Wes Unseld Jr.

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Lore & Background

Wes Unseld Jr. is the son of Wes Unseld Sr., who was named NBA Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players to accomplish that feat. Unseld Sr. won an NBA championship with the Bullets in 1978 and was named Finals MVP. After his playing career, Unseld Sr. worked as a vice president, head coach, and general manager for the Bullets-Wizards organization. Wes Unseld Jr. followed his father into coaching, serving as the head coach of the Washington Wizards from 2021 to 2024. He is now an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls.

In Their Own Story

The Unseld name carries weight in basketball. Wes Unseld Sr. was known as 'The Incredible Hulk' and 'The Oak Tree' for his immense physical presence, averaging a double-double of 10.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per game over 984 NBA games. He led the NBA in rebounding in 1974–75 and in field goal percentage the following season. His son, Wes Unseld Jr., has carved his own path in the NBA as a coach, most recently taking the helm of the Washington Wizards before moving to the Chicago Bulls as an assistant.

Reader's Guide

Wes Unseld Jr. is currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. He previously served as the head coach of the Washington Wizards from 2021 to 2024. His father, Wes Unseld Sr., was a Hall of Fame player who spent his entire NBA career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, winning an NBA championship in 1978 and being named Finals MVP. Unseld Sr. was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988 and was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of all time in 1996, as well as the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

Did You Know?

• Wes Unseld Jr. is the son of Hall of Famer Wes Unseld Sr., who won NBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.
• Wes Unseld Sr. was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of all time in 1996 and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
• Wes Unseld Sr. averaged a double-double for his career: 10.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per game.
• Wes Unseld Jr. served as head coach of the Washington Wizards from 2021 to 2024.
• Wes Unseld Sr. was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.