View source for Wes Unseld

{{short description|American basketball player and coach (1946–2020)}}
{{About|the former basketball player, coach and executive|his son and active coach|Wes Unseld Jr.}}
{{redirect|Unseld|others with the surname|Unseld (surname)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Wes Unseld
| image = Wes Unseld 1975.jpeg
| caption = Unseld with the [[Washington Bullets]] in 1975
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|3|14}}
| birth_place = [[Louisville, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|6|2|1946|3|14}}
| death_place = [[Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 245
| high_school = [[Seneca High School MCA|Seneca]] (Louisville, Kentucky)
| college = [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville]] (1965–1968)
| draft_year = 1968
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 2
| draft_team = [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973)|Baltimore Bullets]]
| career_start = 1968
| career_end = 1981
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| career_number = 41
| coach_start = 1987
| coach_end = 1994
| years1 = {{nbay|1968|start}}–{{nbay|1980|end}}
| team1 = [[Washington Wizards|Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets]]
| cyears1 = {{nbay|1987|full=y}}
| cteam1 = Washington Bullets (assistant)
| cyears2 = {{nbay|1987|end}}–{{nbay|1993|end}}
| cteam2 = Washington Bullets
| highlights = 
* [[NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|1978}})
* [[NBA Finals MVP]] ({{nbafy|1978}})
* [[NBA Most Valuable Player]] ({{nbay|1968|end}})
* 5× [[NBA All-Star]] ({{nasg|1969}}, {{nasg|1971}}–{{nasg|1973}}, {{nasg|1975}})
* [[All-NBA First Team]] (1969)
* [[NBA Rookie of the Year]] (1969)
* [[NBA All-Rookie First Team]] (1969)
* [[List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders|NBA rebounding leader]] ({{nbay|1974|end}})
* [[NBA anniversary team]] ([[50 Greatest Players in NBA History|50th]], [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team|75th]])
* No. 41 [[Washington Wizards#Retired numbers|retired by Washington Wizards]]
* [[J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award]] (1975)
* 2× Consensus first-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] ([[1967 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1967]], [[1968 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1968]])
* 3× First-team All-[[Missouri Valley Conference|MVC]] (1966–1968)
* No. 31 [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball#Retired numbers|retired by Louisville Cardinals]]
* First-team [[Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team|''Parade'' All-American]] (1964)
| stats_league = NBA
| stat1label = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value = 10,624 (10.8 ppg)
| stat2label = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value = 13,769 (14.0 rpg)
| stat3label = [[Assist (basketball)|Assists]]
| stat3value = 3,822 (3.9 apg)
| cstats_league1 = NBA
| cwin1 = 202
| closs1 = 345
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalCountry|{{flagicon|USA}} [[United States men's national basketball team|United States]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1967 Pan American Games|1967 Winnipeg]]|[[Basketball at the 1967 Pan American Games|Team Competition]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1967 Summer Universiade|1967 Tokyo]]|[[Basketball at the 1967 Summer Universiade|Team Competition]]}}
| HOF_player = wes-unseld
| CBBASKHOF_year = 2006
}}
'''Westley Sissel Unseld Sr.''' (March 14, 1946{{spnd}}June 2, 2020) was an American professional [[basketball]] player, coach and executive. He spent his entire [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) career with the [[Washington Wizards|Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets]]. Unseld played [[college basketball]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville Cardinals]] and was selected with the second overall pick by the Bullets in the [[1968 NBA draft]]. Known as "The Incredible Hulk" and "The Oak Tree" because of his immense physical presence, Unseld was named the [[NBA Most Valuable Player]] and [[NBA Rookie of the Year]] during his rookie season and joined [[Wilt Chamberlain]] as the only two players in NBA history to accomplish the feat. He won an [[NBA championship]] with the Bullets in [[1978 NBA Finals|1978]] and the [[Finals MVP]] award to go with it.

After his retirement as a player in 1981,<ref name=hesout>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=laFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ETIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2393%2C1275532 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |agency=Associated Press |title=Bullets' Wes Unseld: He's out |date=March 19, 1981 |page=6B |access-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602044052/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=laFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ETIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2393%2C1275532 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unseld worked with the Bullets-Wizards organization as a vice president, head coach and general manager.

