Published: November 24, 2008
The last time I saw Eddie Jordan was Friday evening after the Washington Wizards lost to the Houston Rockets, 103-91.
His tie was undone, his steps were slow and deliberate and about 20 members of the media, including myself, were waiting to ask him why his team lost yet another game. Jordan tapped the side of the podium then began to speak about how his team couldn’t close games, and how Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming did their part in making sure the Rockets closed strong.
He said that despite their 1-9 record at the time, he told his team to continue to play. With poise, he told the media that they were getting closer to playing a complete game.
He stepped down from the podium, kissed his wife and daughter, and disappeared down the hall.
This would be the last time I’d see him at the Verizon Center as head coach of the Washington Wizards because Monday morning he was fired.
This morning Washington Post columnist Ivan Carter reported that Jordan and his assistant coach Mike O’Koren were relieved of their coaching positions with the Washington Wizards. Director of Player Development Ed Tapscott will take over on an interim basis, starting with today’s practice.
Although Tapscott has not coached on the NBA level, he does have plenty of front office experience. He was the vice president of player personnel and basketball operations for the Knicks in the 1990s, where he worked with current Wizards Team President, Ernie Grunfeld.
More recently, he was the president and chief operating officer of the Charlotte Bobcats.
His only other head coaching experience was on the college level, having coached at American University for eight years.
During his six-year tenure with the Washington Wizards, Coach Jordan accrued a record of 192 wins and 214 losses. He was brought in prior to the 2003-2004 season, and the team struggled to a 25-57 record.
The following season, Jordan and the Wizards had a 45-37 record, and they ended their eight year playoff drought, by earning a five seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. After losing their initial two games, the Wizards won four straight and came back to defeat the Chicago Bulls, four games to two.
They eventually lost in the second round to the Miami Heat.
Over the next three seasons, Coach Jordan and the Wizards struggled with injuries to star guard Gilbert Arenas, forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, and center Etan Thomas. Still, Coach Jordan was able to rally the members of the team who were healthy and advance to the playoffs; however, during each of those three years, they were sent home by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After the Gilbert Arenas-less Wizards were defeated by the Cavaliers in May of 2008, there were rumblings that Coach Jordan would be fired due to his inability to advance his team deep into the playoffs. But prior to the 2008-2009 preseason, team president Ernie Grunfeld announced that the Wizards had picked up the option on his contract, and Jordan would be here in Washington at least through the 2009-2010 season.
Coach Jordan’s contract extension, combined with a healthy Gilbert Arenas and an exciting young nucleus led by JaVale McGee and Nick Young, had expectations high around the Verizon Center. If the Wizards were able to make the playoffs the previous year without their best player, how far could they go with their entire arsenal intact?
Unfortunately, it was too good to be true.
Arenas had another procedure on his knee and was not scheduled to return until late December, early January. Brendan Haywood, who had a career year in 2007-2008, injured his wrist, and is out until March or April at the earliest. Antonio Daniels, who filled in admirably for Arenas last year, has struggled with injuries this season.
This rash of injuries forced Jordan to play his young players prematurely. Despite the nightly valiant efforts of all-stars Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, the team was only able to muster a 1-10 record.
The league’s other one-win team, The Oklahoma City Thunder, fired their coach P.J. Carlesimo on Friday evening. That firing, combined with the Wizards loss to a New York Knicks team that only dressed seven players, probably contributed to Coach Jordan’s firing.
Coach Tapscott’s NBA head coaching debut will come tomorrow against the Golden State Warriors.
Photo Credit: ICON Sports Media
5 Comments on "Wizards Fire Eddie Jordan"
Chante on Tue, 25th Nov 2008 12:30 pm
I think it was a bad decision to let go Eddie Jordan. His team has been riddled by injuries over the past two seasons ad he still manged to get them into the playoffs. Jordan, who is not much of a defensive coach should have won more than 10 games. However, you don’t get rid of guy who is without their best player. Tell me what team wouldn’t suffer without their best player.
Michael Tiedemann on Wed, 26th Nov 2008 11:02 am
the biggest qualm a lot of people have is the fact that you can ask the question, “is there a better coach out there?”
i’m not sure i have the answer to that.
but that is professional sports. it is a lot easier to get rid of the coaches than the players.
Hoops Addict » Pardon The Exaggeration on Thu, 4th Jun 2009 11:31 am
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jordans angela on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 1:02 am
I think it was a bad decision to let go Eddie Jordan. His team has been riddled by injuries over the past two seasons ad he still manged to get them into the playoffs. Jordan, who is not much of a defensive coach should have won more than 10 games. However, you don’t get rid of guy who is without their best player. Tell me what team wouldn’t suffer without their best player. can’t agree with you,bingo.