Washington Wizards: 3 Reasons Scott Brooks Deserves More Credit For the Wizards’ Success

The core has developed

Aside from the obvious link to Durant, most assumed that the Washington Wizards hired Brooks because of his player development skills.

For years, young players have failed to reach their full potential in Washington. From the first round picks (Vesely, Seraphin and Chris Singleton) to the second round picks (Mack), the Wizards had no success in getting the most out of their developing talent.

Wittman, as mentioned, wasn’t too keen on playing the unproven players ahead of the veterans. Their confidence was shot. If they didn’t perform immediately, they were yanked out of games and placed in the doghouse.

More importantly, Wittman never truly understood how to get the most out of his core – the players that the franchise is built around.

More from Wizards News

• It would be a mistake for the Wizards to trade for this elite sharpshooter
• When is the 2024 NBA trade deadline? Everything you need to know
• 5 early predictions for the 2023-24 Washington Wizards
• 4 most interesting Washington Wizards storylines for the 2023-24 season
• Washington Wizards: 3 teams that would be perfect fit for Danilo Gallinari

Wall was a three-time All-Star under Wittman, but something was always missing.

He always seemed to be missing a gear – almost as if he was settling for what the opposing teams were giving him.

And that’s because he – and his teammates – were.

Wittman was a proponent of “taking what the defense is giving us” – meaning, inefficient mid-range shots that don’t play into the skill-sets of the players at hand.

Wall is getting to the free throw line more this season and Brooks is emphasizing the need to attack the basket.

For the first time in his career, Wall is averaging 20+ points and 10+ assists. The team has become more reliant on him as a scorer, which has opened up the door for his teammates.

Bradley Beal is averaging 23 points and has settled a lot less than he did under Wittman, too. He’s attempting a career-high 7 threes per game. Last season, he took less than 5 per game.

He was asked to create mid-range jump shots and his field goal percentage suffered. Beal is also getting to the free throw line nearly two more times this season than he did in the season prior.

And perhaps the most convincing evidence of Brooks’ player development has been Otto Porter, who’s been one of the most efficient low-usage players in the NBA this season.

Porter is averaging a career-high 14 points and 6.4 rebounds on 53 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent from three. He’s routinely the team’s leading scorer, but that wouldn’t occur if his skills weren’t utilized correctly.

He’s also attempting a career-high four 3-point shots per game. He shot less than one three during his rookie season and made just 19 percent of them.

Next: Top 13 Wizards Coaches of All-Time

If the Washington Wizards’ core continues to develop at this rate, they could have three potential All-Stars on their roster. And that wouldn’t be the case if Brooks wasn’t their coach.