Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard confirmed Scott Brooks will return as head coach next season, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
Brooks will enter the final year of a five-year contract next season. When he was hired, Brooks was expected to take the budding Wizards to the next level. In his first season, the Wizards won 49 games and were one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, the wins total has declined each of the last three season. That’s largely due to the injuries to superstar John Wall.
This season Washington entered their rebuilding season and was 24-40 before the coronavirus pandemic halted the NBA season. The Wizards were part of the 22-team bubble restart in Orlando. But, the team was the first to be eliminated from playoff contention, losing their first seven games before pulling off a win in their season finale against a undermanned Boston Celtics.
Brooks has a .469 win percentage as the Wizards coach in four seasons.
Next season, the expectations are a bit higher as Wall will return from his torn Achilles heel injury that forced him to miss all of this season. Bradley Beal has blossomed into a superstar of his own this season, averaging 30.5 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds. Beal sat out of the eight-game NBA restart with a shoulder injury.
The outlook is expected to be different with the dynamic duo in the backcourt together again. Additionally, Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown, Jr. and Jerome Robinson development progressed towards the end of the season and will be looking to contribute greatly next season.
The Wizards will look to re-sign sharpshooter Davis Bertans and add a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Scott Brooks will have the opportunity to leading Washington back to relevancy in his last year under contract.
