Crosscourt column: Three NBL coaches under the pump after just four weeks
All the latest news, opinion and insights from another bumper round of NBL action in this week’s Crosscourt column.
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In this week’s Crosscourt column; the coaches already feeling the heat, Vasiljevic’s mea culpa and how age will not weary CG43.
COACHES IN THE HOT SEAT:
The NBL season is only four weeks old, but we’re already talking about three coaches being under the pump to keep their jobs.
Illawarra, Adelaide and Perth have all started the season slowly, heaping pressure on their respective coaches.
It comes as two of the most successful NBL coaches – Brian Goorjian and Trevor Gleeson – sit on the sidelines minus full-time jobs despite having a combined 11 NBL championships.
Goorjian is taking some downtime post Australia’s World Cup campaign, while it’s understood Gleeson can’t coach for 12 months under an agreement with the Toronto Raptors after his three-year assistant coach contract was cut short in April.
On the NBL front, the Hawks were expected to dramatically improve in NBL24 after finishing last the previous season but they’re on the bottom of the ladder with a 1-4 record.
Illawarra fans have vented their frustration at coach Jacob Jackomas, who is contracted until the end of 2026 after having his deal extended last season.
Hawks supporters are questioning why the club opted to re-sign Jackomas following a 3-25 and last-place finish campaign.
“Who is the responsible for extending the contract of our coach?,” one fan said.
“Seriously, that person/s need to be held accountable for such a poor business decision.
“The coach was part of our worst season in Hawks history, but for some reason was extended.
“The smart decision should have been to see how they perform in their second year as a head coach. Clearly it’s now evident with a full squad (no injury excuses like 22-23) we only have an assistant level coach “at best”. Our league is way to strong now to not have a high calibre coach.
“Reality is, we are now potentially stuck with this coach until the end of 2026.”
In Adelaide, coach CJ Bruton remains under pressure despite the 36ers’ upset win over Perth on Saturday.
36ers fans were heard chanting, ‘sack CJ’ on their way out of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre after Thursday’s 17-point loss to the Phoenix.
Bruton is off-contract at season’s end and it’s fair to say he needs to guide the 36ers to the finals to remain coach beyond this season.
Perth’s slide is the biggest surprise to start NBL24. The Wildcats are in eighth position with a 2-4 record after Saturday’s disappointing loss to Adelaide.
The Red Army are far from happy with coach John Rillie, who has failed to make Perth a defensive force in his first two seasons thus far.
The Wildcats leaked the third most points last season while they are on track to achieve a similar result (556) after four weeks this season.
You can’t doubt Perth’s talent, but talent can only take you so far if you’re failing to nail the basics.
Wildcats fans are questioning whether Rillie – who has next season remaining on his three-year deal – is the man for the job given he has only been an assistant at Boise State and the Australian Boomers prior to securing Perth’s top job last season.
Illawarra, Adelaide and Perth need to start winning given sixth place has finished with 15 wins in the last two seasons.
DJ’S 36ERS’ APOLOGY:
Dejan Vasiljevic has detailed the two-hour meeting with Adelaide 36ers officials where he apologised for his infamous tweet that labelled the franchise “terrible”.
One of Vasiljevic’s first jobs after putting pen to paper with the 36ers was to clear the air over his contentious tweet.
The former King took to social media last season to declare: “Terrible organisation. Wanna spend money on the wrong players and then cut the good ones.
“Just note that some local players on that roster make more than those who actually help their team to championships.”
Then just last month, Vasiljevic doubled down on his criticism of Adelaide.
“That team hasn’t been relative since the Joey Wright days,” he tweeted.
Dejan Vasiljevic will make his debut for the Adelaide 36ers tonight, despite making these comments about the franchise only a few weeks ago 🫣#NBL24pic.twitter.com/yzltSP1Vss
— NBL News (@NBL_News) October 19, 2023
Just under a month later, Vasiljevic is a 36er after being waived by the Washington Wizards and opting to return to the NBL.
The sharpshooting guard wants Adelaide officials to know his tweets weren’t aimed at the current administration.
“What I said all refers back to past management,” Vasiljevic told Code Sports.
“I sat down with Adelaide’s officials, including CEO Nic Barbato, for two hours and we discussed everything. I said, ‘look mate, I apologise for everything I’ve said and it all pointed back to past management and how some people have been treated in the past.
“I cleared everything up, I’m here, I want to win and we’re all working together.
“Fans, they can keep receipts. Man, I still keep receipts from other people, but I don’t go out there and talk about it.
“I’m here in Adelaide, I feel welcome and I’m looking forward to playing.”
DJ 🤠AEC.
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) October 19, 2023
The man has 11 points in this one already!
📺 - ESPN via Kayo Sports. pic.twitter.com/BXnfF6YIPV
Vasiljevic showcased championship-winning class in his first two games for Adelaide over the weekend.
He had 17 points on debut in a loss to the Phoenix before dropping an impressive 15 points and adding seven rebounds and six assists in Saturday’s upset win over Perth.
