounding and minutes per game and fifth in scoring. The following season, he was second in field-goal shooting.

In November 1965, Bellamy was traded to the New York Knicks for Johnny Green, Jim Barnes, Johnny Egan and cash.

In parts of five seasons in Chicago and Baltimore, Bellamy averaged 27.6 points, 16.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and 66.1 percent at the line.

Bellamy was traded to the Detroit Pistons in December 1968 and to the Atlanta Hawks in February 1970.

In May 1974, he was chosen by the New Orleans Jazz in the expansion draft, but was waived in October 1974 and retired.

He is 37th in NBA history with 38,940 minutes played, 11th with 14,241 rebounds, 34th with 20,941 points, 22nd with an average of 37.3 minutes per game and seventh with an average of 13.7 rebounds per game.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993, Bellamy died Nov. 2, 2013, at the age of 74.

Next: On A List With Wilt

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