Front-runner emerging for Wizards head-coaching job?

The only head coaching vacancy currently left in the Eastern Conference may soon be filled.

Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported on Friday that Brian Keefe is viewed as the frontrunner to become the permanent head coach of the Washington Wizards. Robbins says the team is expected to officially begin interviewing candidates for the position late this week or early next week.

The 48-year-old Keefe took over as Washington’s interim head coach after his predecessor Wes Unseld Jr. was fired midseason and reassigned to the team’s front office. Keefe has over a decade-and-a-half of assistant coaching experience, serving with the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets before joining the Wizards staff in 2023.

Keefe’s record as interim coach was admittedly rough. He went 8-31 (.205) in his 39 games after taking over. But that was actually an improvement over Unseld’s record in the first 43 games, which was 7-36 (.163).

The rebuilding Wizards have been linked to some notable coaching names over the last year or so. But it sounds like Keefe has banked enough trust and goodwill to earn pole position for the permanent job.