Logue Down: NBA legend Scottie Pippen reveals he was close to signing with Sydney Kings
The NBL is back and the Logue Down column is full of all the latest news from across the hoops world, including the basketball legend who turned down a chance to coach in the NBL.
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One of the greatest basketballers of all-time, Scottie Pippen, has revealed just how close he came to coaching the Sydney Kings in an exclusive interview with CODE Sports.
Speaking for the first time on the matter on the eve of his visit to Australia to launch the NBL season on Thursday night, the six-time championship winner with the Chicago Bulls confirmed the approach by the Kings’ head office and his great friend and former teammate, Luc Longley – an owner of the Kings’ franchise.
Pippen confirmed he and the Kings were in talks in 2021 following the departure of then coach, Adam Forde, and before Chase Buford eventually landed the role.
“We were very close but I wasn’t too comfortable with how things were going with Covid,” Pippen revealed.
Longley had previously acknowledged the move telling ESPN: “It would have been a complex one, he doesn‘t have a lot of coaching experience, but I do know what his basketball brain is like. He would have been good at capturing the imaginations of the group and leading them.”
Pippen’s ties to the Kings remain strong through Longley, a person he’s stayed close to since their championship-winning days.
“We’re very close and he’s one of the few teammates I still stay in touch with,” Pippen said.
The seven-time NBA All-Star and dual Olympic gold medal winner reflected on Longley’s impact with the Bulls during their second three-peat saying the Australian centre grew in stature over the journey and was integral to the team’s incredible success.
“Luc’s impact was just like fine wine in that he got better over time because of his ability to pass the basketball and willingness to be a good teammate.”
With Longley’s Kings aiming for a three-peat of their own, Pippen had some words of wisdom having accomplished the feat twice from 1991 to 1993, and 1996 to 1998.
“I think it is the same challenges that you face for the first championship,” Pippen explained.
“You have to be healthy and more importantly, you have to be playing some of your best basketball in the playoffs to have the opportunity to defend the title.”
Pippen will touch down in Melbourne on Thursday and will be courtside with Longley for the opening game between Melbourne United and the South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena.
.@ScottiePippen has a message for the players ahead of his trip to Australia to launch the @NBL season.
— NBL (@NBL) September 21, 2023
More details: https://t.co/8BmvSQD6mfpic.twitter.com/RTr4CLUUME
Fellow seven-time NBA All-Star, LaMarcus Aldridge, will also be in attendance for the sold out event.
Code Sports understands the NBL will bring Pippen back for an extended stay and speaking tour next year, possibly during the finals in February.
COTTON NOT HAPPY WITH GAME DAY PHONE BAN:
The NBL has introduced a phone ban on game day and the NBL’s premier player, Bryce Cotton, isn’t happy.
The league is trailing a new Electronic Communication Devices Policy, stipulating players and officials can’t use any device that can communicate information by way of data, text message, phone call or image.
This includes, mobile phone, laptop, tablet, e-reader, GPS device and smart watch.
The policy brings the NBL in line with other codes, including the AFL and NRL, while the league faces heavy sanctions if individuals don’t comply.
The reasoning for the phone ban is to prevent the threat of insider trading, which has increased following the surging popularity of sports betting.
All individuals who are in possession of a NBL accreditation are bound by the phone ban to limit the chances of passing on insider information like starting teams, player form, injury status and tactical considerations.
The phone ban was first rolled at the NBL’s pre-season Blitz on the Gold Coast, prompting Cotton to express his frustrations to Code Sports.
The Perth Wildcats star guard has long watched stand-up comedy as his pre-game ritual and he is concerned he won’t be able to continue the tradition.
“It will be very interesting considering they are trying to take away our phones, so I don’t know how I’m going to do it,” Cotton said.
“I like to listen to music and watch stand-up comedy before every game. It loosens me up a little bit when I’m super focused going into a game, it allows me to have some laughs and relax a bit.
“It will be interesting to see what is going to happen with all this stuff because I’m not a fan of it (phone ban) it doesn’t make much sense.”
Thankfully, there is a way Cotton can maintain his pre-game stand-up comedy routine.
Teams can apply for an exemption for tablets for work purposes.
One team for example has 4x iPads which are exempt, for players to listen to music to pre-game, but they have switched off all ability to message or receive messages.
The NBL will trial the phone policy for the first four weeks of the season, with the ban on devices set to commence for 60 minutes prior to tip off.
Should the trial be successful, the league will permanently change the policy to reflect 60 minutes.
FANS FLOCKING TO ROUND 1, DESPITE AFL, NRL GRAND FINALS
When the NBL decided to tip-off its new season during AFL and NRL grand final week, some eyebrows were raised.
But it’s looking like a stroke of genius, with Thursday night’s Throwdown between Melbourne United and South East Melbourne sold out and the Phoenix eyeing their biggest home debut ever on Sunday with over 7,000 predicted for their play-in rematch with Perth.
“It’s a big weekend of sport and we are tracking for a bumper crowd Sunday,” Phoenix boss Tommy Greer said.
