After being part of the Boomers coaching staff that guided Australia to the bronze medal game at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and leading the Sydney Kings to the NBL Grand Final as the team's head coach Will Weaver was offered the chance to coach the Houston Rockets last season, and what a season it was.
Acting as the assistant coach to the Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, Weaver saw first-hand player movements such as Russell Westbrook and James Harden being traded to Washington and Brooklyn respectively, the Rockets breaking NBA records for the most injured roster of all time as the team saw 3o different players log minutes for the Rockets in 2020-21), two of those players being NBL stars Jae'Sean Tate and Cam Oliver.
Topics include... How the opportunity to coach the Houston Rockets came about (2:00) What was the process he went through to become an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets (5:00) What is Will Weaver's specific role within the Rockets coaching staff (7:00) How the Rockets handled the trades of both Russell Westbrook and James Harden (10:00) The Rockets NBL connection with Jae'Sean Tate and Cam Oliver last season and how they viewed their contributions (12:30) Thoughts from watching the Boomers achieve their first-ever Olympic medal (14:30) Nathan Sobey's improved role for the Boomers play another season in Australia (17:00) How the Rockets handled losing 20 games in a row and the positives Will saw despite the team record (22:00) If playing the Olympics as Dante Exum did, is a better path to gain an NBA contract than individual workouts, the route taken by Thon Maker (24:00) What were the biggest hurdles he went through during his first year with the Rockets and what did he learn from them (33:00)Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, AJ Ogilvy, Daniel Kickert
Current NBL Stars - Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Vic Law, Jack White, Dejan Vasiljevic, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Brad Newley, Dusty Hannahs
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton, Donald Sloan
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Darnell Mee, