After Brian Keefe took over as the Washington Wizards’ [interim coach](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/25/wes-unseld-removed-wizards-coach/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2) in January, he spent the next few months deflecting any personal questions that came his way. What did it mean, after nearly two decades in the NBA, to take control of a team for the first time? How did it feel to coach against the Boston Celtics, the team he grew up watching as a kid in Winchester, Mass.? Had he had a moment, in the middle of his frenetic first season with Washington, to take in all the change?
Keefe’s answer was usually the same: He had been too focused on getting the team on track to dwell much on his situation.
The players are still the focus. Asked about his priority for this young roster, he said continuing to develop relationships is first on his to-do list.
“We want to pour into [the players] as people, to invest into them as people first and then into their games,” Keefe said while sitting next to General Manager Will Dawkins on the dais and in front of Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and team owner Ted Leonsis in the audience. “That’s how we’re going to operate as an organization. That’s what Michael and Will believe in, and Ted — this is a relationship business. And when you develop these relationships, then you can really dig into the stuff that we need to improve on.”
To be clear, Keefe understands the Wizards’ “to improve” list is long after they finished a franchise-worst 15-67 last season, including an 8-31 record during his 39 games in charge. The 48-year-old has a vision on the court — he wants his team to play fast, share the ball and get out and run.
But to the first-time head coach, relationships are the bedrock of success. His career as an assistant has taken him through Seattle, Oklahoma City, New York, Los Angeles (with the Lakers) and Brooklyn. He has been on the coaching staff of playoff teams and of franchises in building mode.
The front office is building a Ron Rivera style country club with their old buddies from old gigs. Not a shot at the individuals, yet, but absolutely a shot at the approach and its history of success.
Joshottas
This is gonna be swept under the rug, but I’d love to know more about the other candidates they “interviewed” before settling on Keefe.
GootzMcLaren
I just like the stock!
Hagdogrobinwood
They knew when they brought him on WUJ staff he was going to be the replacement, apparently they already knew he was good at developing players and we need that aspect in all coaches we hire. The search team was a facade obviously. Let’s see if he is around when and if the team gets better.
Turbo2x
All the players posted some kind of “hell yeah” story when Keefe was announced as the coach, so I guess they like him. It seemed like Wes’ hard ass style made players chafe under his leadership.
The next 4 years don’t really matter so if they hired Keefe because he’ll keep the players happy while they’re losing, fine. I just want some semblance of organization and the willingness to shut players down when they’re going off the rails. Player empowerment is fine, but the inmates shouldn’t be running the asylum.
6 Comments
After Brian Keefe took over as the Washington Wizards’ [interim coach](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/25/wes-unseld-removed-wizards-coach/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2) in January, he spent the next few months deflecting any personal questions that came his way. What did it mean, after nearly two decades in the NBA, to take control of a team for the first time? How did it feel to coach against the Boston Celtics, the team he grew up watching as a kid in Winchester, Mass.? Had he had a moment, in the middle of his frenetic first season with Washington, to take in all the change?
Keefe’s answer was usually the same: He had been too focused on getting the team on track to dwell much on his situation.
While Keefe was more willing to talk about himself at his introductory news conference Tuesday at the swanky Pendry hotel, not much has changed as he prepares [to take charge as the 26th head coach in franchise history](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05/29/wizards-hire-brian-keefe/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5).
The players are still the focus. Asked about his priority for this young roster, he said continuing to develop relationships is first on his to-do list.
“We want to pour into [the players] as people, to invest into them as people first and then into their games,” Keefe said while sitting next to General Manager Will Dawkins on the dais and in front of Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and team owner Ted Leonsis in the audience. “That’s how we’re going to operate as an organization. That’s what Michael and Will believe in, and Ted — this is a relationship business. And when you develop these relationships, then you can really dig into the stuff that we need to improve on.”
To be clear, Keefe understands the Wizards’ “to improve” list is long after they finished a franchise-worst 15-67 last season, including an 8-31 record during his 39 games in charge. The 48-year-old has a vision on the court — he wants his team to play fast, share the ball and get out and run.
But to the first-time head coach, relationships are the bedrock of success. His career as an assistant has taken him through Seattle, Oklahoma City, New York, Los Angeles (with the Lakers) and Brooklyn. He has been on the coaching staff of playoff teams and of franchises in building mode.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/04/brian-keefe-wizards-future/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/04/brian-keefe-wizards-future/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
LOL we know that.
The front office is building a Ron Rivera style country club with their old buddies from old gigs. Not a shot at the individuals, yet, but absolutely a shot at the approach and its history of success.
This is gonna be swept under the rug, but I’d love to know more about the other candidates they “interviewed” before settling on Keefe.
I just like the stock!
They knew when they brought him on WUJ staff he was going to be the replacement, apparently they already knew he was good at developing players and we need that aspect in all coaches we hire. The search team was a facade obviously. Let’s see if he is around when and if the team gets better.
All the players posted some kind of “hell yeah” story when Keefe was announced as the coach, so I guess they like him. It seemed like Wes’ hard ass style made players chafe under his leadership.
The next 4 years don’t really matter so if they hired Keefe because he’ll keep the players happy while they’re losing, fine. I just want some semblance of organization and the willingness to shut players down when they’re going off the rails. Player empowerment is fine, but the inmates shouldn’t be running the asylum.