A former NBA head coach is becoming a member of the Washington Wizards group, although not as an assistant coach.
Shortly after information materialized that Hall of Fame heart and former assistant Patrick Ewing is anticipated to re-join the Wizards as an assistant coach in 2026-27, information broke that longtime head coach Steve Clifford is anticipated to be a part of the group as a training advisor.
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Clifford has served in comparable roles for each the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets, whereas he additionally served as an assistant alongside Ewing with the Orlando Magic for 5 seasons starting in 2007.
The longtime head coach coached in faculty basketball within the Nineteen Nineties earlier than transferring to the NBA as an assistant coach for 12 seasons starting in 2001 after stints with the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers. It was in Orlando when Clifford and Ewing each served as assistant coaches for 5 seasons throughout the Stan Van Gundy stint.
That connection proved to be worthwhile after Clifford was named the pinnacle coach of the Charlotte Bobcats earlier than transitioning to the Hornets throughout his tenure. At the time of Clifford’s rent in 2013, Patrick Ewing adopted him to Charlotte the place he served as an assistant coach by means of the 2016-17 season.
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Clifford then spent three seasons as the pinnacle coach of the Orlando Magic starting in 2018 earlier than re-joining Charlotte’s group for 2 seasons starting in 2022.
Over his ten seasons as a head coach within the NBA, Clifford owns a 340-461 general report with 4 playoff appearances and no sequence wins.
Yet whereas head coach, Clifford’s groups developed a pedigree for protection as Charlotte ranked among the many greatest scoring defenses within the NBA throughout his tenure, serving to him end fourth within the Coach of the Year voting in 2013-14.
The Washington Wizards are additionally anticipated to promote Cody Toppert to an assistant coach function in 2026-27 after he spent the final three seasons as the pinnacle coach of the Capital City Go-Go. The transfer is anticipated to come months after normal supervisor Will Dawkins and head coach Brian Keefe persistently praised the relationships between the teaching staffs whereas crediting the event throughout the Wizards G League affiliate.
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Washington will now look to put the items collectively throughout the teaching workers and roster for what hopes to be a extra aggressive 2026-27 common season with sights set on a return to the postseason for the primary time since 2020-21.
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