In the preseason leading up to the 1971-72 NBA season, the Baltimore Bullets were less than two years away from moving permanently to Washington D.C. As an early first step into its new home, the franchise made one of its first on-court appearances in the greater-D.C. area when it hosted the New York Knicks for a tune-up game at Hayfield High School on September 21, 1971. Two rosters loaded with Hall of Fame talent and championship aspirations descended on Alexandria, Virginia to face off in front of a sold-out crowd of locals. The game was organized by Hayfield High and a local youth recreation organization and tapped into a passionate, growing DMV basketball fandom that has persisted for five decades.
50 years ago, D.C.’s NBA story began in a high school gym
