Hoops

36ers confirm departure of Joey Wright

ME, there's an argument that says if you hire someone, you should want to invest time/effort into them reaching their potential. It's in your best interest. (Same goes with a club owner and a coach?) Particularly for young players.

Froling is about 21. Maybe the game until now has come easy, maybe he's had a good handle on diet through college nutritionists or living at home or whatever. Or just got lucky. Now maybe he's living solo and getting Uber Eats daily because he doesn't know how/what to cook. Club nutritionist gives him some vague tips but perhaps they're not all that practical or direct.

From that point, do you demean him or work out what will get him on track? If you're an employer of choice with huge market to choose from, maybe you just cut him loose and find someone more self-sufficient. But this is Adelaide in a growing NBL. They got an import big that might've covered that position but look how that turned out.

Maybe check White's twitter for what it says about White.

And another reading of his 'revelations' [& unsubstantiated claim] is that Joey pulled every string/pushed every button to try to get the group together and performing, which was always going to be a challenge, particularly after solo Randle was inserted instead of a quality team-first, distributing guard, irrespective of the personality issues.

It's not mind boggling when the consortium was running the Sixers crowds were down to 3.5k to 4k a game we had a young team struggling to survive....you work it out. If you stayed around after games long enough you would have known what was going on.

That's depressing.

A lot of people love to make a throw away line of "they should just spend more money" - the 36ers in the past didn't have money to spend the owners may have been "wealthy" to the average person but they weren't "own a sports team wealthy". The NBL had sweet FA money, run on the smell of an oily rag.

This is why many of us buy NBL TV still even though we don't use it and are watching on SBS streaming where us watching is counted to the benefit of the NBL.

I've got 36ers merch I never really needed, and I'd go to games between two NBL sides that I didn't care for. Nobody ever went "oh Hunter Pirates that's a team I want to watch", but a lot of us here are passionate about the NBL succeeding generally not just our own club.

Hopefully the 36ers are at the point where there's stability in capital, not just draining one person - and enough money to make sure people are paid their wages.

"There were months that I didn't get paid."

SOS era, wasn't it?

Bottle collecting is true and yes they helped cleaned Titanium Arena after games in the early days.

Very interesting interview.

Wonder if Joeys frustrations with the values at the 36ers has anything to do with the arrival of both Ben Kavenagh and STEVEN TRIGG?

Surely not!?!? I mean Joey could do it and do well in that role has the CV but they always go guys coaching in the system. Probably more likely an AC role. What's Shaka on, around AUD$5mil?

is joey wright dual citizenship

Joey Wright is on the shortlist for the Texas Longhorns job.

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/joey-wright-on-longhorns-shortlist/

That would be nice to see him return to his alma mater.

Good to see Joey call out the three imports they were big problems all season. Randle for his selfishness and Griffin & Moore were just duds who weren't up to it. Also good to see him mention Froling his attitude and professionalism were issues all season will be hopeful we don't give him another contract.

You could really tell this season Joey was just burnt out coaching this motley bunch.

Most people who snot someone in the work place don't last long.

Very interesting article.

Naming Randle, Griffin, Moore and Froling that's harsh.

So does that mean Moore was actually not injured?

If not then we lost a season of import wages for no reason.

Your kidding, right? He is going to take what is basically a low paying admin role working for an organisation of non-basketball people and referees?

Good for being aspirational but have to be real too.

Basically Randle, Griffin, Moore, Froling didn't show up to play, hence getting benched so frequently.

These players were frustrating as hell to watch and deserved every bit of benching. Randle stifled offence, Griffin lazy as it gets on defence, Froling no effort.

From the Advertiser today:

Joey Wright says he’s not bitter and has left as 36ers coach for mental health reasons
Outgoing Adelaide coach Joey Wright gives the reasons why he has left the club after seven seasons in charge.

Reece Homfray, The Advertiser
Subscriber only
|
February 27, 2020 2:19pm

Outgoing coach Joey Wright says he had to leave the Adelaide 36ers for the sake of his own mental health after realising his values were no longer aligned with the club and some of the players.

Wright and the 36ers have mutually agreed to part ways after seven seasons and two grand final appearances.

He had two seasons remaining on his contract and reached a financial settlement with the club on Wednesday after weeks of discussions with club owner Grant Kelley.

Wright was not interviewed as part of the club’s external review and said his departure had nothing to do with its findings which have recommended changes to leadership and culture.

