Andrew Gaze to quit Sydney Kings at end of 2019 NBL season
Andrew Gaze will leave the Sydney Kings at season’s end but he walks away with his respected reputation intact.
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Update: Andrew Gaze will leave the Sydney Kings at season’s end but he walks away with his respected reputation intact.
Gaze shocked the basketball community on Tuesday morning when he confirmed The Daily Telegraph’s report that he has mutually agreed to part ways with the Kings as head coach.
The club had originally planned to wait until after the team’s playoff campaign before addressing Gaze’s future.
However, this changed at 9pm on Monday when Gaze contacted Sydney officials to tell them he wanted to publicly reveal his decision that he was leaving.
The Australian basketball icon said the mental challenge of coaching and being away from his family in Melbourne took a toll.
Gaze had made his mind up not to continue weeks ago but he felt the time was now right to end the speculation around his Kings’ tenure.
“It is a decision I feel really comfortable with, because the care and the way in which they (the club) approached the situation,” Gaze said.
“I’m extraordinarily grateful for that.
“The club wanted to go through a process at the end of the season about trying to evaluate who would be the best head coach option.
“Given my family situation and where I’m at and the process they wanted to go through, we mutually agreed to part ways.
“I’ve got a real strong desire to spent time with my family.
“But we are all comfortable with the decision, because we’ve known for some time.”
Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge is now favoured to take over Gaze as Kings coach.
Beveridge has been heavily linked to the franchise for weeks.
The former championship-winning Perth mentor has a close relationship with a number of Sydney players, including Andrew Bogut, Brad Newley and Kevin Lisch.
Beveridge was coach of an Australian under-19s side featuring Bogut and Newley that claimed gold at the 2003 Junior World Championships in Greece.
The Emus defeated Lithuania in the final and Bogut finished with MVP of the championship honours.
The Daily Telegraph understands Beveridge also has a desire to coach the Kings.
It’s important to note that he has an option in his favour on his Illawarra contract.
Former Sydney Kings coach and captain Shane Heal has been speculated as a potential replacement for Beveridge if he leaves the Hawks.
The Kings will now wait until the end of the season before announcing their replacement for Gaze while they’ll wait to unveil the new coach before making a decision on current assistants Lanard Copeland and Luke Kendall.
However, the club is yet to speak to Beveridge or any other potential coaches.
Marquee man Bogut praised Gaze for his contribution to the Kings, admitting his departure will motivate the players to send him out a winner.
The former NBA champion also stressed the squad was focused on securing their own futures in the post-season with 12 playersoff-contract.
“We love Drewy as a person and we want to play hard for him,” Bogut said.
“But our focus is also having nine or 10 free agents on this team that might not be here and could sign with other clubs.
“They’ll also want to put in good performances for their career.
“Hopefully we can move on from it and win a championship.”
Bogut said the Kings’ senior players would play a part in selecting the franchise’s new coach.
“I’m sure most of the leadership group will have a say, so myself, Kev Lisch and Jerome Randle and Brad Newley,” he said.
“But that will be something that we take care of at the end of the season.”
Gaze may be moving on from the Sydney Kings but he deserves praise for putting basketball back on the map in the Harbour City.
He has left the Kings in a stronger position than when he arrived.
Gaze has a 50 per cent winning record with 42 wins and 42 losses, making him the third most successful coach in Kings history behind Brian Goorjian and Bob Turner.
He is also the first Kings coach to make the playoffs in six years while this year he has led the franchise to its best regular season record since 2007-2008 with 18-10.
This is also the first time Sydney have gone over the .500 mark since they returned to the NBL in 2010.
It’s why Gaze will leave the Kings with no regrets.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” he said.
“I think back to when Harvey Lister first approached me to be involved along with Jeff Van Groningen.
“To see where the club was then to where we are now, I’m very proud of what we have been able to do.
“I think we’ve put the club in a very strong position and one that someone is inheriting the best job in the competition.
“It is the best job because of the management they’ve put forward and the ownership group and their commitment is extraordinary.”
The Kings take on Melbourne United in their semi-final series, with Game 1 in Melbourne on Thursday, February 28.
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Originally published as Andrew Gaze to quit Sydney Kings at end of 2019 NBL season
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