The Phoenix have unveiled the previous South East Melbourne Magic champion on a two-year deal in a full circle second for the Californian, who spent 9 years in Melbourne’s Heartland honing his craft on the court docket.
The 55-year-old was an assistant to the legendary Brian Goorjian on the Boomers’ history-making Tokyo Olympic bronze-medal group and replaces Simon Mitchell because the second coach in franchise historical past.
Kelly must hit the bottom working — he takes the reins on the identical day NBL free company opens.
“Free agency happens very fast and, with all the conversations that go and people starting to lean one way or the other, we need to be very quick in the direction we want to go,” Kelly, a former NBL Coach of the Year in Cairns, instructed News Corp.
“We have a good idea of the guys we’d like to speak with and, with a good base right now in Mitch Creek and Alan Williams, two of the best players in the NBL, and Reuben Te Rangi and a couple of great young players in Owen Foxwell and Anzac Rissetto, there’s a great nucleus there to build off.”
Kelly, plucked out of Perth the place he was helping John Rillie, performed within the outdated SEABL with Nunawading, gained the 1996 NBL title taking part in underneath Goorjian and assisted Dean Vickerman on the 2018 Melbourne United championship group.
He’s centered on making a squad that may depend on its defence on the Phoenix, one thing the membership has struggled to do in its first 4 seasons within the league.
“Having a consistent defensive presence is the decider if we win consistently or we don’t,” he stated.
“We’ll be able to put together a great offensive team who can score points, but it’s super important for us to put a great defensive team that has toughness and fights and gets it done on the defensive end consistently.
“Coming back as a head coach, it’s full circle. Back when I was playing, from the very start, the south east was the basketball Heartland there and the fans there embrace it and I can’t wait to be a part of it again.”
SEM boss Tommy Greer stated the membership settled on Kelly after an exhaustive course of.
“Mike aligned with our key priorities — we were looking for NBL experience, a defensive-minded head coach and someone with the ability to build strong relationships with players,” Greer stated.
“He’s also got strong connections with the south east so he knows the landscape well.
“We’ve already had a number of conversations throughout the process and we’re incredibly aligned when it comes to how we’re thinking about the construction of the team.”
With solely 4 gamers contracted, the primary telephone name Greer and Kelly will make at 9am on Thursday when free company opens is to Cairns’ defensive dynamo Bul Kuol, who’s among the many most-coveted free brokers within the league.
They can even strategy Brisbane large Gorjok Gak, who’s seen as one other piece that may strengthen their defensive depth.
The Phoenix would like to be within the working for William McDowell-White, however the actuality is that they have chunk of wage cap tied up in superstars Creek and Williams and it’s understood the 24-year-old level guard has put a worth on his companies that might rule a number of golf equipment out.
Kelly’s spouse Annette has been by his facet for 28 years as he’s travelled his “two homes” — Australia and the US taking part in and training. Children Ashton, Kirsten and Josh — who needs to comply with in his dad’s footsteps on the court docket — are his largest helps.
“My mum would still get upset if I called Australia home, but it is,” he stated.
“Our kids were born here, and this is where we base ourselves.
“But, when we go back to the states, we also say ‘we’re going home’.”
He maintains a thick American accent, despite the fact that he’s been in Australia for the most effective a part of the final 33 years.
“It’s funny, if I don’t listen to myself or think about my accent, I just feel really comfortable here, It’s just where I’ve kind of grown up as a person,” he stated.
“I think Americans have to try to lose their accents, actually, and I never have.
“If I have a couple of beers, I think I can do the Australian accent a little better, but this is what it is, for better or worse.
“When I go back to the states, people say ‘oh, you say that funny’, I think there’s a few Aussie sayings I’ve picked up, for sure.”
NBA DREAM COULD DERAIL KINGS’ THREEPEAT PLAN
Sydney gained’t stand in the way in which if NBA groups come calling on back-to-back championship coach Chase Buford.
But, Right now, the combative Kings coach is concentrated on placing collectively a roster looking for a uncommon three-peat, with Kings proprietor Paul Smith eager to train the membership choice on Buford’s contract for NBL24. The Kings may even renegotiate a longer-term deal — offered he doesn’t land within the large league.
“That’s the plan, for sure — we’ll try to reload and come back strong and give it another crack,” Buford stated.
“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.”
Smith wears the Kings’ success at fostering NBA expertise as a badge of honour, with Xavier Cooks the newest to step up, and he stated he’d prefer to see Buford do the identical.
In two brief seasons, the 34-year-old has turn into one of many most-polarising — and well-known — personalities within the NBL.
At completely different instances, he’s danced on the sidelines, celebrated large performs together with his prices, kicked in doorways and directed loads of rage at his favorite sparring companions — the referees.
It’s left him lighter within the pocket and with a military of haters exterior Sydney, who, in the event that they had been searching for some compunction, higher not maintain their breath.
“I’m not going to apologise for being who I am,” Buford stated.
“I know, for a lot of people, I’m not their cup of tea.
“But I think, for the guys I go to work with every day, they have a lot of respect for me and the way we go about it and it’s a fun environment that we’ve created in our building.
“I’m happy with the opinions of the people closest to me and that’s what matters most.”
The reload is already properly superior for the Kings. They’ve locked away a lot of the supporting solid that led them to title No.5, renegotiating younger gun Jaylin Galloway’s contract so as to add two extra years. Galloway, nonetheless simply 20, enters his fourth season within the NBL, all with the Kings, and his mixture of athleticism and defensive prowess has some touting him as a future NBA expertise. The Kings have additionally locked in grand closing hero Angus Glover for the following two seasons and, on Sunday, exercised ahead Kouat Noi’s group choice for NBL24.
Buford’s underneath no phantasm the problem to find a alternative for reigning MVP and new Washington Wizard Xavier Cooks is monumental.
“I don’t think you can just act like you can find a like-for-like replacement and just go from there — it will be all about how you build the roster and find new pieces that fit together,” he stated.
Buford wouldn’t be drawn on exterior expertise — free company doesn’t formally start till Thursday — however star Cairns large man Keanu Pinder is a reputation that continues to pop up as a possible Cooks alternative. Grand closing MVP Derrick Walton will take a look at his worth within the abroad market, whereas each Justin Simon and the membership have a mutual curiosity in a return.
Originally revealed as NBL low season news: Mike Kelly named South East Melbourne Phoenix new NBL coach
Source: www.news.com.au
