Wizards training update: Nuggets’ Wes Unseld Jr. hired as new Washington head coach, report says

After parting ways with Scott Brooks earlier this month after five seasons with the franchise, the Washington Wizards were the last team in the line when it came to hiring a head coach. Now they have found their man. The team hires Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. as their next head coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Milwaukee Bucks assistants Darvin Ham and Charles Lee were also finalists for the job, but it appears Washington opted for Unseld. All three coaches are vying for other head coaching positions in the league. Unseld will now inherit a Wizards roster that is under pressure to win right now with star veterans Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook.

Unseld has ties to the Wizards as he has already spent 13 seasons with the organization, most of which have been spent as an assistant coach in charge of player development. Additionally, his father, the late Wes Unseld, is arguably the most important person in franchise history. He spent 13 seasons with the team as a player, winning the MVP title in 1969 and leading the then Bullets to their only title in 1978. He later served as head coach of team and worked at the front office.

Most recently, Unseld has spent the past six seasons coaching under Mike Malone and has been tasked with leading the team’s defensive plan. He was elevated to associate head coach this season, after five years as an assistant. He also spent time as an assistant with the Orlando Magic and the Golden State Warriors.

Focusing on an assistant to fill the vacant head coach position in Washington indicates the Wizards are ready to give a first-time head coach a chance to help rebuild this squad as playoff contenders. playoffs. However, there is pressure in DC to be more than just a playoff team, as Beal’s future with the team has been ticking over the past few years. There will be great expectations placed on Unseld’s shoulders and he will be expected to win right away with the roster the Wizards already have.