1999–2000 Washington Wizards season

The 1999–2000 NBA season was the Wizards' 39th season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] In the 1999 NBA draft, the Wizards selected Richard Hamilton from the University of Connecticut with the seventh overall pick.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} During the off-season, the team acquired Isaac Austin from the Orlando Magic,^[7][8][9] signed free agents Aaron Williams and Michael Smith,^[10][11] and hired Gar Heard as their new head coach.^[12] The biggest news would involve the front office as retired All-Star guard, and former Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan joined the Wizards as the team's vice president in January.^{[13][14][15][16]}

1999–2000 Washington Wizards season
Head coach	Gar Heard (fired) Darrell Walker
General manager	Wes Unseld
President	Michael Jordan
Owner(s)	Abe Pollin
Arena	MCI Center
Results
Record	29–53 (.354)
Place	Division: 7th (Atlantic) Conference: 13th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	Home Team Sports
Radio	WTEM
< 1998–99 2000–01 >

After winning their first game of the season, the Wizards continued to under achieve posting a 7-game losing streak. With a 14–30 record at mid-season, Heard was fired as head coach, and was replaced with Darrell Walker,^[17] and the team signed free agent Don Reid, who was previously released by the Detroit Pistons.^[18] Despite posting a solid 10–7 record in March, the Wizards finished last place in the Atlantic Division with a 29–53 record.^[19]

Mitch Richmond led the team with 17.4 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Juwan Howard averaged 14.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and Rod Strickland provided the team with 12.6 points, 7.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Off the bench, sixth man Tracy Murray contributed 10.2 points per game, while Hamilton contributed 9.0 points per game, and Chris Whitney provided with 7.8 points and 3.8 assists per game. On the defensive side, second-year center Jahidi White averaged 7.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while Williams provided with 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench, and Smith led the team with 7.2 rebounds per game,^[20] but only played just 46 games due to an elbow injury.^[21]

Following the season, Austin was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies,^[22][23] while Murray was traded to the Denver Nuggets,^[24][25] Williams signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,^[26] Reid signed with the Orlando Magic,^[27] and Walker was fired as head coach.^[28]

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1999 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	7	Richard Hamilton	SG	United States	Connecticut
2	35	Calvin Booth	C	United States	Penn State

Roster

1999–2000 Washington Wizards roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 8 Austin, Isaac 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1969–08–18 Arizona State C 52 Booth, Calvin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1976–05–07 Penn State G 32 Hamilton, Richard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1978–02–14 Connecticut F/C 5 Howard, Juwan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1973–02–07 Michigan F 51 King, Gerard 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–11–25 Nicholls State F 35 Murray, Tracy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–07–25 UCLA G/F 3 Profit, Laron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 204 lb (93 kg) 1977–08–05 Maryland F/C 50 Reid, Don 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1973–12–30 Georgetown G 2 Richmond, Mitch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1965–06–30 Kansas State F 34 Smith, Michael  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1972–03–28 Providence G 1 Strickland, Rod  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–11 DePaul C 55 White, Jahidi 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 290 lb (132 kg) 1976–02–19 Georgetown G 12 Whitney, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1971–10–05 Clemson F/C 44 Williams, Aaron 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1971–10–02 Xavier F 43 Williams, Lorenzo  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–07–15 Stetson

Head coach Gar Heard (fired) Darrell Walker Assistant coach(es) Butch Beard Mike Bratz Tree Rollins Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: March 13, 2000

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Miami Heat	52	30	.634	–	33–8	19–22	18–6
x-New York Knicks	50	32	.610	2	33–8	17–24	14–10
x-Philadelphia 76ers	49	33	.598	3	29–12	20–21	13–11
Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	11	26–15	15–26	12–13
Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	17	26–15	9–32	12–12
New Jersey Nets	31	51	.378	21	22–19	9–32	9–16
Washington Wizards	29	53	.354	23	17–24	12–29	7–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Indiana Pacers	56	26	.683	–
2	y-Miami Heat	52	30	.634	4
3	x-New York Knicks	50	32	.610	6
4	x-Charlotte Hornets	49	33	.598	7
5	x-Philadelphia 76ers	49	33	.598	7
6	x-Toronto Raptors	45	37	.549	11
7	x-Detroit Pistons	42	40	.512	14
8	x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	14
9	Orlando Magic	41	41	.500	15
10	Boston Celtics	35	47	.427	21
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	32	50	.390	24
12	New Jersey Nets	31	51	.378	25
13	Washington Wizards	29	53	.354	27
14	Atlanta Hawks	28	54	.341	28
15	Chicago Bulls	17	65	.207	39

