Crosscourt: Latest news and storylines ahead of Round 17 of the 2023-24 NBL season

Justin Tatum’s influence in Illawarra has been so profound, the interim mentor was in Coach of the Year conversations. The Hawks have settled on their man, with a deal ‘imminent’.

Illawarra is set to officially elevate interim coach Justin Tatum to the full-time role as reward for guiding the Hawks from last to a shot at making the finals.

Crosscourt has been told an announcement on Tatum’s future at the Hawks is “imminent”, which will cap off a remarkable turnaround, spearheaded by the father of Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum.

Illawarra has won eight of its 13 games under Tatum, capped off with a Friday night dismantling of the red-hot Wildcats in Perth.

It’s put the men from Wollongong within reach of a top-six finals finish.

Illawarra is about to unveil Justin Tatum as its new coach. Picture: Getty Images

The Hawks players rave about the American mentor’s man management and ability to instil passion and confidence.

The Hawks dug their way out of a three-game losing streak against the odds in Perth, quelling MVP favourite Bryce Cotton’s influence remaining in the regular season and sit seventh, just outside the play-in ahead of a massive home clash against eighth-placed New Zealand on Sunday.

Rookie Bullets coach Justin Schueller has made waves in Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

CAN SCHUELLER SWOOP INTO COY CALCULATIONS?

The NBL Coach of the Year is likely a race in two between top-placed Melbourne United mentor Dean Vickerman and Perth Wildcats’ transformative coach John Rillie.

Soon-to-be full-time Illawarra coach Justin Tatum has been mentioned as a potential candidate but can rookie Brisbane Bullets coach Justin Schueller make a late run at it?

The basketcase Bullets only won eight games all last season and finished second last.

Schueller was brought in to steady the ship and, while he’s dealt with star blow ups, key injuries, and trying to figure out how not to blow it in late-game pressure situations, his team is now on the brink of a playoff berth, sitting fourth on 12 wins.

A visit from his old club United looms as a massive test on Friday night, one Vickerman is looking forward to.

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has been impressed with what his former assistant Justin Schueller has been able to do in Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

“He had a goal to go up there and change culture and he’s been challenged with a number of things that have happened with their program this year,” Vickerman said.

“I thought he’s stood up to all of those challenges and the group looks like they’ve continued to bond together, where maybe previous Bullets teams haven’t.

“I’m proud of what he’s done and look forward to going to battle with him.”

Knock over United and snare a couple more wins and that might be enough for Schueller to give Vickerman and Rillie a run for their money in the Coach of the Year voting.

He’ll have his work cut out, though, with United regaining stars Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Shea Ili for the crunch clash as they attempt to keep the fast-finishing Wildcats at bay.

COACH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES

Dean Vickerman

John Rillie

Justin Schueller

Justin Tatum

Milwaukee gave coach Adrian Griffin his marching orders. Picture: Getty Images

NBL NOT ON GLEESON’S RADAR AFTER BUCKS SACK HEAD COACH

The NBL community went into assume mode on Wednesday morning when Milwaukee made the surprise mid-season move to part ways with head coach Adrian Griffin, with some wondering if assistant Trevor Gleeson, a five-time NBL champion, would follow him out the door — and be back in the hunt for a job.

The ex-Perth Wildcats mentor linked with the Bucks in late December as an assistant under Griffin, who he’d spent two seasons with at the Toronto Raptors.

But, when Crosscourt contacted Gleeson via text on Wednesday and asked if he’d return home and weigh up the NBL as an option, he quickly shut down any hope Aussie clubs might have had of attracting the former Perth Wildcats mentor: “No, I’m still under contract.”

Perth coach Trevor Gleeson has tempered any hope of a return to the NBL. Picture: AAP

Milwaukee assistant Joe Prunty is reportedly expected to be named interim coach, while Bucks officials have reached out to championship-winner Doc Rivers, who is firming to become the franchise’s new head coach.

It remains to be seen whether a new head coach like Rivers would opt to bring in his own staff and how that could impact Gleeson’s future at the Bucks.

Gleeson was courted by Illawarra after it sacked Jacob Jackomas earlier this season and was also linked to the Adelaide job before joining Milwaukee.

Should he decide to return to the NBL, he would be hot property.

SCOMO HITS OUT OVER SARCASTIC COACH’S FINE

Former Perth coach Scott Morrison has called out the NBL after Cairns coach Adam Forde was slapped with a $1000 fine following a sarcastic post-game rant.

Crosscourt, on Sunday, revealed the NBL had referred Forde to Basketball Australia’s integrity unit after he took aim at the league’s referees and its chief executive David Stevenson following his side’s buzzer-beating win over Illawarra, last round.

He was found to have breached BA’s code of conduct and fined $1000, which he duly accepted.

Former Perth coach Scott Morrison has hit out at the NBL after it fined Cairns coach Adam Forde.

Canadian Morrison, who oversaw the Wildcats during an NBL22 season where they missed the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, took note of Forde’s penalty and responded with a little sarcasm of his own.

“The price of sarcasm remains high in the NBL,” Morrison wrote on Twitter.

“Also surprised anyone in the NBL picked up on it…

“(Also sarcasm).”