BIG SAUCE HAS PHOENIX RISING:
A dominant return from injury has helped South East Melbourne Phoenix star Alan Williams put his hand up as arguably the NBL’s premier big man.
Williams, who missed the start of the season with a knee injury, was magnificent for the Phoenix in two big wins over Adelaide and Brisbane.
The former Suns and Nets big man produced an impressive double-double (15 points and 13 rebounds) against Adelaide on Thursday.
Williams backed up this display with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in a blowout victory over Brisbane on Saturday night.
This is Big Sauce’s house! 😤
— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) October 21, 2023
2ï¸âƒ£1ï¸âƒ£ points so far for @alantwilliams
📺 Watch on ESPN âž¡ï¸ Kayo | Foxtel pic.twitter.com/Tnp8CGNC7P
It poses the question: when fully fit, where does ‘Big Sauce’ sit in the NBL’s big men pecking order?
Based off this season thus far, Sydney Kings centre Jordan Hunter is right in the conversation.
Hunter has been sensational for the Kings, averaging 11.6 points on 69 per cent shooting from the field and 6.2 rebounds.
United big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr has only just returned from a wrist injury, but he is an NBL champion and one of the finest bigs in the league.
Adelaide’s Isaac Humphries is also in the mix, as shown with his standout performance in the 36ers’ win over Perth on Saturday.
Right in the pocket... ðŸˆ
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) October 21, 2023
📺 - ESPN via Kayo Sports. pic.twitter.com/fXGXgrxxKk
Humphries stole the show to finish with a monster 26 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
As strong as Williams was in his comeback for South East Melbourne, he faces stiff competition in the big man stakes.
The Phoenix have beaten three of the bottom four teams and need a big scalp to be really taken seriously as genuine championship contender.
It comes as ex-NBL big man – former Illawarra Hawk and Boomers centre Duop Reath – is reportedly in the mix to be waived by the Portland Trail Blazers, although he could remain in the G League.
NBL’s best big men:
Alan Williams (Phoenix)
Jordan Hunter (Kings)
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (United)
Isaac Humphries (36ers)
Alex Sarr (Wildcats)
Jonah Bolden (Kings)
Keanu Pinder (Wildcats)
Zylan Cheatham (Breakers)
Sam Mennenga (Taipans)
GOULDING LIKE A FINE WINE:
Melbourne United sharpshooter Chris Goulding is in his 17th NBL season, but the veteran is showing no signs of slowing down.
Goulding, who turns 35 on Tuesday, has started the season in the vintage form that we’ve all come to know, and love.
This was on show in United’s win over Illawarra on Thursday night when he dropped 13 points and added four assists and three rebounds.
Chris Goulding, that is incredible 🤩
— NBL (@NBL) October 20, 2023
And yes, he hit the free throw 😉
Catch the second half live on ESPN via Kayo 📺 pic.twitter.com/lJi0UyYxZN
Admittedly, Goulding could have shot better, shown with his 4 of 11 from the field and 4 of 11 from three.
But when United needed him to step up, he nailed the big shots, including a remarkable four-point play from deep before halftime.
Goulding recently told this masthead that he has no plans to hang up the sneakers.
“I don’t see the end,” Goulding told Crosscourt.
“I’m not really someone who wants to look too far ahead and I’m pretty focused on what we’ve going on here (at United).
“I love the club and the group of guys that we’ve put together, so for me I’m just worried about trying to get this team back into playoff and championship contention.
“That is where we feel we want to be as a group.
“I’m a competitor, so I love the game of basketball, I love the challenge that every season presents.”
MISFIRING BULLETS:
A Brisbane Bullets season that promised improvement hangs in the balance after a sluggish start to NBL24.
The Bullets sit in seventh position with a 2-4 record, which hasn’t been helped by the five-game suspension of star big man Aron Baynes.
Brisbane were blown off the court in a 23-point loss to the Phoenix on Saturday, as Alan Williams went to town in the absence of Baynes.
The Bullets have a tough draw in the coming weeks, with clashes against Perth (A), Tasmania (H), Phoenix (H) and Tasmania (A).
Could Baynes’ brain explosion prove to be season defining for Brisbane? Time will tell.
MORE SUPPORT FOR RETIRED PLAYERS:
Three-time champion Matt Knight would like to see more support for the NBL’s retired players.
Knight, this week, revealed his struggles after being forced to medically retire in 2017 following 15 concussions throughout a 10-year career.
The ex-Wildcat is keen to meet with the NBL to discuss concussion – and ways to make the league’s protocols even stronger.
Knight would also like to see a greater support network for former players to add to the services already provided by the Players’ Association.
“Because once you’re done, you’re done and you don’t really hear anything after that,” Knight said.
“You go from that structure and being told where to be and what to do for so long and then all of a sudden you’re out in the real world.
“It’s a huge adjustment and I’ve spoken to a lot of ex-players and it has taken them a long time to for them to adjust to everyday life.
“I understand that basketball isn’t as big in Australia as the AFL and NRL, but you’ve got to have something to help the former players.
“Even if it is just someone to talk to for former players. It’s a huge adjustment and having someone to talk to would really help.”
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