WASHINGTON — Randy Wittman is out as the Washington Wizards’ coach after a 41-41 season, multiple media outlets reported late Wednesday night.
The Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-98 Wednesday in the season finale, their first consecutive wins. However, they did not make the postseason.
The lead-up to the team’s finale took a surprising turn overnight as a report surfaced about All-Star guard John Wall screaming at Wittman and his teammates during a recent practice.
“I don’t know where that came from,” Wittman said pregame. “That’s out of left field and that’s all I can say. Didn’t happen.”
Wall, who had the best statistical season of his six-year career, and several players denied the incident occurred.
“I never sat there and cussed coach Witt out,” he told reporters before tipoff. “I never sat there and cussed my whole team out at one time.”
Wittman took over midway through the 2011-12 season. Though he has a 178-199 record overall, Washington went .500 or better in each of the last three seasons.
“As I told them last year when we started the playoffs, you’re never guaranteed to be in the playoffs,” Wittman said. “It’s always earned, and we didn’t earn it.”