“It was mutual, they wanted to go in a different direction and so did I, and that’s what it came down to,” he told The Advertiser.

“I don’t feel wronged or upset, that is definitely the true emotion, that’s no bullsh**, I’m not mad at the 36ers at all, not even a little bit.

“To get away from that situation is for me, health-wise, the best thing to happen. As far as mental health, dealing with the pressures and stresses of that situation.

“I’m just concerned our values were inconsistent with one another and not that mine were right and theirs were wrong, but they were inconsistent and we just weren’t heading in the right direction.

“I think we had enough respect for each other to say ‘well, you go, and the other said ‘yep, I’m OK with that’.

“When you sign that contract one of two things will happen, even if you see out the end of it, they were going to ask me to leave or I was going to want to leave, and this is both of them at the same time.

“Realising the time was right and nothing was going to change, that’s how I made my decision.”

The 36ers have missed the finals the past two seasons and towards the end, Wright’s relationship was excellent with some players and non-existent with others – namely imports Jerome Randle, Eric Griffin, Ramone Moore and Aussie big man Harry Froling.

“The ones who it wasn’t good with, it wasn’t good. I’m not a halfway person, I can’t be lukewarm, you’re either with me or against me and there were four who weren’t really committed and by then the three imports and Harry didn’t give us what we needed. That was the reality of it,” Wright said.

“I would have loved for those guys to be a little bit more driven but we weren’t on the same page, and that’s not the club’s fault, that’s my fault and I tried everything I could to get them on the same page as everybody else.”

Wright did not attend Saturday’s night’s club MVP awards dinner because he didn’t feel right about it.

“We were still in a (legal) situation,” Wright said.

“I didn’t feel overly welcomed and I didn’t feel welcoming either.

“But I do plan on doing something for the people I want to see at some point in time, for fans to come along and have a drink and the sponsors who I have a good relationship with, I want to thank them.”

Wright’s final game against Perth was his 500th as an NBL coach and he said he was proud of his time at Adelaide, including being named coach of the year.

“In order for us to be as competitive as we were, I was giving more than what I felt I should, because I still have friends and family (to spend time with),” he said.

“The stuff I set up in the community, our academy program, even the move to get Terrance (Ferguson) here (before the NBA draft).

“We were relevant for seven years I was there. Before that when I saw Adelaide on our schedule it wasn’t something I thought ‘oh shit, we’re going to play Adelaide’.

“I think that changed, we developed some guys to be better than before they got here, I think the program excelled and that’s what I’m most proud of.

“We still won more games than any other club except Perth over the last seven years ... and that in itself is a championship in my mind, I can live with that.”

Wright becomes an Australian citizen in September and has no immediate plans to leave the city he now calls home.

“I’m committed to my daughter to let her get through the year and she’s at a pivotal age, and I want to make sure wherever I go next I’m going to be locked in to get her through high school,” he said.

Interesting read from the Adelaide Now paper (posted yesterday at 8am, not sure if that's before the announcement):

he Adelaide 36ers and coach Joey Wright are engaged in a legal talks as their protracted path towards a seemingly inevitable divorce continues.

The club is being represented by high-profile lawyer Greg Griffin as the two parties continue to negotiate the terms of Wright’s exit.

Wright has been coach of the 36ers for the past seven seasons and remains contracted for the next two after he signed a five-year deal in 2017.

It’s understood they reached a verbal agreement on a contractual payout around two weeks ago, but have not yet reached a formal settlement.

It’s unclear whether Wright is walking away from the job or the club is sacking him after it commissioned an external review into its basketball operations.

Wright was invited to the club’s MVP dinner on Saturday night and a place was set for him at the coaches’ table, and while he did not show, the club did not take issue with his absence.

It came as team owner Grant Kelley declared the disappointing end to the season a “line in the sand” moment in his dream to restore Adelaide’s basketball reputation as “title town” following three championships from 1998 to 2002.

But in an interview with SEN last week he seemed resigned to the fact that his time at Adelaide was now over and he was unlikely to coach in the NBL again.

“As a group we finished 12-16, three games away from the fourth-placed team, better attitudes and harder work would have maybe curbed that,” he said.

Adelaide officials declined to comment on the matter on Tuesday as the external review into the team missing finals for the past two seasons continued.

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Preliminary findings of the review were presented to Kelley last week, but a full report is yet to be completed.

Wright could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Despite Adelaide’s underwhelming season on the court, the club still drew record crowds to its new home venue at the Entertainment Centre and reported a surge in membership and corporate support.