Unseld was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1988 and the [[National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/wes-unseld-hall-fame-center-150844417.html |title=Wes Unseld: Hall of Fame center dies aged 74 |website=sports.yahoo.com |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603015442/https://sports.yahoo.com/wes-unseld-hall-fame-center-150844417.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |title=Hall of Famer, NBA Legend Wes Unseld Dies at Age 74 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2894471-hall-of-famer-nba-legend-wes-unseld-dies-at-age-74 |publisher=[[Bleacher Report]] |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603015443/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2894471-hall-of-famer-nba-legend-wes-unseld-dies-at-age-74 |url-status=live }}</ref> His son, [[Wes Unseld Jr.]], is currently an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls.

==Early life==
Unseld was born in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], to Charles and Cornelia Unseld as one of nine children.<ref name=encyclopedia>{{cite web |title=Unseld, Wes 1946– |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/unseld-wes-1946 |website=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=August 13, 2020 |date=August 11, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602045403/https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/unseld-wes-1946 |url-status=live }}</ref> His father was a [[prizefighter]], construction worker, oilman, and [[baseball]] player for the [[Indianapolis Clowns]].<ref name=encyclopedia />

Unseld starred for the [[Seneca High School MCA|Seneca High School]] team that won [[Sweet Sixteen (KHSAA State Basketball Championship)|Kentucky state championships]] in 1963 and 1964. He was recruited by over 100 colleges,{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} and became the first African-American athlete to be offered an athletic scholarship to the [[University of Kentucky]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]].<ref name=encyclopedia /> Integration leaders in Louisville tried to persuade Unseld to attend the University of Kentucky and stated that "it would be good for Kentucky and the [[Southeastern Conference]]," but Unseld opted to stay in town and attend the [[University of Louisville]], which was [[racially integrated]].<ref name=encyclopedia /><ref>{{cite web |title=Adolph Rupp: Fact and Fiction |url=http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/rupp.html |website=bigbluehistory.net |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322205800/http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/rupp.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==College career==
[[File:Wes Unseld 1967.jpeg|thumb|left|150px|Unseld grabs a rebound during a 1967 game with the [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville Cardinals]]]]
Unseld played center for the school's freshman team and averaged 35.8 points and 23.6 rebounds over 14 games. He lettered for Louisville as a sophomore (1965–66), junior (1966–67), and senior (1967–68), scored 1,686 points (20.6 average) and grabbed 1,551 rebounds (18.9 average) over 82 games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-louisville/article243195586.html |title=Wes Unseld, one of the all-time greats from Kentucky, dies at 74 |publisher=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602044055/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-louisville/article243195586.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He led the [[Missouri Valley Conference]] in rebounding all three years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marzzacco |first=Michael |title=Wes Unseld: Laying the Foundation for Winning Basketball in DC |url=https://thesportsdaily.com/2020/06/02/wes-unseld-laying-the-foundation-for-winning-basketball-in-dc/ |newspaper=The Sports Daily |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919044917/https://thesportsdaily.com/2020/06/02/wes-unseld-laying-the-foundation-for-winning-basketball-in-dc/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rutherford |first=Mike |title=Louisville legend Wes Unseld dead at age 74 |url=https://www.cardchronicle.com/2020/6/2/21278009/louisville-legend-wes-unseld-dead-at-age-74 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |website=CardChronicle.com |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610211001/https://www.cardchronicle.com/2020/6/2/21278009/louisville-legend-wes-unseld-dead-at-age-74 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Unseld earned [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|NCAA All-American]] honors in [[1967 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1967]] and [[1968 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1968]] and led Louisville to a 60–22 record during his collegiate career, making trips to the [[National Invitation Tournament]] (NIT) in [[1966 National Invitation Tournament|1966]] and the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] in [[1967 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|1967]] and [[1968 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|1968]]. He was a member of [[Alpha Phi Alpha]] [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity]].<ref name="whas11-obit">{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Bethanni |title=Born and raised in Louisville, Unseld was an All-American before spending his NBA career with the Washington Bullets. |url=https://www.whas11.com/article/sports/wes-unseld-uofl-basketball-star-nba-hall-of-fame-bullets-coach-dies-westley-sissel-unseld/417-d49e6790-bdb8-4888-81d0-b90007b96bc7 |website=whas11.com |access-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603141722/https://www.whas11.com/article/sports/wes-unseld-uofl-basketball-star-nba-hall-of-fame-bullets-coach-dies-westley-sissel-unseld/417-d49e6790-bdb8-4888-81d0-b90007b96bc7 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020}}</ref>