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1999-2000 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	3–1	2–1	0–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3
Boston	3–1	–	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	3–1	3–1	–	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–0
Chicago	1–3	2–2	0–4	–	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–1	0–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2
Cleveland	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	–	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–3	1–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	3–1
Dallas	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	–	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–3	3–1	1–1
Denver	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–2	2–2	1–1
Detroit	3–1	3–0	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	2–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2
Golden State	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	–	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	3–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	–	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Indiana	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	1–1	–	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	–	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1
Miami	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	–	2–2	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	4–0
Milwaukee	4–0	2–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–2	–	0–2	1–3	0–4	4–0	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	3–1	0–4	0–2	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	0–2
New Jersey	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	–	1–3	3–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3
New York	1–2	2–2	3–1	3–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	4–0	1–1	3–1	–	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2
Orlando	3–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	1–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–3	–	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–0
Philadelphia	4–0	3–1	1–3	4–0	4–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	3–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	–	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–0	1–1	2–0	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	3–1	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	–	1–3	4–0	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	2–0
Portland	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	–	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0
Sacramento	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	0–4	–	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	2–2	4–0	1–1
Seattle	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	–	0–2	2–2	4–0	2–0
Toronto	2–2	2–2	1–3	4–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	–	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	–	3–1	2–0
Vancouver	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	1–3	–	1–1
Washington	3–1	1–3	0–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–3	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

Washington Wizards statistics

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Isaac Austin	59	23	19.9	.429	.250	.686	4.8	1.3	.3	.6	6.7
Calvin Booth	11	0	13.0	.348		.714	2.9	.6	.3	1.3	3.8
Richard Hamilton	71	12	19.3	.420	.364	.774	1.8	1.5	.4	.1	9.0
Juwan Howard	82	82	35.5	.459	.000	.735	5.7	3.0	.8	.3	14.9
Reggie Jordan	36	0	6.8	.321	.000	.538	1.1	.9	.3	.1	1.1
Gerard King	62	28	17.1	.502		.742	4.0	.8	.5	.2	5.3
Tracy Murray	80	8	22.9	.433	.430	.851	3.4	.9	.6	.3	10.2
Laron Profit	33	1	6.8	.356	.176	.400	.8	.8	.2	.1	1.5
Don Reid†	17	0	19.6	.564		.750	4.5	.6	1.1	1.1	6.4
Mitch Richmond	74	69	32.4	.426	.386	.876	2.9	2.5	1.5	.2	17.4
Michael Smith	46	46	24.9	.563	.000	.723	7.2	1.2	.6	.5	6.3
Rod Strickland	69	67	31.7	.429	.048	.702	3.8	7.5	1.4	.3	12.6
Jahidi White	80	59	19.2	.507		.536	6.9	.2	.4	1.0	7.1
Chris Whitney	82	15	19.8	.417	.376	.848	1.6	3.8	.7	.1	7.8
Aaron Williams	81	0	19.1	.522	.000	.726	5.0	.7	.5	1.1	7.6
Lorenzo Williams	8	0	9.5	.778			3.1	.1	.4	.8	1.8

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Wizards only.

Awards and records

Transactions

References

1. 1999-2000 Washington Wizards
2. Wise, Mike (July 1, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Safety First: The Bulls Make Brand the Top Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
3. Heisler, Mark (July 1, 1999). "Dukies Are Way Up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
4. Denlinger, Ken (July 1, 1999). "Grizzlies Take Terps' Francis with No. 2 Pick". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
5. Sheridan, Chris (July 1, 1999). "Brand, Francis, Davis Go 1, 2, 3". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
6. "1999 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
7. "PLUS: N.B.A. -- ORLANDO; Austin Traded to the Wizards". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 12, 1999. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
8. Wyche, Steve (August 12, 1999). "Wizards Trade Wallace, 3 Others to Magic for Austin". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
9. "Magic Continue Overhaul by Trading Austin to Wizards; Pippen Reportedly Asks to Be Traded to the Lakers". Deseret News. Associated Press. August 12, 1999. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
10. Wise, Mike (October 31, 1999). "1999–2000 N.B.A. PREVIEW; The West Is Still the Best". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
11. Wyche, Steve (October 5, 1999). "Wizards, Heard Seeking a Turn for the Better". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
12. Wyche, Steve (June 17, 1999). "Wizards See Future Success in Heard". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
13. Sandomir, Richard (January 20, 2000). "Jordan Sheds Uniform for Suit as a Wizards Owner". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
14. Wyche, Steve (January 20, 2000). "Jordan Brings His Game to the Wizards". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
15. Smith, Sam (January 20, 2000). "He's Off to Be the Wizard". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
16. Heisler, Mark (January 23, 2000). "Wizardry Will Be Required of Jordan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
17. Wyche, Steve (February 1, 2000). "For Now, Walker Is in Charge". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
18. Wyche, Steve (March 15, 2000). "Reid's Hustle Fails to Inspire Wizards". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
19. "1999–2000 Washington Wizards Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
20. "1999–2000 Washington Wizards Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
21. Wyche, Steve (February 16, 2000). "Wizards' Smith Set to Rebound". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
22. Wyche, Steve (August 23, 2000). "In Trade, Wizards Get 4 for the Price of 1". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
23. "Rededicated, Eh? Ike Sent to Vancouver". Deseret News. Associated Press. August 23, 2000. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
24. Wyche, Steve (September 26, 2000). "Wizards Trade Murray to Nuggets". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
25. Johnson, K.C. (September 26, 2000). "Crawford Signs 3-Year Deal with Bulls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
26. Robbins, Liz (August 3, 2000). "Nets Meet with Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
27. Povtak, Tim (August 15, 2000). "Magic Will Add Reid, Fill Roster". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
28. El-Bashir, Tarik (July 16, 2000). "It's a Long Day for Walker". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2022.