Like many teams in the NBA, the Wizards started out in a different city and under a different name. The Chicago Packers were created for the 1961 season and played one year before becoming the Zephyrs. The team moved to Baltimore and took on the name Bullets for a few seasons before settling in their Washington D.C. home. The Bullets became the Wizards in 1997 and have remained so ever since.
For a team that moved around so much, the Wizards have seen their share of successes. Their first division championship was in 1969, and they won five straight beginning in 1971. That year they also took the conference championship, and have won three more titles during their lifespan. But by far the Wizards (then Bullets)' best year was in 1978, when they stood as a distant longshot in the playoffs. Coach Dick Motta told his team "it ain't over till the fat lady sings", and that became their rallying cry - and that year, the team went all the way, earning their first (and so far only) NBA championship title.
After their championship year, the team fell into a rebuilding phase, and with the exception of a few playoff appearances in the late 1980s hasn't made much of a stir on the court. The Wizards were notably the home of Michael Jordan after his 1999 retirement, trading his ownership stake in the team for a place on the court. The legendary Jordan couldn't quite turn the team's fortunes around, however, and he was removed from his management position after the 2003 season. Recent years have seen the team on a definite upswing, and fans hope for a return to playoff glory in the near future.
