Washington Wizards hire a high-profile coach endorsed by Damian Lillard
By Cem Yolbulan
The Washington Wizards continue to strengthen their coaching staff with one high-profile assistant hire after another. A day after they announced Brian Keefe as a new assistant coach, the Wizards added another highly respected coach around the league to Wes Unseld Jr’s staff in David Vanterpool.
The Washington Wizards are hiring David Vanterpool as an assistant coach, sources tell ESPN. He’ll join Wes Unseld’s staff after stops with Brooklyn, Minnesota and Portland. A native of the Washington, DC-area, Vanterpool brings a strong background in player development.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2023
Vanterpool last worked with the Brooklyn Nets, as they were the two main assistant coaches with Brian Keefe next to Steve Nash. Before then, Vanterpool had experiences with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The biggest endorsement for Vanterpool came from Damian Lillard, who he worked with for seven years in Portland. When Vanterpool didn’t get the head coach position in Minnesota in 2021, Lillard showed his support for his former coach:
How the hell do you not hire David Vanterpool and he’s right there on the bench... and has been in front office SUCCESSFULLY and on the front of a bench of a winning team SUCCESSFULLY (7 years) ... and also has played a major role in the development of a dominant backcourt smdh!
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) February 22, 2021
Vanterpool has been widely expected to make the jump to become a head coach but hasn’t had the opportunity to do so. He has interviewed for the head coaching openings in Denver, Orlando, and Cleveland. This is why it is a major get for Washington to get a coach who has head coach-worthy experience in the league.
Just like Keefe, Vanterpool is also known for his player development chops, credited for the development of the Lillard & CJ McCollum backcourt in Portland. Lillard has talked about Vanterpool’s influence in developing his leadership skills.
It’s clear that Wizards team president Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins have prioritized player development in their search for strengthening the coaching staff. This makes sense for a roster full of young players with potential.
Moreover, Vanterpool is no stranger to Washington or the Wizards organization. He grew up in the area and attended high school in Maryland. As a player, he played his lone season in the NBA with the Washington Wizards in the 2000-01 season, before having a successful career in Europe.
Interestingly, Vanterpool was involved in a controversy in a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards in January 2022. On a Wizards possession, Vanterpool accidentally intercepted a pass from Spencer Dinwiddie to Kyle Kuzma to steal the ball for his team and start a fast break. The referees missed it despite much protest from the Wizards players but the NBA later fined Vanterpool $10,000 and the Brooklyn Nets $25,000 for interfering with live play.
Now, the Washington Wizards and David Vanterpool’s paths cross once again. Hopefully this time it’s longer lived with more success and less controversy.
