Wizards name Wes Unseld Jr. new coach
The Washington Wizards have reached an agreement with former Denver Nuggets assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. to replace Scott Brooks as coach, the team announced Saturday. Unseld Jr. is the son of former Washington Bullets legend Wes Unseld Sr. The agreement is a four-year deal, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Brooks and the Wizards parted ways in June after five seasons and three playoff appearances.
“Becoming a head coach in the NBA is a goal that I have pursued my entire adult life,” Unseld Jr. said 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. has been with the Nuggets since 2015 and was promoted to associate head coach last season. The Maryland native spent 14 years with the Wizards organization starting in 1997 and moved from scout to assistant coach. He spent a season on to the Golden State Warriors staff in 2011 before joining the Orlando Magic staff for three seasons.
Unseld Jr. is credited for his role in helping the development of MVP Nikola Jokic and rising star Jamal Murray in Denver. He clearly comes in with an emotional tie to the organization and fans due to his father, but he’s also known for his player development and talent evaluation from his scouting days.
The team specifically looked for an experienced assistant who had knowledge of the franchise and had a defensive background after the team struggled on that end of the floor throughout the season. The Wizards ranked dead last in the league last season, allowing 118.5 points per game.
“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 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.”
The Wizards now join the Celtics, Magic, Mavericks, Pacers and Trail Blazers as teams to hire new coaches since the end of the season. The Hawks promoted Nate McMillian from interim coach to head coach and the Pelicans are, reportedly, close to hiring Suns assistant Willie Green.
The Nuggets have been one of the league’s biggest success stories in recent seasons, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals twice and the conference finals once in the last three years with homegrown stars in Jokic and Murray. Jokic was a second-round pick in 2014 and became the lowest draft pick (No. 41) to be named league MVP. Jamal Murray, the No. 7 pick in 2016, had a breakout performance in the 2020 playoffs and averaged a career-high 21.2 points this season before tearing his ACL in April. Many expected the Nuggets to fall off afterward, but they still finished third in the Western Conference with a 47-25 record and defeated Portland 4-2 in the first round before getting swept by the conference champion Phoenix Suns.