Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe

[doclinkin]

Of course Draymond's praise of Bub & Kyshaun was great to hear! But, most interesting to me was the last segment where he was full of praise of Jordan Poole.

That surprised me (given their history) & it impressed me too. Good stuff!

I also liked him later in the segment talking about Keefe. "And I don't know him from a can of paint. I think they found a good coach that is coaching them and teaching them. It didn't feel like we were playing against a bunch of 19 year olds, 20 year olds."

[payitforward]

Yes, absolutely! & "it's been many years since we faced a Wizards team that played this hard."

Dray is smart as h^ll; any observation he makes is likely to be of interest.

[keynote]

I dunno. I find all that talk a bit patronizing. It's the kind of stuff players say when they don't think you're a threat.

It's *exactly* how MJ and the Bulls talked about the Webber/Howard Bullets. Knowing what we know of Jordan, those quotes weren't genuine indications of respect -- 'cause when has Mike ever done that? They were a mix of condescension and toss-away compliments for the sake of appearing gracious in a low stakes setting.

[Kanyewest]

I dunno. I find all that talk a bit patronizing. It's the kind of stuff players say when they don't think you're a threat.

It's *exactly* how MJ and the Bulls talked about the Webber/Howard Bullets. Knowing what we know of Jordan, those quotes weren't genuine indications of respect -- 'cause when has Mike ever done that? They were a mix of condescension and toss-away compliments for the sake of appearing gracious in a low stakes setting.

I think MJ believed it. Game 2 was decided by 5 points. And Game 3 was decided by 1 point.

I don't think MJ foresaw Juwan Howard's lack of development, Gheorge Muresan's career ending injury, Chris Webber's run in with the police, or Rod Strickland's propensity to eat hot dogs but I can't blame him for not having a crystal ball.

[DCZards]

I dunno. I find all that talk a bit patronizing. It's the kind of stuff players say when they don't think you're a threat.

It's *exactly* how MJ and the Bulls talked about the Webber/Howard Bullets. Knowing what we know of Jordan, those quotes weren't genuine indications of respect -- 'cause when has Mike ever done that? They were a mix of condescension and toss-away compliments for the sake of appearing gracious in a low stakes setting.

I think MJ believed it. Game 2 was decided by 5 points. And Game 3 was decided by 1 point.

I don't think MJ foresaw Juwan Howard's lack of development, Gheorge Muresan's career ending injury, Chris Webber's run in with the police, or Rod Strickland's propensity to eat hot dogs but I can't blame him for not having a crystal ball.

MJ absolutely meant it. Those Bullet teams played Jordan and the Bulls tough…MJ saw their potential.

[payitforward]

In any case, I don't think there's any reason to look back at those remarks in considering what Dray had to say about Kyshaun & Bub. His sincerity was obvious. & he obviously enjoyed interacting with both guys.

[AFM]

I don't think this guy like Keefe...

Watch on YouTube

[9 and 20]

I'm happy with Keefe so far. Young guys for the most part seem to be developing well. Even Poole is playing a lot better. Kuz is still Kuz but I can't pin that on Keefe.

Picking out plays where end of the rotation players on the worst team in the league are getting burned, or where teenagers are out of position or have Donovan Mitchell catching them leaning the wrong way?? Come on now.

[AFM]

Keefe voted by players as worst coach in the NBA:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/


Tyrese Haliburton won most overrated player, although Beal got some votes as well.

[closg00]

Keefe voted by players as worst coach in the NBA:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/


Tyrese Haliburton won most overrated player, although Beal got some votes as well.

Wizards also came in 2nd place for worst organization

The Washington Wizards have not reached the conference finals since the 1978-79 season, when they were known as the Washington Bullets and were the defending NBA champions.

Washington finished this season with the league’s second-worst record. Charlotte compiled the league’s third-worst record. That recent futility, along with both franchises’ conference finals droughts, must have been on players’ minds.

It’s worth noting that these teams’ owners have felt in recent years that something was amiss. In 2023, the Wizards hired a new president of Monumental Basketball, Michael Winger, away from the Clippers, and a new general manager, Will Dawkins, away from the Thunder. Last year, the Hornets hired Jeff Peterson as their new president of basketball operations. Last week, the Pelicans fired executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, and the Kings fired general manager Monte McNair and replaced him with Scott Perry.

Some players declined to answer this question because they said they didn’t have enough reliable information to make an informed judgment. As one respondent said, “You don’t really know. You could be a losing program but still be a great organization.”

Another said: “I feel like until you’re there and you go through it, you don’t really know what’s considered a bad organization.”

