Will Weaver leaving Long Island Nets to become head coach of NBL’s Sydney Kings

Long Island Nets head coach Will Weaver is heading to Australia to become head coach of the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League. The Kings announced the news of their head coach on Twitter.

Weaver will continue to coach Long Island, which will play in its first G League post-season next month starting next week. He will leave the Nets at the conclusion of the playoffs.

Weaver has been the assistant coach of the Australian Boomers, the Australian national team which will play in the FIBA World Cup this summer. Long Island Nets forward Mitch Creek is one of the players on the team.

Paul Smith, the Sydney Kings Chairman, expressed his excitement at the hiring.

“We are proud to have Will join us at such an important time for the Sydney Kings. He is a cutting-edge coach with a focus on player development, perfect for the forward-looking organisation we are currently building.”

Creek took to Twitter to congratulate Weaver on his new gig.

Creek himself is expected to return to the NBL next season with an expansion team.

Earlier in the week, when rumors of the possibility began to swirl in Australia, Kenny Atkinson was asked about the prospect of losing Weaver.

:I’m such a big believer in international basketball, FIBA basketball, it would be a great opportunity if that’s the case. On the other hand we love him as our G League coach,” said the Nets head coach.

The Kings went 18-10 in the 2018-19 season. Andrew Bogut, who recently signed with the Warriors, was one of the main players on the team winning the MVP.

The contract Weaver signed is a ‘long-term deal’, a source told FOX Sports Australia. The Kings job is one of the most —if not the most— prestigious coaching jobs in the NBL.

Weaver became head coach of Long Island in June, 2018, after serving in the role of special assistant to Atkinson. a job he had previously held under Brett Brown of the 76ers. Before that, he was a video co-ordinator and basketball operations assistant.

Prior to that, he had worked at the University of Texas.

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