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Wes Unseld Jr.

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Wes Unseld Jr.
Unseld with the Washington Wizards in 2021
Chicago Bulls
PositionAssistant Coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1975-09-20) September 20, 1975 (age 49)
Catonsville, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
High schoolLoyola (Towson, Maryland)
CollegeJohns Hopkins (1994–1997)
NBA draft1997: undrafted
PositionSmall forward
Coaching career2005–present
Career history
As coach:
2005–2011Washington Wizards (assistant)
2011–2012Golden State Warriors (assistant)
2012–2015Orlando Magic (assistant)
2015–2021Denver Nuggets (assistant)
2021–2024Washington Wizards
2024–presentChicago Bulls (assistant)

Westley Sissel Unseld Jr. (born September 20, 1975) is an American professional basketball coach who is the lead assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the son of Basketball Hall of Fame player, coach, and executive Wes Unseld.

Early life and education

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Unseld was born on September 20, 1975, and grew up in Catonsville, Maryland.[1][2][3] At a young age, he developed a close attachment to basketball; his father is Basketball Hall of Fame member Wes Unseld. From the age of five, he was in locker rooms with his father before games, and after drove home with him. As an adult, he remembers "a great family atmosphere in the locker room".[4] He played high school basketball as a center at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland.[1] Standing at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), he played as a small forward during his college basketball career with the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and graduated in 1997.[5]

Coaching career

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Washington Wizards (2005–2011)

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Unseld went directly from college to the NBA, starting as a personnel scout for the Washington Wizards, working for his father who was general manager. He had planned to go to graduate school after graduation but decided to give basketball one year to see if he would enjoy it.[6] In his ninth year, after eight years of personnel and advance scouting, he was promoted to assistant coach.[4] Unseld has been given credit for creating Washington's offensive game plan, which led to three consecutive top-ten offensive seasons from 2004 to 2007.[6] He also worked as a scout and assistant coach for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.[7]

Golden State Warriors (2011–2012)

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In 2011, Unseld Jr. left the Wizards for the Golden State Warriors after being denied a position as a front-row bench coach.[8]

Orlando Magic (2012–2015)

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After one season with the Warriors, Unseld went to the Orlando Magic as an assistant coach in 2012.[9] After a 15–37 start to the 2014–15 season Unseld was fired, along with coach Jacque Vaughn, in February, 2015.[10]

Denver Nuggets (2015–2021)

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When his lifelong friend, Tim Connelly, became general manager of the Denver Nuggets in 2015, he offered Unseld a job as an assistant coach. In 2016 he was made lead assistant coach.[11] His special assignment had been to manage a defense that had been poor; the Nuggets went from 28th in defense in 2017–18 to 10th in the 2018–19 season.[6] He has been credited with the development of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.[12] In 2019, he interviewed for the vacant Cleveland Cavaliers head coaching job, but did not get the job.[13] From 2018 until 2021, Denver ranked among the top six in defensive efficiency.[14]

Return to the Wizards (2021–2024)

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Unseld Jr. signed a four-year contract to become the head coach of the Washington Wizards on July 17, 2021.[15][16] On January 25, 2024, Unseld Jr. was relieved of his coaching duties and moved to a front office position.[17]

Chicago Bulls (2024–present)

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On July 13, 2024, Unseld was hired as an assistant coach by the Chicago Bulls.[18]

Personal life

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Unseld is married with two children. The family resides in Potomac, Maryland.

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Washington 2021–22 82 35 47 .427 4th in Southeast — — — — Missed playoffs
Washington 2022–23 82 35 47 .427 3rd in Southeast — — — — Missed playoffs
Washington 2023–24 43 7 36 .163 (fired) — — — — —
Career 207 77 130 .372   — — — —  

References

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  1. ^ a b Baker, Kent. "He's not a self-centered center Loyola's Unseld Jr. fits team concept". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Wes Unseld Jr. didn't get the Wizards job because of who his dad is. He grinded for 24 years". The Washington Post. July 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ @WashWizards (September 20, 2021). "Happy birthday to Coach Unseld!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b "Hopkins? grad Unseld went straight to the NBA". Washington Examiner. April 22, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  5. ^ Lee, Edward (July 20, 2021). "Son of a basketball legend, Wes Unseld Jr. 'paid his dues' in Baltimore before becoming Washington Wizards head coach". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c A lifelong friendship Retrieved March 24, 2020
  7. ^ Manning, Chris (May 2, 2019). "Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. to interview for Cavs head coaching job". Fear The Sword. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "Unseld Jr. expected to leave Wizards for Warriors". baltimoresun.com. July 13, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Dunlap, Evan (August 30, 2012). "Magic Name Assistant Coaches". Orlando Pinstriped Post. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  10. ^ Zillgitt, Jeff. "Jacque Vaughn fired by Orlando Magic". USA Today. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "Wes Unseld, Jr., Denver Nuggets, Lead Assistant Coach - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  12. ^ O'Donnell, Jim (August 14, 2020). "Jim O'Donnell: Is Wes Unseld Jr. the curse breaker for the Bulls?". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Cavs HC Rumors: Jordi Fernandez, Wes Unseld Jr., More Interview for Vacant Job". chatsports.com. May 11, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  14. ^ Robbins, Josh and Charania, Shams (July 2, 2021). "Wes Unseld Jr. emerges as serious candidate for Orlando Magic's coaching job". The Athletic. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Filyo, Jackson (July 17, 2021). "Wizards name Wes Unseld Jr. head coach". NBA.com. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  16. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (July 17, 2021). "Washington Wizards hire Wes Unseld Jr. as new head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "Wes Unseld Jr. Transitions to Front Office Role". NBA.com. January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Bulls announce basketball operations updates and additions". NBA.com. July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
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