Wizards expect coach Brian Keefe to remain on sideline

The Washington Wizards expect to have Brian Keefe return as their coach in 2026-27, normal supervisor Will Dawkins advised reporters Thursday.

“I anticipate Brian to be here,” Dawkins mentioned when requested about Keefe’s standing throughout his end-of-season information convention.

Keefe has presided over one of many NBA’s youngest rosters in his two-plus seasons as Wizards coach, shepherding Washington via a rebuilding part and overseeing the event of a roster that featured a number of first-round picks: heart Alex Sarrguards Tre Johnson and Bub Carringtonand forwards Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley and Kyshawn George.

“We put him in a situation this season which was a little difficult,” Dawkins mentioned. “We led the NBA in starts for players under 21. I think we had 50-plus different starting lineups. So we threw a lot at him.”

Since taking on for Wes Unseld in January 2024, Keefe has gone 43-160.

This season, Washington made a pair of dramatic strikes across the commerce deadline, touchdown All-Stars guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks and Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks.

Young performed in solely 5 video games for the Wizards earlier than being shut down with a proper quadriceps and again irritation.

Davis did not play in any video games for Washington due to a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand. Davis, who’s below contract for another season, mentioned Monday that he’s dedicated to the Wizards for at the very least the 2026-27 season, joking “I love my money.”

Washington can be hoping for lottery luck to earn the No. 1 choose in a loaded draft. The Wizards completed with the NBA’s worst document this season at 17-65 and will likely be one in all three groups with a 14% likelihood on the No. 1 choose. They cannot fall any decrease within the draft than No. 5.

“We put him in a situation this season which was a little difficult when you just think about the amount of youth [and] the amount of change that we had,” Dawkins mentioned of Keefe’s efficiency.

Keefe, 50, was a longtime NBA assistant coach, spending greater than a decade in that function with the Seattle TremendousSonics, Oklahoma City Thunder (twice), New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Wizards earlier than getting his first head teaching alternative.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and The Associated Press contributed to this report.