[Endless Loop]

Keefe voted by players as worst coach in the NBA:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/

He was the BEST worst coach in the league. Intentionally helping the tank with "bad" good fourth quarter substitutions, etc. Did a great job, achieved all the Wizards' goals for the year, none of which had anything to do with winning games.

[nate33]

Keefe voted by players as worst coach in the NBA:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/


Tyrese Haliburton won most overrated player, although Beal got some votes as well.

Wizards also came in 2nd place for worst organization

The Washington Wizards have not reached the conference finals since the 1978-79 season, when they were known as the Washington Bullets and were the defending NBA champions.

Washington finished this season with the league’s second-worst record. Charlotte compiled the league’s third-worst record. That recent futility, along with both franchises’ conference finals droughts, must have been on players’ minds.

It’s worth noting that these teams’ owners have felt in recent years that something was amiss. In 2023, the Wizards hired a new president of Monumental Basketball, Michael Winger, away from the Clippers, and a new general manager, Will Dawkins, away from the Thunder. Last year, the Hornets hired Jeff Peterson as their new president of basketball operations. Last week, the Pelicans fired executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, and the Kings fired general manager Monte McNair and replaced him with Scott Perry.

Some players declined to answer this question because they said they didn’t have enough reliable information to make an informed judgment. As one respondent said, “You don’t really know. You could be a losing program but still be a great organization.”

Another said: “I feel like until you’re there and you go through it, you don’t really know what’s considered a bad organization.”

It honestly sounds like the players don't really have a good perspective on the inner-workings of other organizations. Players voting Keefe as the worst coach is probably just them voting for the team with the worst record in the league.

[TGW]

He's not the worst coach in the league. He's actually a decent coach that has been told to unrepentently tank.

[payitforward]

He's not the worst coach in the league. He's actually a decent coach that has been told to unrepentently tank.

Fortunately for him, he has had all the tanking tools a guy could want!

[dobrojim]

Even the guy who used to be a major knucklehead
(JP) now seems to be a lot more intelligent on
the court. Some of that probably is due to BK.

[nate33]

Even the guy who used to be a major knucklehead
(JP) now seems to be a lot more intelligent on
the court. Some of that probably is due to BK.

Yup.

I continue to support Brian Keefe and would be totally fine with bringing him back next year.

[gambitx777]

Just clicking box s . What this team has done, I mean dear god. They won almost every trade they made. They have cleaned this team up masterfully. The HC is solid. The tank was executed and we should be on turnip tic in a year.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Kanyewest]

Keefe voted by players as worst coach in the NBA:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6296394/2025/04/22/anonymous-nba-player-poll-2025-mvp-sga-jokic-analytics/


Tyrese Haliburton won most overrated player, although Beal got some votes as well.

Wizards also came in 2nd place for worst organization

The Washington Wizards have not reached the conference finals since the 1978-79 season, when they were known as the Washington Bullets and were the defending NBA champions.

Washington finished this season with the league’s second-worst record. Charlotte compiled the league’s third-worst record. That recent futility, along with both franchises’ conference finals droughts, must have been on players’ minds.

It’s worth noting that these teams’ owners have felt in recent years that something was amiss. In 2023, the Wizards hired a new president of Monumental Basketball, Michael Winger, away from the Clippers, and a new general manager, Will Dawkins, away from the Thunder. Last year, the Hornets hired Jeff Peterson as their new president of basketball operations. Last week, the Pelicans fired executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, and the Kings fired general manager Monte McNair and replaced him with Scott Perry.

Some players declined to answer this question because they said they didn’t have enough reliable information to make an informed judgment. As one respondent said, “You don’t really know. You could be a losing program but still be a great organization.”

Another said: “I feel like until you’re there and you go through it, you don’t really know what’s considered a bad organization.”

It honestly sounds like the players don't really have a good perspective on the inner-workings of other organizations. Players voting Keefe as the worst coach is probably just them voting for the team with the worst record in the league.

Maybe although possibly a former Wizard put him in. Kyle Kuzma comes to mind.

[WallToWall]

I dont think Keefe is a bad coach. He was given a mission, and a very young squad. He fulfilled the mission and provided experience to the young players. That was his job and he did it well. I bet each of those young players would not consider him the worst coach. And that is all that counts.

[montestewart]

Just clicking box s . What this team has done, I mean dear god. They won almost every trade they made. They have cleaned this team up masterfully. The HC is solid. The tank was executed and we should be on turnip tic in a year.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

Turnip tic? I just can’t keep up with the younger generation’s slang.