Will Weaver ruled out of race to coach Sydney Kings, will pursue opportunities in the NBA
The Sydney Kings are still on the hunt for a new coach, but another big name has been crossed off the list. See the latest details here.
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Former Sydney Kings coach Will Weaver has ruled himself out of the race to replace Chase Buford at the Kings, revealing he is heading back to the NBA next season.
Weaver, who led the Kings to a grand final series against Perth in 2019/2020, had been linked to Sydney’s vacant coaching role following Buford’s departure.
However, the American mentor confirmed overnight he looks set to return to the NBA.
Reports in the US have emerged suggesting the ex-Kings mentor will interview for the head coaching role at the Milwaukee Bucks.
He has also been linked to roles at Brooklyn and Toronto.
Weaver spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the Houston Rockets before he became head coach of Paris Basketball in the French LNB Pro A this season.
He had an opportunity to stay in Paris, but he wants to give the NBA another shot.
“The club (Paris) offered me the chance to stay,” Weaver said.
“We discussed it in March that they wanted me to stay on as head coach and general manager.
“I was super flattered that they would trust me and offer me a long-term deal to do that, but the timing wasn’t right for me and my family.
“We have opportunities back in the NBA, so that’s where I’ll be coaching next year.”
GOORJIAN RULED OUT AS KINGS WEIGH UP ‘GLOBAL’ INTEREST
The Sydney Kings’ greatest mentor Brian Goorjian won’t be in the race to replace departing head coach Chase Buford.
It comes as the Kings have been flooded with coaching interest after the franchise opted to part ways with Buford.
Goorjian, though, has one year left on his contract with the Bay Area Dragons in the East Asia Super League and isn’t in a position to put his name in the mix to coach Sydney again.
The Boomers mentor led the Kings to three consecutive NBL championships between 2003 to 2005.
A Goorjian homecoming won’t happen, but Sydney remain confident it will land a leading coach following Buford’s exit to pursue NBA opportunities.
The Kings have a successful history of securing high-calibre coaches, including Goorjian, Brett Brown and most recently Will Weaver.
It’s understood Weaver, who is currently coaching Paris Basketball in the French LNB Pro A league, will be considered.
The former Boomers assistant enjoyed a hugely successful season with the Kings in 2019-2020, steering the men in purple and gold to the grand final series after finishing the regular season in first place.
Sydney opted to withdraw from the series against Perth after three games due to the Covid pandemic – handing the champion to the Wildcats.
However, Weaver had an enormous impact during his season with the Kings and would be the perfect fit if he could be lured back from France.
Former Perth coach and five-time NBL champion Trevor Gleeson could also be an option for Sydney.
Gleeson is under contract as an NBA assistant coach at the Toronto Raptors, however there is some level of uncertainty following Nick Nurse’s sacking as head coach.
The ex-Wildcats mentor has previously indicated a desire to return to the NBL, although it could prove difficult to prize him away from an NBA job if he had the choice to remain there.
It’s also unclear if a proven personality like Gleeson would suit the current structure in Sydney.
The Kings have recently been successful selecting rising American coaches with G League or NBA experience like Weaver and Buford.
Sydney could follow this path again as they look to secure a head coach for NBL24 and beyond.
Kings chairman and owner Paul Smith stressed the club will take its time in assessing the “global” coaching interest.
“We’ve only just started this phase of the process and the inbound inquiry rate is always high,” Smith said.
“So, we will start there.”
Buford took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to thank the Kings organisation, players and fans for an incredible two seasons of championship success in Sydney.
He admitted he was “disappointed” not to return for a three-peat, but he “respected” the club’s decision and need for clarity in the pursuit of another title.
Buford wished Sydney all the best for the future and said the franchise and city will always hold a “special place” in his heart.
— Chase Buford (@chasebuford) May 17, 2023
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER’S HUGE CALL ON KINGS FUTURE
The Sydney Kings parted ways with back-to-back championship-winning coach Chase Buford because the club wanted to avoid being left high and dry should the American mentor secure an NBA contract.
The Kings confirmed on Tuesday the franchise had opted against activating Buford’s third-year club option, despite the coach expressing a desire to stay.
The son of legendary San Antonio Spurs GM RC Buford is yet to land an NBA job, but he is on the lookout for a role.
It’s understood the Kings requested Buford to commit to the club, but he declined as he wanted to pursue other opportunities.
He even asked Sydney officials if he could be afforded more time, however the club demanded he make a decision.
The Kings are keen to avoid a situation like in 2020 when then head coach Will Weaver left to join the Houston Rockets in an assistant coach role, just six weeks before the season started.
This stance has resulted in the Kings parting ways with Buford following two consecutive championships.
In Sydney’s statement, the club confirmed it had formally granted the former Wisconsin Herd G League coach permission to interview for NBA roles.
However, the Kings couldn’t afford to wait and see if Buford picked up an NBA coaching role.
“Buford continues to consider and interview for a role in the NBA and therefore, and understandably, is unable to exclusively commit for next season to the Sydney Kings, which the club fully respects,” the statement read.
“With NBL24 looming, schedules require NBL clubs to have certainty on key personnel for purposes of planning, player recruitment and in the instance of the Sydney Kings, to be as prepared as it can be to defend its championships.”
It’s understood Buford is disappointed with the Kings unwillingness to wait, hence why he wasn’t quoted in the club’s official release.
He may opt to share his side of the story via social media.
Sydney, though, remain steadfast in the franchise’s decision to part ways with Buford.
Kings chairman and majority owner Paul Smith stressed the club had to come first.
“The timing is challenging but we are at a point where we must make a call to ensure we have certainty about key roles,” Smith said.
“We wish nothing but the best for Chase, this is a difficult decision but one that is made from respect to Chase and his ambitions, but also the best interests of the Sydney Kings.
“Chase has played a monumental role in the success of the club over the past two seasons.
“The Sydney Kings and the entire Hoops Capital fraternity extend a huge thank you to Chase, Kelly and the Buford family that has become, and will always be, Sydney Kings.”
Sydney officials have long stated the club wouldn’t stand in Buford’s way if NBA teams came calling.
The American-born coach was open to staying with the Kings, as recently as March this year.
“That’s the plan, for sure — we’ll try to reload and come back strong and give it another crack,” Buford said.
“I’m sure we’ll have some conversations and see what (NBA head coach) opportunities come up but those are 30 tough positions to get that a million people around the world want.
“I’m just loving where I’m at right now, love being a head coach, love coaching basketball, so, whatever that looks like, is fine by me.
“I’ve got a great job and enjoy coming to work every day.”
In two short seasons, Buford became one of the most-polarising — and well known — personalities in the NBL.
He found himself in hot water with the league on several occasions – and it left him lighter in the hip pocket via multiple fines.
In his first season in charge, he was fined $10,000 and handed a suspended one-match ban for insinuating referee Chris Reid held a bias against his team and writing profanities on the officials’ door following a close loss to Illawarra.
A fortnight later, in Game 2 of the grand final series against the JackJumpers, he was fined $375 after angrily kicking the LED advertising signage, resulting in damage to the panel.
Last season, Buford received a $1875 fine for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
He attracted the league’s attention for saying: “Chris Reid sucks”, down the barrel of the camera during an 11-point loss to the Taipans prior to being ejected.
The Kings will now begin a global search for its next head coach.
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