A Legend Returns
Brandon Roy, the former NBA All‑Star and Seattle native, has been reinstated as the head coach of the boys basketball team at Garfield High School, ending a nine‑month hiatus that began with his dismissal last year.
Roy’s return comes after a brief but intense controversy involving an NBA agent, a episode that saw him fired just two days after the allegations surfaced. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the accusations were unfounded.
A Garfield alumnus, Roy once starred for the school, averaging 19 points as a junior and 22.3 points as a senior, before his jersey was retired in recognition of his impact. His collegiate career at the University of Washington and subsequent NBA stint with the Portland Trail Blazers cemented his status as one of the region’s most celebrated athletes.
Since transitioning to coaching, Roy has guided both Nathan Hale High School and Garfield to multiple state championships, including a perfect 29‑0 regular‑season run with Nathan Hale and titles in 2028, 2020 and 2022. His coaching résumé, however, has been punctuated by periods of stepping away, most recently in the 2018‑19 season, before his comeback in 2022.
The reinstatement signals a new chapter for the program, as the school hopes to leverage Roy’s deep local ties and winning pedigree to rebuild momentum. Fans and alumni alike are watching closely, eager to see whether the coach can translate his on‑court success into sustained competitiveness for the Lancers.