Phoenix burning: NBL coach goes after 0-5 start

The NBL’s South East Melbourne Phoenix have parted ways with coach Mike Kelly less than a month into the season.

The Phoenix have gone winless through their first five games of the 2024-25 campaign, most recently falling 87-85 to fellow strugglers Brisbane Bullets at home on Saturday night.

Mike Kelly lasted five games of the 2024-25 season as head coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix.Credit: Getty Images

They are the only side yet to taste victory this campaign, having also finished last on the ladder in Kelly’s injury-plagued first season in charge.

Kelly was informed on Sunday morning that his contract had been terminated as the club installs assistant Sam Mackinnon as interim coach.

“While it hasn’t worked out the way I would’ve liked, I’m thankful to the players, fans, sponsors and the Phoenix for the opportunity,” Kelly said in a statement.

“I truly believe in the playing group and wish them all the best moving forward.”

South East Melbourne Phoenix results so far in 2024-25

• Lost to Perth Wildcats 106-98
• Lost to Melbourne United 84-96
• Lost to New Zealand Breakers 81-79
• Lost to Adelaide 36ers 93-83
• Lost to Brisbane Bullets 85-87.

In his final post-match press conference, Kelly said he felt the Phoenix were beginning to show improvement at both ends of the floor.

But SEM’s star-studded roster had nevertheless underachieved to begin the new season, with neither ex-NBA guard Derrick Walton Jr nor Olympic medallist Nathan Sobey hitting top gear.

Sobey, in particular, has struggled for shooting form.

Phoenix chief executive Tommy Greer and general manager of basketball operations Simon Mitchell will front the press on Monday to detail the decision to part ways with Kelly.

Phoenix import Derrick Walton Jr making the play on Saturday against the Brisbane Bullets.Credit: Getty Images

“The team’s on-court performance is not meeting the club’s standards and expectations,” said Mitchell, who preceded Kelly as head coach.

“While we deeply respect, appreciate, and thank Mike for his hard work and dedication, we believe a change is necessary to move the team forward and deliver the success our fans, sponsors, and stakeholders deserve.”

Replacement coach Mackinnon was briefly interim coach at the Brisbane Bullets in 2022 when the club fired then-head coach James Duncan, but has never held a full-time role as head coach.

The Phoenix will consider Mackinnon as an option to replace Kelly full-time but have also not ruled out replacing the interim coach mid-season if the right candidate becomes available.

Kelly finishes his stint at the Phoenix with a 30.3 per cent winning record.

The California native was previously coach of Cairns Taipans between 2018 and 2021, winning coach of the year in the 2019-20 season.

He has also spent time as an assistant coach with Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United, among other NBL clubs.

Kelly becomes the second coach to part ways with their club this campaign after the Adelaide 36ers ousted Scott Ninnis late in the pre-season and installed Mike Wells as his replacement.

Chris Goulding celebrated a win in his milestone match.Credit: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Melbourne United accounted for the previously on-fire Adelaide 36ers, 106-79 on Sunday.

United got better the longer the game went, winning by 27 points on the back of 53 per cent field-goal shooting and 26 assists to just eight turnovers to celebrate the 450th game of captain Chris Goulding (13 points).

Ian Clark top-scoring with 18 points and three assists for United. Rob Loe added 16 points and six rebounds, Jack White 15 points and seven boards, and Matthew Dellavedova 11 points and eight assists.

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