The NBL finals begin with Perth hosting Cairns on Friday night and Sydney hosting Melbourne on Saturday.

If Gaze is a basketball mastermind, where is his club the Melbourne Tigers? Dead buried and long forgotten. He could flat out play however has no clue. He went where dad told him to go, the offence was about him. No basketball smarts or high level iq required. He had fundamental ball skills that others didn’t. If he had the ball, he attempted to score. No future plan for the rest of the shot clock, just a I must score mentality. That wo t win you many games as a coach unfortunately.

I am alway worried about forcing someone like Brett Maher into a coaching role. Remember the way the Sixers tarnished and destroyed the name of Scott Ninnis, doesn’t he really want to go down that road?

310, in whose opinion? An anonymous forum poster. Man, I hope the 6ers listen to that. LOL Not

yea. I agree. Gaze would be a coup. He is not dumb so with 3 years of NBL HC experience now under his belt he is probably going to be much better for it. Great mentor and the pull to recruit guys.

The 6ers need to continue to bring through talent like Mudronja, Mayen, Hulland, White, Rigoni, Garang and Harris and need a coach that can attract and develop these guys as well as connect well with the youth crop coming through - only need to look at the stacked team at North mentioned above. Then top level NBA calibre imports with good attitudes.

Real chance to build something amazing here in Adelaide, reminiscent of the Brett Maher, Ninnis, McKay eras and it is a pivotal moment.

The narrative that “Gaze can’t coach” is an interesting one. Apart from the underwhelming results I think some of this stems from Bogut’s body language towards Gaze and (most likely comments off court). Maybe things would be different at Adelaide without a petulant “star” undermining your messages.

You hit it on the head there! Player development and recruitment are most important unless you want to spend, which 6ers can't. You do those things well and you win championships and succeed in other metrics too.

Gaze with the right support team could be the right man, likewise CJ Bruton.

Of course, you are qualified posting anonymously in a public forum to make such as assessment LOL LOL

I really don't understand the anti Gaze sentiment.

I think there is always an underlying jealousy by the masses of basketball tragics and resentment when great players move into coaching like they were entitled.

What an amazing CV he has. Knows how to win, knows the game, can relate to athletes, having been there and done it. Keep in mind he joined a franchise that had struggled for years before and got them back into the finals in 3 years, also building the foundation for their success this year.

If Gaze wants it and Kelley makes a business decision based on who is best qualified then Gaze will mostly likely be successful. Think he'd be a great candidate.

I’d rather Brett Maher than Gaze.
Seriously, Gaze won’t be coach. Love the man as a player, commentator but not as a coach.

"ABC news interview today
Andrew Gaze is keen to couch Adelaide."

Gaze's couch credentials are impeccable

Surely this means teys is gone as well. No other coach in their right mind would select a domestic standard player for nbl

LOL. Talking to Jantks he knows his place and his role.

Just a good guy that wants to help them out, and has strong views on how the program should be supporting local kids as much as possible.

Must be KB.

Are we expecting a press release from Adelaide shortly to confirm that the sky is blue?

LOL. Talking to Jantks he knows his place and his role.

Just a good guy that wants to help them out, and has strong views on how the program should be supporting local kids as much as possible.

If Jantke gets it, I will walk away after 35 years on supporting. Pretty sure you’re taking the pi55 though anon.

“Bruton would certainly be a very JVG-like signing. I mean, he might be great in the role, but there's other names in this thread that I think would be safer selections, especially given JVG's history.”

Yeah but it was Andrew Jarman who said Alistair Clarkson will coach the crows.

Grain of salt

Bruton would certainly be a very JVG-like signing. I mean, he might be great in the role, but there's other names in this thread that I think would be safer selections, especially given JVG's history.

Andrew Jarman said CJ Bruton was in line to get the job.

Do we want a rookie coach? Sounds like Marty Clarke all over again.

An acrimonious end for Joey, no surprise.

Thank God thats over....

is everyone expecting new assistant coaches to

Very classy announcement. Very amicable.

Sad to see you go Joey but hopefully its upwards for both parties.

Officially a sell out, well done to every one that supports this great team. Plus it's a game that has no effect on the final standings but yet people in Perth are behind basketball here.


Rd 1 of the AFL starts sat between West coast and
freo and there still tickets available, just shows how popular the cats are and the lack of coverage they get.


Hope it's a great game and all the best for both teams in the finals