Wes Unseld Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wes Unseld Jr.

Unseld as Washington Wizards head coach, 2021
Chicago Bulls
Assistant coach
Personal information
Born	(1975-09-20) September 20, 1975 (age 49) Catonsville, Maryland, U.S.
High school	Loyola (Towson, Maryland)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
College	Johns Hopkins (1994–1997)
NBA Draft	1997 / Undrafted
Coaching career	2005–present
League	NBA
Career history
As coach:
2005–2011	Washington Wizards (assistant)
2011–2012	Golden State Warriors (assistant)
2012–2015	Orlando Magic (assistant)
2015–2021	Denver Nuggets (assistant)
2021–2024	Washington Wizards
2024–present	Chicago Bulls (assistant)

Westley Sissel Unseld Jr. (born September 20, 1975) is an American professional basketball coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His father, Wes Unseld, was a famous basketball player, coach, and executive.

Early Life and Education

Wes Unseld Jr. was born on September 20, 1975, in Catonsville, Maryland. He grew up loving basketball from a very young age. His father, Wes Unseld, is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Young Wes spent a lot of time in locker rooms with his dad before games. He also drove home with him after games. He remembers a "great family atmosphere" around the team.

He played high school basketball at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland. He played as a center on his team. Later, he played college basketball as a small forward for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays. He graduated from college in 1997.

Coaching Career Journey

Starting with the Washington Wizards (2005–2011)

After college, Unseld Jr. went straight into the NBA. He started as a scout for the Washington Wizards. At that time, his father was the team's general manager.

He had planned to go to graduate school, but decided to try basketball for a year. He ended up loving it! After eight years of scouting, he became an assistant coach.

Unseld Jr. helped create the Wizards' offensive game plan. This plan helped the team have three great offensive seasons from 2004 to 2007. He also worked as a scout and assistant coach for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.

Moving to the Golden State Warriors (2011–2012)

In 2011, Unseld Jr. left the Wizards. He joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach. He stayed with the Warriors for one season.

Time with the Orlando Magic (2012–2015)

After his time with the Warriors, Unseld Jr. became an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic in 2012. His time with the team ended in February 2015.

Success with the Denver Nuggets (2015–2021)

In 2015, his friend Tim Connelly became the general manager of the Denver Nuggets. Connelly offered Unseld Jr. a job as an assistant coach. In 2016, he became the lead assistant coach.

Unseld Jr. was given the special task of improving the team's defense. The Nuggets' defense improved a lot under his guidance. They went from being 28th in defense in 2017–18 to 10th in 2018–19.

He also helped develop star players like Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.. From 2018 to 2021, the Nuggets were among the top six teams in defensive efficiency.

Returning to the Washington Wizards (2021–2024)

On July 17, 2021, Unseld Jr. signed a four-year contract. He became the head coach of the Washington Wizards. On January 25, 2024, his role as head coach changed. He moved to a position in the team's front office.

Joining the Chicago Bulls (2024–Present)

On July 13, 2024, Unseld Jr. was hired by the Chicago Bulls. He is now an assistant coach for the team.

Personal Life

Wes Unseld Jr. is married and has two children. His family lives in Potomac, Maryland.

Head Coaching Record

See also

In Spanish: Wes Unseld Jr. para niños