==Professional career==
[[File:Wes Unseld and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.jpeg|thumb|right|Unseld guarding [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] of the [[Milwaukee Bucks]] {{circa}} 1971]]
Unseld was selected as the second overall pick by the [[1968–69 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore Bullets]] in the [[1968 NBA draft]].<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/u/unselwe01.html|title=Wes Unseld|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 24, 2012|archive-date=March 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301150629/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/u/unselwe01.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also selected by his hometown [[Kentucky Colonels]] of the [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA) in the 1968 ABA draft.<ref name=abrams>{{cite book |last1=Abrams |first1=Brett L. |last2=Mazzone |first2=Raphael |title=The Bullets, the Wizards, and Washington, DC, Basketball |date=2013 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=87}}</ref> Unseld was offered contracts by both teams but opted to sign with the Bullets of the more successful NBA despite them allegedly offering less money.<ref name=abrams /> After signing Unseld, Bullets owner [[Earl Foreman]] proclaimed that "this contract represents the most attractive and rewarding contract that has or will be signed by any player in the NBA this year."<ref name=abrams />

In his first regular season game, Unseld recorded eight points and 22 rebounds in a 124–116 Baltimore win over the [[1968–69 Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons at Baltimore Bullets Box Score, October 16, 1968|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196810160BAL.html|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329075259/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196810160BAL.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 19, Unseld recorded his first double-double of his career after recording 13 points and 20 rebounds in a 124–121 loss to the [[1968–69 Philadelphia 76ers season|Philadelphia 76ers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196810190BAL.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers at Baltimore Bullets Box Score, October 19, 1968|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329075301/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196810190BAL.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 22, Unseld recorded 20 points and a career-high 29 rebounds in a 121–110 loss to the 76ers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196811220PHI.html|title=Baltimore Bullets at Philadelphia 76ers Box Score, November 22, 1968|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329075258/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/196811220PHI.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a rookie, Unseld helped lead the Bullets (which had finished in last place in the Eastern division the previous year) to a {{winpct|57|25|record=y}} record and a division title. Unseld averaged 18.2 rebounds per game that year, and joined fellow future Hall of Famer [[Wilt Chamberlain]] to become the second player ever to win the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] and the [[Most Valuable Player Award]] in the same year.<ref name="whas11-obit" /> Unseld was also named to the [[NBA All-Rookie First Team]], and also claimed the ''[[Sporting News]]'' MVP that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/tsn_mvp.html |title=NBA & ABA Sporting News MVP Award Winners |website=basketball-reference.com |access-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204152010/https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/tsn_mvp.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Unseld was one of the best defensive players of his era, and in the {{nbay|1974}}<!--1975-->, he led the NBA in rebounding. The following season, he led the NBA in field goal percentage with a .561 percentage.<ref name="stats"/>

