On Thursday, the Washington Wizards revealed that Head Coach Wes Unseld Jr. will be stepping down from his coaching role to take on a new position within the team’s front office.
Unseld Jr., at the helm for Wizards’ 2.5 seasons, exits with a 77-130 coaching record.
Unseld expressed gratitude for his time as head coach, stating, “I am grateful to have served as head coach of the Washington Wizards. I look forward to this new opportunity to work toward our organization’s continued progress.”
Wes Unseld Jr. is out as Washington Wizards head coach and will move to a front office role. pic.twitter.com/C9C6TORp6K
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 25, 2024
The Wizards wasted no time in outlining their plan for the coaching transition.
Later on Thursday, the team is expected to name an interim head coach, and a comprehensive search for Unseld’s permanent replacement will take place during the offseason.
Wes Unseld Jr.’s NBA Coaching Journey
Starting his career in the NBA right out of college, he initially served as a personnel scout for the Washington Wizards, working under his father’s leadership as the general manager.
Over the years, he climbed the ranks, earning credit for developing Washington’s offensive game plan during a successful stretch from 2004 to 2007.
His coaching experience extends beyond the NBA, including stints with the Golden State Warriors, the Orlando Magic, and a notable tenure with the Denver Nuggets from 2015 to 2021.
During his time in Denver, Unseld contributed to the team’s defensive improvement and played a role in the development of key players like Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
Unseld returned to the Washington Wizards in 2021, signing a four-year contract as the head coach.
However, the 2023-24 NBA season proved challenging for the team, finishing with a record of 7 wins and 36 losses, resulting in a win percentage of .163. The Wizards ranked 20th in points scored, accumulating a total of 4953 points.
Unfortunately, they ended up at the bottom of their division and 14th out of 15 teams in the broader conference standings. The team did not advance to the playoffs, maintaining a playoff record of 0 wins and 0 losses.
