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How Has Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe Affected Washington?

Washington Wizards interim head coach Brian Keefe yells from the bench against the Utah Jazz in the second half at Capital One Arena.

Washington Wizards (9-37) interim head coach Brian Keefe is 2-1 since taking over the head coaching duties after the firing of Wes Unseld Jr. last week. Since Keefe took over, the Wizards have looked like a completely different team. Washington seems more energized and has displayed more effort as a unit. Keefe served as an assistant coach for nearly 20 seasons before coming to Washington as an assistant last summer. The former Wizards assistant has worked with star players such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander throughout his career. How has Keefe affected Washington?

How Has Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe Affected Washington?

 Keefe’s Affect on Daniel Gafford

Wizards big man Daniel Gafford is the starting center and has been with the organization since 2021. Before Keefe, Gafford averaged 10.5 points and only 7.5 rebounds. Since Keefe took over (the last three games), Gafford has averaged 14.6 points and 11.6 rebounds. In Washington’s previous game against the San Antonio Spurs, Gafford tallied a career-high eight offensive rebounds (most by a Wizards player since 2017). He has been a solid anchor in the paint defensively and has started to play to his size.

The former Arkansas Razorback recorded a double-double in consecutive games (vs. Detroit and San Antonio) and averaged 1.6 blocks in the three games under Keefe.

Gafford isn’t known as a big man who can put the ball on the floor and create a shot or even be effective in transition, but his hustle and rim protection make him a valuable piece in Washington. Under Keefe, Gafford is coming into his own and has arguably been the Wizards’ most energetic player.

Keefe’s Affect on Tyus Jones

Tyus Jones arrived in D.C. via a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason. Jones is coming off a 15-point and nine-assist outing against the Spurs and made clutch plays down the stretch to help Washington win their ninth game of the season.

Since Keefe took over, Jones is averaging 13 points and 10.6 assists. Jones is his best during pick-and-roll plays, as he currently ranks in the 87th percentile. The former Duke Blue Devil gets his bread and butter inside the perimeter (floaters), and Keefe emphasizes his strengths.

In this clip, the Wizards were in a position where they do the most damage, in transition. Washington currently ranks fourth in the NBA in transition. They score an average of 25.8 points while in transition per game, which also takes into account the level of pace the team plays. As of the time of writing, Washington has the fastest pace in the association with a 103.22 pace. As the starting point guard, Jones is the catalyst of how the team operates, and he’s leaning fully into this role under Keefe.

Unseld Jr. didn’t maximize Jones’s strengths to his absolute fullest. He averaged 4.9 assists in the Wizards’ first 17 games. That average ballooned to 5.9 per game as the season progressed, but that number nearly doubled under Keefe.

Jones has started 140/589 (24%) games throughout his nine-year career and has been known as just a solid, low-turnover, reliable backup. Under Keefe, however, he looks like a formidable starting point guard who can dish and execute in the mid-range at a high level.

Keefe’s Affect On Wizards Center Marvin Bagley III

Marvin Bagley III arrived in Washington via a trade with the Detroit Pistons. Bagley has been supremely beneficial as a starter and backup for the Wizards. In seven games with Washington, Bagley averages 16.3 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 59.4% from the floor.

In the first snippet of the clip, Bagley used his ability to put the ball on the floor and make something happen. Spurs rookie forward Dominick Barlow was at Bagley’s mercy as he was quick off his triple-threat stance and aggressively attacked the basket. In the second snippet, Bagley already set up shop down low against Barlow. He spun right and used his physicality to draw another foul and cash in for an and-1 against Barlow.

When Gafford returned from concussion protocol, Bagley was relegated to the bench, and his minutes were reduced. While on the court, Bagley contributes heavily to the scoring and rebounding department.

Keefe sees Bagley’s abilities as an effective transitional scorer, rim finisher, and a solid help defender who helps lead the second unit. In the victory against San Antonio, Bagley contributed 15 points and shot  5/6 (83.3%) from the field. Bagley’s arrival was a shot in the arm for Washington, as the former No. 2 overall pick continues to try and live up to his draft status.

Keefe’s Affect on Bilal Coulibaly

Rookie forward Bilal Coulibaly has had a promising freshman season in the NBA. Coulibaly was selected seventh overall in the 2023 NBA draft. He has established himself as one of the association’s premier rookies.

The NBA announced on Tuesday that Coulibaly was selected to be a part of the 2024 Rising Stars roster.

The 19-year-old currently averages 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 46.4% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Amongst his rookie peers, Coulibaly ranks in the top five in total minutes played (1,190), steals (40), and blocks (36).

Under Keefe, Coulibaly averages 30.3 minutes per game coming off the bench. Against San Antonio, Coulibaly tallied 13 points and shot 5/6 from the field and 2/2 from the three-point line. The first-round draft pick has provided a much-needed spark in the second unit with his tenacity and defensive ability.

As mentioned, Keefe has a track record of developing young talent and with that comes a level of trust, as seen in the following clip.

In the clip, Keefe allowed Coulibaly to bring the ball up the floor and control the entire offensive possession. Coulibaly had Doug McDermott guard him at the top of the key and decided to attack the basket aggressively and fearlessly. The rookie knew McDermott didn’t stand a chance at stopping him from getting to the rim, and it led to an and-1.

This next play shows just how grimy and relentless the French rookie can be on the defensive side of the floor. Coulibaly is guarding Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, but then forward Simone Fontecchio sets a pick to free Clarkson, but to no avail. Coulibaly fights through the pick and still steals the ball from Clarkson.

The Last Word

Keefe is doing a solid job at the helm in Washington. His nearly two-decade tenure as an assistant coach, which included working with future hall-of-fame players, is showing. The “little things” matter with Keefe, and the players are buying into his approach.

Kingsley Hunter

Kingsley Hunter

Kingsley Hunter is a freelance sports writer hailing from Virginia. Kingsley is an avid fan of the NBA, NFL, and professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, reading, and fencing.

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