The Washington Wizards have offered Wes Unseld Jr. the last free bench in the NBA, son of the most important figure in the Capitoline franchise. The deal will be made official in the coming days and will close out a busy coaching market that has seen eight new additions to the league.
Seven of the eight technicians who have changed their scene are of African American origin. Unseld Jr. is the last of them, but Willie Green (Pelicans), Chauncey Billups (Blazers), Nate McMillan (Hawks, Jamahl Mosley (Magic), Ime Udoka (Celtics) and Jason Kidd (Mavericks) have also added to the talent of African American origin to the competition.
Four of them are assistant coaches who will get their first chance reporting to a franchise in the NBA as head coaches.
Unseld Jr., son of Wes Unseld, NBA MVP in 1969 and Finals MVP in 1978 with Washington, grew up within the Wizards organization, first alongside his father and then on his own, working for 14 years as scout and assistant technician in the background. The past six seasons, in Denver, he became one of the league’s most renowned assistants.
With the Nuggets, Unseld Jr. was dedicated to coordinating the defensive systems in one of the teams that has aspired to the ring in recent seasons. The son of Washington myth replaces Scott Brooks on the bench, who reached the playoffs this season after five draft seasons.