First with star ball-handler [[Earl Monroe]] and renowned two-way player [[Gus Johnson (basketball)|Gus Johnson]], and later with dominant center-turned-power-forward [[Elvin Hayes]] and experienced wing [[Bob Dandridge]], Unseld played a key role in the Bullets making four [[NBA Finals]] appearances from 1971 to 1979, and won the championship in [[1977–78 Washington Bullets season|1978]] over the [[1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle SuperSonics]], in which he was named the Finals MVP. He ended his playing career in March [[1980–81 Washington Bullets season|1981]],<ref name=hesout/> and his No. 41 jersey was retired by the Bullets shortly thereafter.<ref name="nba-obit">{{cite web |title=Remembering Wes Unseld |url=https://www.nba.com/wizards/remembering-wes-unseld-060220 |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602220420/https://www.nba.com/wizards/remembering-wes-unseld-060220 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Player profile==
Famed for his rebounding, bone-jarring picks and ability to ignite a fast break with his crisp, accurate outlet passes, Unseld made up for his lack of height as a center with brute strength and sheer determination. In 984 NBA games – all with the Bullets – Unseld averaged a [[double-double]] in points and rebounds, with averages of 10.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per game. He also averaged 3.9 assists, excellent for a center, in the 36 minutes he played per game. Unseld was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1988, and in 1996, he was named as one of the NBA's [[50 Greatest Players]] of all time.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/unseld_summary.html|title=Wes Unseld|encyclopedia=NBA Encyclopedia Playoff Edition|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|access-date=May 24, 2012|archive-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616145950/http://www.nba.com/history/players/unseld_summary.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, he was named on the [[NBA 75th Anniversary Team]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA 75th Anniversary Team announced |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75th-anniversary-team-announced |website=NBA.com |access-date=October 28, 2021 |date=October 21, 2021 |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020223835/https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75th-anniversary-team-announced |url-status=live }}</ref> To commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Unseld as the 60th greatest player in NBA history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aldridge |first1=David |title=NBA 75: At No. 60, Wes Unseld brought force and an uncompromising ethic: 'If you're going to do it, do it right' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2952541/2021/11/22/nba-75-at-no-60-wes-unseld-brought-force-and-an-uncompromising-ethic-if-youre-going-to-do-it-do-it-right/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=March 7, 2023 |date=November 22, 2021 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602044048/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2952541/2021/11/22/nba-75-at-no-60-wes-unseld-brought-force-and-an-uncompromising-ethic-if-youre-going-to-do-it-do-it-right/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Executive and coaching career==
After his retirement as a player, Unseld wasn't nearly as successful as a head coach and executive. In 1981, he moved into a front office position as Bullets vice president for six years before being named head coach in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|title=N.b.a.; Unseld Is Named Bullets' New Coach|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/04/sports/nba-unseld-is-named-bullets-new-coach.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=January 4, 1988|archive-date=March 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328091524/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/04/sports/nba-unseld-is-named-bullets-new-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He resigned following the 1994 season with a 202–345 record (.369 win percentage) in the regular season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bullets' Unseld Quits as Coach|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/25/sports/bullets-unseld-quits-as-coach.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=April 25, 1994|archive-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215024100/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/25/sports/bullets-unseld-quits-as-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Terry|first1=Mike|title=Unseld resigns after 7 seasons as Bullets coach|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/25/unseld-resigns-after-7-seasons-as-bullets-coach/ae597047-289c-4866-b403-0598fe2175b6/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=February 14, 2018|date=April 25, 1994|archive-date=March 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330212514/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/25/unseld-resigns-after-7-seasons-as-bullets-coach/ae597047-289c-4866-b403-0598fe2175b6/|url-status=live}}</ref> Unseld became the Bullets' general manager in 1996 (they were renamed to the Wizards in 1997) and served in that role for seven years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Westley S. Unseld |url=https://louisville.edu/artsandsciences/about/hallofhonor/inductees/unseld.html |website=University of Louisville |access-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926230311/http://louisville.edu/artsandsciences/about/hallofhonor/inductees/unseld.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His team advanced to the playoffs once during his tenure as GM and failed to win a game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unseld takes leave on 'my own terms' |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/news/2003/0502/1548536.html |website=ESPN |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=May 2, 2003 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814061958/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/2003/0502/1548536.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Unseld's wife, Connie, opened Unselds School in 1979. A [[coed]] [[private school]] located in southwest [[Baltimore]], it has a [[daycare]] program, [[nursery school]] and a [[kindergarten]]-to-[[eighth grade]] curriculum. Connie and daughter Kimberly served as teachers at the school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20040227/ai_n10059665/|title=Eye on the Entrepreneur – Silver anniversary for Unseld's School|work=The Daily Record|location=Baltimore|date=February 27, 2004|access-date=December 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516035513/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20040227/ai_n10059665|archive-date=May 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Neale |first1=Barrett |title=Unselds Are Still Heroes, But In Scholastic Arena |url=http://www.pressboxonline.com/story/id/7100 |access-date=June 3, 2020 |issue=156 |publisher=Press Box (Baltimore, Maryland) |date=December 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804110006/http://www.pressboxonline.com/story/id/7100 |archive-date=August 4, 2018}}</ref> Unseld worked as an office manager and head basketball coach.

