Joining the Bullets for the 1981–82 NBA season, Ruland played behind 32-year-old Spencer Haywood but had greater per-game averages than him during the same number of minutes. Seeing time at both forward and center, Ruland showed muscle at both ends of the floor and an accurate jump shot good from as far as 20 feet. A 56% shooter from the floor, Ruland registered as having the 10th-best field goal percentage in the league. The Bullets made the second round of the playoffs before losing to the Boston Celtics. Ruland's playoff averages were 17 points and 9.4 rebounds per game off the bench.