Washington Wizards: Scott Brooks Deserves Most Credit For Wizards’ Historic Turnaround
By Ben Mehic
Washington Wizards seemed destined for the NBA Lottery, but Scott Brooks managed to rally his team. Now, they’re competed for second place in the East.
Under 6-feet tall, Scott Brooks walks into the Washington Wizards‘ locker room among giants, almost all of whom make more money than their head coach.
When the Wizards started off the season 2-8, Brooks was tasked with keeping that locker room – comprised of the same players that missed the NBA Playoffs last year – together.
His star player, John Wall, was coming off double-knee surgery. Wall’s relationship with Bradley Beal was questioned by the media, causing more concern about the team’s future. Ian Mahinmi, who signed a $64 million contract in the summer, was indefinitely sidelined.
Brooks’ first few months in the nation’s capital weren’t ideal, but he never complained. Instead, he continued to preach team-first and defense, even when the team didn’t seem to retain the message.
Over time, through the breakout seasons from Wall, Beal and Otto Porter, the Wizards started to gain steam.
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Washington has become the first team in the league’s history to get 15 games above .500 after starting off 2-8, according to Michael Lee of Yahoo! Sports.
Wall is on pace to make an All-NBA team for the first time in his career, while both Beal and Porter are having All-Star caliber seasons.
The additions of Brandon Jennings and Bojan Bogdanovic, along with emergence of Jason Smith and Mahinmi, have given Brooks more versatility to work with.
What could’ve been a disastrous season has culminated into the most successful run the Washington Wizards have had since 1978 – their lone championship season.
Other coaches, like Randy Wittman, have lost their voices after struggling at the beginning of seasons, but Brooks managed to turn his team around. His constantly spoke about having “no excuses,” even when key talent was sidelined with injuries.
His attention to detail has rubbed off on everybody in the locker room, including Beal, who recently expressed his appreciation for Brooks in his blog.
"Everything changed this year with the arrival of our coach, Scott Brooks. Ever since he got here, the culture has been different. Everything he does is about our team, our family. Win, lose, or draw, it’s always a collective effort. I know that sounds like something everyone says their team believes in, but it’s one thing to say it, and it’s another thing to live it.Coach also changed our approach to the game in terms of our team’s work ethic. Guys have been working hard on their games, competing about everything. Sometimes, we fight to see who’s going to get to the gym first. (Except the rookies—they have to be in there before anybody.) We’re constantly challenging each other, and that makes us all continue to get better, and want to improve."
Beal also wrote about Brooks’ willingness to hold everyone accountable, no matter who it is – Wall or the 15th player on the roster. Last year, reports surfaced that former Wizards coach Randy Wittman would play favorites, often picking and choosing when to call out players.
The entire structure of the organization has changed with Brooks in charge. The feeling and atmosphere, even, have become lighter.
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Other coaches would’ve crumbled under the pressure, but Brooks stayed the course and his team eventually made a turnaround – an unprecedented one, at that.