The high regard the NBA holds for the NBL’s players and coaches has been a recurring theme for ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon throughout their Australian tour.<\/p>\n
A key example of that was revealed by ESPN Australia’s Olgun Uluc, who told a live recording of The Hoop Collective in Melbourne that South East Melbourne Phoenix head coach Josh King had interviewed for a key NBA coaching role in the off-season.<\/p>\n
“I was told that over the off-season, when the Portland Trail Blazers had a vacant head coach position, they interviewed Josh King,” Uluc said.<\/p>\n
“Josh King had a 90-minute Zoom interview with Tom Dundon, the new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers. And my understanding was that in that search they cast a wide net.<\/p>\n
“He sat for a very real interview with the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers as a legitimate potential candidate for their head coach position.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
King has held coaching roles amongst US college teams, in the German Bundesliga, and in the Czech, Turkish and Puerto Rican leagues, before joining the Phoenix in 2024.<\/p>\n
He has led South East Melbourne to consecutive Playoffs appearances in his first two seasons at the helm.<\/p>\n
“The South East Melbourne Phoenix were second last in cash spend [in NBL26],” Uluc said. “So Josh King is the guy that did the most with the least. They came third last year.”<\/p>\n
Windhorst, who spoke to several candidates in the Blazers’ search, said Dundon was heavily involved, often calling them personally for a second interview straight after their first.<\/p>\n
“I promise you he will be on other teams’ lists and definitely be paid attention to,” Windhorst said of King.<\/p>\n
The interview is the latest sign of the NBL’s growing standing with the NBA, with Windhorst noting the NBA “is looking to the NBL for more than just players”.<\/p>\n
“I feel like the NBL is in a really good place right now,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The respect level that it has internationally has grown.”<\/p>\n