Unseld was the godfather of [[Utah Jazz]] forward [[Kevin Love]], whose father [[Stan Love (basketball)|Stan Love]] was a former teammate. His son [[Wes Unseld Jr.]] served as the head coach of the Wizards from 2021 to 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wojnarowski |first1=Adrian |title=Washington Wizards hire Wes Unseld Jr. as new head coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31833410/wes-unseld-jr-reaches-4-year-deal-washington-wizards-coach-sources-say |website=ESPN |date=July 17, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2021 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021151954/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31833410/wes-unseld-jr-reaches-4-year-deal-washington-wizards-coach-sources-say |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Death==
Unseld died on June 2, 2020, of complications from pneumonia among other physical ailments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement from the Unseld family |url=https://www.nba.com/wizards/unseld-family-statement |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603081430/https://www.nba.com/wizards/unseld-family-statement |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sheinin1">{{cite news |last1=Sheinin |first1=Dave |title=Wes Unseld, Hall of Famer instrumental in Washington's only NBA title, dies at 74 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/wes-unseld-hall-of-famer-instrumental-in-washingtons-only-nba-title-dies-at-74/2020/06/02/af6f59e2-a4d7-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=June 2, 2020 |date=June 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602194155/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/wes-unseld-hall-of-famer-instrumental-in-washingtons-only-nba-title-dies-at-74/2020/06/02/af6f59e2-a4d7-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=June 2, 2020|title=Wes Unseld, Powerful Hall of Fame N.B.A. Center, Dies at 74|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/sports/basketball/wes-unseld-dead.html|access-date=June 6, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200603062307/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/sports/basketball/wes-unseld-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==NBA career statistics==

===Playing===
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}
Source:<ref>{{cite basketball-reference|name=Wes Unseld|id=u/unselwe01|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref>

{{NBA player statistics start|caption=NBA regular season playing statistics}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1968}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1968–69 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| '''82''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 36.2 || .476 || {{sort|-|—}} || .605 || '''18.2''' || 2.6 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 13.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1969}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1969–70 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| style="background:#cfecec;"|'''82'''* || {{sort|-|—}} || 39.4 || .518 || {{sort|-|—}} || .638 || 16.7 || 3.5 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || '''16.2'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1970}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 74 || {{sort|-|—}} || 39.2 || .501 || {{sort|-|—}} || .657 || 16.9 || 4.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 14.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1971}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1971–72 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 76 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''41.7''' || .498 || {{sort|-|—}} || .629 || 17.6 || 3.7 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 13.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1972}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 79 || {{sort|-|—}} || 39.1 || .493 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''.703''' || 15.9 || 4.4 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 12.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1973}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1973–74 Capital Bullets season|Capital]]
| 56 || {{sort|-|—}} || 30.8 || .438 || {{sort|-|—}} || .655 || 9.2 || 2.8 || 1.0 || .3 || 5.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1974}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1974–75 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 73 || {{sort|-|—}} || 39.8 || .502 || {{sort|-|—}} || .685 || style="background:#cfecec;"|14.8* || 4.1 || '''1.6''' || '''.9''' || 9.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1975}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1975–76 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 78 || {{sort|-|—}} || 37.5 || style="background:#cfecec;"|.561* || {{sort|-|—}} || .585 || 13.3 || '''5.2''' || 1.1 || .8 || 9.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1976}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1976–77 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| '''82''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 34.9 || .490 || {{sort|-|—}} || .602 || 10.7 || 4.4 || 1.1 || .5 || 7.8
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|{{nbay|1977}}†
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1977–78 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 80 || {{sort|-|—}} || 33.1 || .523 || {{sort|-|—}} || .538 || 11.9 || 4.1 || 1.2 || .6 || 7.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1978}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1978–79 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 77 || {{sort|-|—}} || 31.2 || '''.577''' || {{sort|-|—}} || .643 || 10.8 || 4.1 || .9 || .5 || 10.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1979}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1979–80 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| '''82''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 36.3 || .513 || '''.500''' || .665 || 13.3 || 4.5 || .8 || .7 || 9.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1980}}
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1980–81 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 63 || {{sort|-|—}} || 32.3 || .524 || '''.500''' || .640 || 10.7 || 2.7 || .8 || .6 || 8.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 984 || {{sort|-|—}} || 36.4 || .509 || .500 || .633 || 14.0 || 3.9 || 1.1 || .6 || 10.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star
| 5 || 0 || 15.4 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || .600 || 7.2 || 1.2 || .4 || .0 || 6.2
{{s-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start|caption=NBA playoff playing statistics}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1969 NBA playoffs|1969]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1968–69 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 4 || {{sort|-|—}} || 41.3 || .526 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''.789''' || 18.5 || 1.3 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || '''18.8'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1970 NBA playoffs|1970]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1969–70 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 41.3 || .414 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''.789''' || '''23.6''' || 3.4 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1971 NBA playoffs|1971]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 18 || {{sort|-|—}} || 42.2 || .462 || {{sort|-|—}} || .568 || 18.8 || 3.8 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 13.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1972 NBA playoffs|1972]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1971–72 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 6 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''44.3''' || .492 || {{sort|-|—}} || .526 || 12.5 || 4.2 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 12.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1973 NBA playoffs|1973]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1972–73 Baltimore Bullets season|Baltimore]]
| 5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 40.2 || .417 || {{sort|-|—}} || .474 || 15.2 || 3.4 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || 9.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1974 NBA playoffs|1974]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1973–74 Capital Bullets season|Capital]]
| 7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 42.4 || .492 || {{sort|-|—}} || .600 || 12.1 || 3.9 || .6 || .1 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1975 NBA playoffs|1975]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1974–75 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 17 || {{sort|-|—}} || 43.2 || .546 || {{sort|-|—}} || .656 || 16.2 || 3.8 || '''.9''' || 1.2 || 10.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1976 NBA playoffs|1976]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1975–76 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 7 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''44.3''' || .462 || {{sort|-|—}} || .542 || 12.1 || 4.0 || '''.9''' || .6 || 7.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1977 NBA playoffs|1977]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1976–77 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 9 || {{sort|-|—}} || 40.9 || '''.556''' || {{sort|-|—}} || .583 || 11.7 || '''4.9''' || '''.9''' || .7 || 7.4
|-
| style="text-align:left; background:#afe6ba;"|[[1978 NBA playoffs|1978]]†
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1977–78 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 18 || {{sort|-|—}} || 37.6 || .530 || {{sort|-|—}} || .587 || 12.0 || 4.4 || '''.9''' || .4 || 9.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1979 NBA playoffs|1979]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1978–79 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| '''19''' || {{sort|-|—}} || 38.7 || .494 || {{sort|-|—}} || .609 || 13.3 || 3.4 || '''.9''' || .7 || 10.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1980 NBA playoffs|1980]]
| style="text-align:left;”|[[1979–80 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| 2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 43.5 || .500 || .000 || .667 || 14.0 || 3.5 || .0 || '''1.5''' || 9.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 119 || {{sort|-|—}} || 41.1 || .493 || .000 || .608 || 14.9 || 3.8 || .8 || .7 || 10.6
{{s-end}}

