Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 26
Next
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 1974: Dave DeBusschere #22 of the New York Knicks defends the drive of Phil Chenier #45 of the Baltimore Bullets circa 1974 at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland. DeBusschere played for the Knicks from 1968-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dave DeBusschere; Phil Chenier
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1974: Dave DeBusschere #22 of the New York Knicks defends the drive of Phil Chenier #45 of the Baltimore Bullets circa 1974 at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland. DeBusschere played for the Knicks from 1968-74. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dave DeBusschere; Phil Chenier /

SG. 1971-79. Phil Chenier. 18. player. 142. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 4th overall pick from California, 1971 NBA Hardship Draft.

Coping with the changing landscape of pro basketball, the NBA in 1971 instituted a special supplemental “hardship” draft for players declaring for the pros before their college eligibility had expired. Making a pick in this draft cost the team a pick in the regular 1972 NBA Draft.

The Baltimore Bullets, however, were enamored of California’s Phil Chenier, who had averaged nearly 17 points and six rebounds a game as a junior.

WAS_18_CHENIER
WAS_18_CHENIER /

It was a good choice. Chenier was an All-Rookie selection in 1971-72 and was later a three-time All-Star and an All-NBA pick in 1974-75.

A back injury early in the 1977-78 season changed his career. He missed the team’s title run that season.

Chenier did play in three of the five games of the Bullets’ loss to the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1979 NBA Finals, averaging 1.7 points, a rebound and an assist in 8.3 minutes per game, going 2-for-11 from the floor and 1-for-4 at the line.

In December 1979, Chenier was traded to the Indiana Pacers for future considerations.

In parts of nine seasons with Baltimore, Capital and Washington, Chenier averaged 17.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 34.2 minutes per game, shooting .446/3-for-6/.807.

Chenier was waived by the Pacers in February 1980 and was out of the league until signing two 10-day contracts with the Golden State Warriors in January 1981. Waived in February 1981, he retired from the NBA.

Next: The Polish Hammer Brought Low-Post Scoring

Home/Washington Wizards