[1] The Bullets had the ninth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected Tom Hammonds out of Georgia Tech.
However, they would struggle losing 10 of their next 13 games, but would climb back into playoff connection with a 12–11 record in mid December.
However, their playoff hopes faded quickly as they lost 14 of their next 16 games, and held a 18–31 record at the All-Star break.
[6] The Bullets finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 31–51 record,[7] Jeff Malone led the team in scoring averaging 24.3 points per game, while Bernard King averaged 22.3 points per game, and John "Hot Plate" Williams provided the team with 18.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, but went down with a knee injury after only playing just 18 games.
[8][9][10] In addition, second-year guard Ledell Eackles contributed 13.5 points per game, while Mark Alarie averaged 10.5 points per game, Darrell Walker contributed 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and Charles Jones provided with 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.