Wes Unseld Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Wes Unseld Jr.
Unseld as Washington Wizards head coach, 2021
Chicago Bulls
TitleAssistant coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1975-09-20) September 20, 1975 (age 50)
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
Coaching
2005–2011Washington Wizards (assistant)
2011–2012Golden State Warriors (assistant)
2012–2015Orlando Magic (assistant)
2015–2021Denver Nuggets (assistant)
2021–2024Washington Wizards
2024–presentChicago Bulls (assistant)
Stats at NBA.comLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Stats at Basketball ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Stats at Basketball ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Westley Sissel Unseld Jr. (born September 20, 1975) is an American professional basketball coach who is an 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

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]

Washington Wizards (2005–2011)

[edit | edit source]

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)

[edit | edit source]

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)

[edit | edit source]

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 head coach Jacque Vaughn, in February, 2015.[10]

Denver Nuggets (2015–2021)

[edit | edit source]

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)

[edit | edit source]

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)

[edit | edit source]

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

Personal life

[edit | edit source]

Unseld is married with two children. The family resides in Hinsdale, Illinois.

Head coaching record

[edit | edit source]
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

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ a b c A lifelong friendship Retrieved March 24, 2020
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]
  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Wes_Unseld_Jr.&oldid=24781708"