The Washington Wizards employed Brian Keefe as their coach Wednesday, sticking with the person who led the group on an interim foundation from late January till the top of the season.
Keefe was in his first season as an assistant coach for the Wizards when he was promoted to interim head coach on Jan. 25, changing Wes Unseld Jr.
Washington was 7-36 on the time of the change and went 8-31 the remainder of the best way.
“We’re excited for Brian to turn out to be our subsequent head coach. Brian is a confirmed motivator and connector of individuals,” Wizards basic supervisor Will Dawkins mentioned. “As a pacesetter within the group, he’ll proceed to positively develop and make investments into the event of our gamers. His wealth of expertise will assist transfer our group ahead as we construct for long-term sustained success.”
Keefe was an assistant for Oklahoma Metropolis when the Thunder reached the NBA Finals in 2012. Keefe joined the Wizards after a few seasons with Brooklyn.
“I sit up for persevering with to work with our gamers and serving to them develop and develop,” Keefe mentioned. “As a group, we’re dedicated to a collaborative strategy to construct an surroundings of accountability and arduous work that permits us to enhance on daily basis.”
The Wizards broke up their core — one which wasn’t undertaking a lot — final offseason after they traded Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. The end result was predictable: Washington completed with a franchise-record 67 losses.
The Wizards have the second choose within the June 26-27 draft — in addition to the twenty sixth and 51st general alternatives — but it surely’s unclear whether or not there is a generational expertise obtainable who can expedite Washington’s rebuild. The group hasn’t made a top-5 choose since 2013, when it chosen Otto Porter Jr.
Washington hasn’t superior previous the second spherical of the playoffs since 1979. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 22.2 factors per sport final season, and Jordan Poole can present occasional scoring bursts. Washington took Bilal Coulibaly with the No. 7 choose in final 12 months’s draft.
Protection has been an issue; the Wizards allowed a league-worst 123.0 factors per sport final season, the sixth-worst mark in a single season in NBA historical past.
Now Keefe can have an opportunity to organize for a full season in cost as an alternative of being thrust right into a head-coaching position close to the halfway level.
“BK did an amazing job,” Poole mentioned shortly after the top of the season. “Credit score to him for rallying our guys collectively by a protracted season, taking part in gamers to their strengths all throughout our group and protecting guys collectively. He did a very good job of permitting me to play my true place and play extra on ball. So he did a very good job. Credit score to him — it was a tricky transfer instantly, being in the midst of the season.”
Though Washington’s file spoke for itself, there have been some optimistic feedback in regards to the group’s inside tradition when gamers did exit interviews with the media.
“I’ve by no means felt nearer with a bunch of fellows than I do with these guys,” guard Landry Shamet mentioned. “Profitable can masks a number of stuff that is happening in a number of different organizations. I feel it was encouraging to see that there is a actual vested curiosity in constructing a basis of neighborhood and connectedness right here, and that positively was seen.”
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
