Wizards part ways with head coach Scott Brooks after 5 seasons

Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be anymore Earth-shaking NBA news, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Washington Wizards are parting ways with head coach Scott Brooks after being unable to come to terms on a new contract. The Wizards confirmed the news later Wednesday.

Brooks, 55, has been the Wizards' head coach since 2016, taking them to the playoffs three times in five seasons. Their most recent playoff appearance in 2021 was their first in three years, coming after two years of sub-.500 finishes. The Wizards hadn't even been able to get to a .500 record this season, and they were bounced from the first round of the playoffs in just five games by the Philadelphia 76ers. With such an inconsistent record, Brooks' job hadn't exactly been safe over the past few years, and a quick exit from the playoffs may have sealed his fate.

Washington moving on from Brooks means that there are now six head coach openings in the NBA. The New Orleans Pelicans announced earlier on Wednesday that they fired Stan Van Gundy after just one season. The Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers all fired or "parted ways" with their head coaches earlier in the playoff season.

Head coach turnover is nothing new, but Brooks' ouster means that there are now just six head coaches in the NBA who were hired before 2018.

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