After leading the Wizards’ locker room on an interim basis since January, Brian Keefe has been officially named head coach.
Keefe took over after Wes Unseld Jr. was let go following a dismal 7-36 start to the year. From January 25th onward, Keefe managed an 8-31 record for the rest of the season.
General Manager’s Confidence:
Wizards GM Will Dawkins believes in Keefe’s abilities. “We are excited for Brian to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” he said.
Wizards hire interim coach Brian Keefe as full-time head coach
— VCP Hoops (@VCPHoops)
Dawkins added that Keefe will continue to develop players and help build long-term success for the team.
Keefe’s Coaching Journey:
Brian Keefe has extensive coaching experience, starting as an assistant with Oklahoma City during their 2012 NBA Finals run. He also spent time in Brooklyn before joining Washington.
“I look forward to continuing to work with our players and helping them grow and develop,” said Keefe. “As a team, we are committed to a collaborative approach to build an environment of accountability and hard work that allows us to improve every day.”
This past season was tough for the Wizards after trading stars Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis last summer. They ended with a franchise-record 67 losses but have high hopes with the second pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Player Support:
The Wizards roster trusts Brian Keefe completely, believing he did great rallying them last season despite challenges.
“BK did a tremendous job,” Jordan Poole commented in April. “Credit to him for rallying our guys together through a long season… He did a really good job of allowing me to play my true position.”
I think it’s amazing how much respect players have for him!
Many players across the league respect Keefe, including Kevin Durant who praised him as his mentor from over ten years ago. Landry Shamet also spoke highly of him during exit interviews two months ago.
“I’ve never felt closer with a group of guys than I do with these guys,” Shamet said. He appreciated how winning wasn’t just about masking issues but building real community within the team.
