Wes Unseld Jr. facts for kids
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Unseld with the Washington Wizards in 2021
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| Chicago Bulls | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 20, 1975 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 the main assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wes Unseld Jr. is the son of Basketball Hall of Fame player, coach, and team leader, Wes Unseld.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wes Unseld Jr. was born on September 20, 1975, in Catonsville, Maryland. He grew up loving basketball, largely because his father, Wes Unseld, was a famous player in the Basketball Hall of Fame. From the young age of five, Wes Jr. spent time in locker rooms with his dad before games. He remembers these times as having a "great family atmosphere."
High School and College Years
Wes Jr. played high school basketball as a center at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland. Even though he was 6 feet 4 inches tall, he played as a small forward in college. He played for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays basketball team and finished college in 1997.
Coaching Career Highlights
After college, Wes Unseld Jr. went straight into the NBA. He first worked as a scout for the Washington Wizards. His father was the general manager there at the time. Wes Jr. had planned to go to graduate school, but he decided to try basketball for a year. He ended up loving it!
Washington Wizards (2005–2011)
After eight years of scouting players and teams, Wes Jr. became an assistant coach for the Wizards. He helped create the team's offensive game plan. This plan helped the Wizards have one of the top ten offenses in the league for three years in a row (2004 to 2007). He also worked as a scout and assistant coach for the Washington Mystics, a women's basketball team in the WNBA.
Golden State Warriors (2011–2012)
In 2011, Wes Unseld Jr. left the Wizards. He joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach. He stayed with the Warriors for one season.
Orlando Magic (2012–2015)
After his time with the Warriors, Wes Jr. moved to the Orlando Magic in 2012. He worked there as an assistant coach. In February 2015, he and the head coach were let go from their jobs.
Denver Nuggets (2015–2021)
In 2015, his friend Tim Connelly became the general manager for the Denver Nuggets. Tim offered Wes Jr. a job as an assistant coach. By 2016, he became the lead assistant coach. He was given the important task of improving the team's defense. The Nuggets' defense went from being 28th in the league in 2017–18 to 10th in 2018–19.
Wes Jr. is also known for helping star players like Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. get better. From 2018 to 2021, the Nuggets were one of the top six teams in defensive strength. In 2019, he interviewed for a head coaching job with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he did not get it.
Return to the Wizards (2021–2024)
On July 17, 2021, Wes Unseld Jr. signed a four-year contract to become the head coach of the Washington Wizards. On January 25, 2024, he was no longer the head coach. He then moved into a different role in the team's front office.
Chicago Bulls (2024–Present)
On July 13, 2024, Wes Unseld Jr. was hired as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls.
Personal Life
Wes Unseld Jr. is married and has two children. His family lives in Potomac, Maryland.
See also
In Spanish: Wes Unseld Jr. para niños