“It’s looking like our biggest home opener to date and is a great way to cap off the school holiday period for families.
“Fantastic ticket sales, given the AFL grand final is the day before and shows that Phoenix fans are embracing hoops in the Heartland.”
Supporters who head to John Cain Arena for that game will get a first look at boom teenage French Next Star Alex Sarr in his first steps towards becoming a potential top-five NBA draft pick.
Despite a mass exodus of sports fans jetting out of Queensland to support the Lions and Broncos in their respective big dances in Melbourne and Sydney, there are less than 1000 tickets left to the Bullets’ home opener against Adelaide and the lower bowl at Nissan Arena is sold out.
There’s a confidence internally, despite the hysteria over the footy codes, the Bullets will go close to a sellout in Rocco Zikarsky’s NBL debut.
The Sixers head home after that game to host Melbourne United and, despite a difficult off-season, will eclipse 8000 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
Illawarra is eyeing a crowd in excess of 4500 at WIN Entertainment Centre for the Freeway Series rivalry clash with Sydney on Saturday night.
Across the ditch, New Zealand’s attempt to go one better on last season’s grand final appearance will have another big crowd, with more than 6000 tickets to Saturday’s Spark Arena meeting with Cairns – Swedish Next Star Bobi Klintrman’s first NBL appearance – already accounted for.
The interest in the sport, despite competing with the footy codes, is another huge tick for the NBL as it continues to force its way into the hearts and minds of Aussie sports fans.
GOLD COAST FRANCHISE FIRMS UP
A league-led push for a Gold Coast NBL franchise has ramped up following a record-breaking pre-season Blitz on Queensland’s Glitter Strip.
Code Sports has been told the successful Blitz, which attracted unprecedented crowds and NBA scouts to the Gold Coast, has only strengthened the NBL’s desire for a team in the region.
There will always be naysayers about the Coast, in terms of commercial sport of the city’s transient nature, but the NBL is determined to push forward.
It’s understood the league is keen on a Tasmania JackJumpers style ownership structure on the Gold Coast, where the league takes control for a period before handing over the keys to a buyer.
POTENTIAL NO. 1 NBA PICK WANTS IN FOR PARIS
Perth Wildcats French Next Star Alex Sarr has declared his desire to represent his country at next year’s Paris Olympics.
Sarr, a projected top-five pick in the 2024 NBA draft, is also extremely passionate about his homeland.
The 18-year-old has excelled for France as a junior, winning silver and bronze medals at the 2023 Under 19s World Cup and 2022 Under 17 World Cup.
Now Sarr, who has impressed for the Wildcats in the pre-season, has his sights set on representing the French at a home Olympics in Paris.
“Most definitely,” Sarr said when asked about the prospect of playing in a home Olympics for France.
“If I can do it in 2024, I’ll do it in 2024. It’s most definitely a goal of mine.”
Sarr watched France bomb out of this year’s World Cup in the group stage – and says it has only fuelled his desire to don his country’s colours.
“We can’t win every year. I guess it was just a tough summer, but hopefully we can get something done in the Olympic Games in 2024,” he said.
“Basketball in France is starting to grow as young players keep coming into the league and the NBA.
“More and more guys want to play basketball because of the talent coming out of France.
“It’s just going to continue to grow.
“I remember watching the Euros, World Cups and thinking, ‘one day I’m going to be playing there.”
Sarr is aiming to follow in the footsteps of fellow Frenchman, Victor Wembanyama, who secured the No. 1 pick at the San Antonio Spurs in last year’s NBA draft.
The Wildcats recruit also says he is his own man.
“I wouldn’t say (Wembanyama) is aspirational,” he said.
“He is one year older than me. It’s more just someone who did it and was the No. 1 pick in the draft.
“It’s a good thing for France and French basketball.”
36ERS’ ROUGH IMPORT RECORD QUESTIONED
A post detailing the Adelaide’s recent import struggles has prompted a host of former players to question the 36ers’ leadership and culture.
NBL news tweeted, saying: The Adelaide 36ers have released five imports in their last six seasons.
The Adelaide 36ers have released 5 imports in their last 6 seasons 😬 #NBL24pic.twitter.com/eeQWaumdnK
— NBL News (@NBL_News) September 26, 2023
The tweet was accompanied with a picture showing the past five imports the club has cut: Adris De Leon, Deshon Taylor, Donald Sloan, Craig Randall II, and recently, Jamaal Franklin.
The tweet encouraged former 36ers point guard Deshon Taylor to tweet: “I’ll probably never talk about what really went down but it’s all love always.”
After going undrafted in the NBA draft in 2019, Taylor spent a pre-season with Adelaide but was cut prior to the season as the 36ers opted to re-sign Jerome Randle.
Former Adelaide replacement player Jeremy Kendle also responded to the Adelaide import post via Instagram.
“Six imports in six years. I was only perceived by management as a “short-term fix”,” said Kendle, who briefly filled the vacant import position at the 36ers in 2021 following the release of Donald Sloan.
“However, I still got released and replaced. Success rises and falls on leadership. #culturetrumpsvision
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