“It is something from a personal standpoint that was very, very difficult,” Sheppard said of moving on from Brooks.
After the Wizards were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook endorsed bringing Brooks back.
Brooks’ departure comes after he led the Wizards to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
“We had some success, 17-6 down the stretch, we made the playoffs, 0.6 chance of ever making the playoffs, we defied Vegas, and those are exciting times, great memories.
“I think everything starts with being a great communicator,” Sheppard said of the traits the team will be looking for in a new coach.
With Stan Van Gundy also out with the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, there are now six head-coaching openings in the NBA: Boston, Indiana, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland and Washington.
Brooks had been the seventh-longest-tenured coach in his current job.
“Coach Brooks was an unbelievable unifier,” Sheppard said of his navigating the Wizards through the pandemic pause last season and their COVID-19 outbreak this season.
“You look at everything certainly in the past,” Sheppard added.