The price of sarcasm remains high in the NBL.
Also surprised anyone in the NBL picked up on it…

(Also sarcasm) https://t.co/43HeG3iPq7

— Scott Morrison (@scott_morrison) January 24, 2024

Asked about the refs following the clash with the Hawks, Forde said “They’ve been fantastic.”

“So, since David’s been on the job for six months, and, you know, put out the ‘zero tolerance’, it’s fixed everything,” he said.

“It’s nothing to do with the officials, it’s everybody else. Everybody else has to adjust.

“Dave has done a fantastic job of stamping out any type of critical feedback and accountability in that regard.”

Forde’s public comments have won private support from respected figures across the league, who refused to go on the record, in case of a fine, but revealed concerns at the consistency and standard of officiating.

KELLY AND THE KIDS: PHOENIX NEED MIRACLE AS BRUTAL REALITY SETS IN

South East Melbourne’s horror injury run has hit its lowest ebb, forcing the club to elevate all four of its development players to its main roster.

Both Gary Browne (groin) and Matt Kenyon (hip flexor) were ruled out for the Kings’ clash, leaving the Phoenix, already without Alan Williams and Craig Moller, dangerously undermanned.

Import Abdel Nader (hand) was in doubt for Thursday night’s clash with Sydney, but he has been cleared to play, ensuring the Phoenix avoid leaning on training players Ngor Nai or Kingsley Box to make up a full squad.

Matt Kenyon has joined South East Melbourne’s ever-growing casualty list. Picture: Getty Images

It’s left the Phoenix staring down the prospect of a potential record loss — currently a 38-point defeat to Illawarra in round 14 this season — but that also heaps pressure on an underachieving Kings’ side that is now hovering around the play-in, amid consternation over first-year coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah’s job security.

Sydney will roll out a trio of former NBA players in one-time NBL MVP Jaylen Adams, Denzel Valentine and Jonah Bolden against a Phoenix team featuring a quintet of youngsters with less than 100 professional games — combined.

The Kings will be expected to hand out a huge beat down at the State Basketball Centre but Phoenix coach Mike Kelly, while wondering if somebody at the club smashed a mirror or walked under a ladder when he took the job at the beginning of the season, is refusing to concede defeat before the ball is tipped.

Besieged Phoenix coach Mike Kelly refuses to give up on his team’s season. Picture: Getty Images

“I would much rather have our whole group playing but we know we don’t have that, so what we have to do is control what we can control, which is how we take care of the ball, getting to our spots offensively, defensively, keeping the ball in front and sticking to our schemes,” Kelly said.

“Do that, do our job individually and then helping out your teammate and that gives our guys a chance.

“We’re on the same wins as a number of other teams and, if we win this one, then we get a little bit more hope. If I stop thinking like that, then I might as well mail in the rest of the season and I’m not doing that.”

So it’s basically a free hit for the Phoenix, who will be hoping one of the kids can pull off a miracle.

Twenty-year-old Owen Foxwell (41 games) looms as the lead guard alongside Ben Ayre, with wing development player Kody Stattmann (30 games) having previous full-roster experience in Brisbane.

Can highly-rated young big Austin Rapp surprise Sydney? Picture: Getty Images

Luke Rosendale will get a chance to make some noise on Thursday night for the Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images

DP’s Anzac Rissetto (18 games), Luke Rosendale (9 games) and Austin Rapp (3 games), round out the young crew who will lean on superstar Mitch Creek, back-up big man Gorjok Gak, Kiwi international Reuben Te Rangi and former Wildcats Rhys Vague, who has struggled in his return to the NBL after a stint in China.

“Not the Murders’ Row NBL fans know but it’s guys who have been good in training and have the chance to step up and show what they can do,” Kelly said.

“Luke’s had tremendous growth this whole year, shoots the ball really well, physically tries to put himself out there defensively to use his strength and he’s just stayed ready.

“Austin Rapp, he’s precocious, he comes out ready to shoot and once he crosses half court, he feels like he can make everything, so he’s going to have that opportunity (against Sydney).”

Maybe 18-year-old giant Rapp, who just commmitted to US college Portland, can use memories of his 14-point, 12-rebound double-double in last year’s NBL1 national championship win that helped a seven-man Knox squad overcome Rockingham.

It’d certainly be a little tonic to see a breakout performance from a young gun for the frustrated Phoenix fanbase.

NBL ROUND 17: (All games live on Kayo and ESPN)

Thursday, January 25:

South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Sydney Kings at State Basketball Centre from 7.30pm (AEDT)

Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks at RAC Arena from 9.30pm (AEDT)

Friday, January 26:

New Zealand Breakers vs Tasmania JackJumpers at Eventfinda Stadium from 5.30pm (AEDT)

Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United at Nissan Arena from 7.30pm (AEDT)

Saturday, January 27:

Adelaide 36ers vs Cairns Taipans at Adelaide Entertainment Centre from 5.30pm (AEDT)

South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Perth Wildcats at the State Basketball Centre from 8pm (AEDT)

Sunday, January 28:

Illawarra Hawks vs New Zealand Breakers at WIN Entertainment Centre from 2pm (AEDT)

Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena from 4pm (AEDT)

Originally published as Crosscourt: Latest news and storylines ahead of Round 17 of the 2023-24 NBL season