“I think he really galvanized the whole group… we weren’t very competitive as a group in that first half of the season. There were many games where the game ended at halftime, the game ended (for) the first six minutes of the second half and we started to compete. [under Keefe]. And that’s the most important thing, right?”
This is how Kyle Kuzma described interim coach Brian Keefe, who took over the Wizards when Wes Unseld Jr. was fired mid-season (to quote by Josh Robins of The Atheltic). That was enough for the Wizards front office, which on Wednesday ended its search for a new head coach by removing the interim tag and making Keefe the franchise’s latest head coach.
“We are excited to have Brian become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said in a statement announcing the hire. “As a leader of the organization, he will continue to positively grow and invest in the development of our players. His extensive experience will help drive our team forward as we build toward sustained, long-term success.”
Keefe didn’t rack up many wins as interim coach of the Wizards (8-31), but he took over a talent-depleted roster that traded center Daniel Gafford at the deadline and dealt with injuries to players like Kuzma at the deadline. half of the season. What the Wizards said they wanted in a new coach was someone who connected with the players — and the players, to a man, said Keefe did that — and someone who could develop talent and have that begin to translate into more success on the court.
The Wizards are a squad that is going through changes. Lots of change. The team has the second pick in June’s NBA draft, as well as young talent like Deni Avdija and rookie Bilal Coulibaly, but there is still a lot to be built on the squad. The Wizards are expected to once again check the trade market this summer for Kuzma, looking to bring back picks and young players to help with the rebuild, and they could do the same with Jordan Poole (although, after a rough season for the former -Warrior the market for your services may be scarce). The Wizards are finally going all-in on rebuilding rather than looking for short-term solutions. It’s the right decision, but it will take time.
Keefe will have a chance to lead this rebuild.
