On Saturday, the Washington Wizards’ quest to find a new head coach was completed when the team hired Wes Unseld Jr.
Unseld Jr., son of former Wizards legend and NBA Hall of Famer Wes Unseld, replaces former head coach Scottie Brooks. Brooks coached the team for the last five seasons. They parted ways after the Wizards were ousted by the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs.
“Becoming a head coach in the NBA is a goal that I have pursued my entire adult life,” said Unseld in a statement, “and to have that dream realized by coming full circle back to Washington is truly special. I look forward to representing the DMV, connecting with our fans and establishing a new standard for Wizards basketball.”
Unseld Jr. is a Maryland native. He played college basketball at Johns Hopkins and started his coaching career as a scout with the Wizards in 1997. He spent 14 years with the organization, eventually being promoted to assistant coach.
In 2011 Unseld left for the Golden State Warriors and moved to the Orlando Magic a season later. He was on the Magic’s staff for three seasons before moving to the Denver Nuggets in 2015.
In Denver, he helped develop their young stars like Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, who won the NBA MVP this past season.
Wes Unseld is recognized for his ability to identify talent and develop players. He helped players such as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo during the early stages of their careers.
Unseld is also an experienced coach who understands defense, something the Wizards sorely need. They allowed a league-leading 118.5 points per game last season and ranked 20th out of 30 teams in defensive efficiency.
“Wes is one of the most highly-regarded assistant coaches in the NBA and clearly separated himself from the large and diverse group of candidates we considered,” said Wizards General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “His strong record as an in-game tactician along with his attention to detail on both sides of the ball, combined with his reputation for player development and outstanding character during his 20+ years of coaching left no doubt that he was the best choice to guide our team to the next level.”
Taking the team to the next level will be a challenge. But they have a good foundation and are coming off of a post-season appearance. And Unseld has the experience, talent, and basketball pedigree to make a difference.
13 months after his father’s passing, his son is bringing the Unseld name back home in search of brighter days for the Wizards.
Let’s see if he can hang a championship banner next to his father’s jersey in the rafters.