===Coaching===
Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Wes Unseld|website=basketball-reference.com|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/unselwe01c.html|access-date=June 4, 2020|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603210053/https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/unselwe01c.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start|caption=Coaching record}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1987–88 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| 55 || 30 || 25 || {{winpct|30|25}} || style="text-align:center;"|2nd in [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic]] || 5 || 2 || 3 || {{winpct|2|3}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[1985 NBA playoffs|first round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1988–89 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}}
| 82 || 40 || 42 || {{winpct|40|42}} || style="text-align:center;"|4th in Atlantic || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1989–90 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}
| 82 || 31 || 51 || {{winpct|31|51}} || style="text-align:center;"|4th in Atlantic || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1990–91 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}
| 82 || 30 || 52 || {{winpct|30|52}} || style="text-align:center;"|4th in Atlantic || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1991–92 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}
| 82 || 25 || 57 || {{winpct|25|57}} || style="text-align:center;"|6th in Atlantic || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1992–93 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1992}}
| 82 || 22 || 60 || {{winpct|22|60}} || style="text-align:center;"|7th in Atlantic || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[1993–94 Washington Bullets season|Washington]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1993}}
| 82 || 24 || 58 || {{winpct|24|58}} || style="text-align:center;"|7th in Atlantic || — || — || — || —
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 547 || 202 || 345 || {{winpct|202|345}} || &nbsp; || 5 || 2 || 3 || {{winpct|2|3}} || &nbsp;
{{s-end}}

==See also==
* [[List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association single-season rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of National Basketball Association players with most rebounds in a game]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders]]
* [[List of people from the Louisville metropolitan area]]
* [[List of University of Louisville people]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wes Unseld}}
{{basketballstats|nba=78392|bbr=u/unselwe01}}
* {{cite web |title=Legends profile: Wes Unseld |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-nba-legend-wes-unseld |website=NBA.com |access-date=February 4, 2020}}
* {{Basketballhof|wes-unseld|Wes Unseld}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Unseld, Wes}}
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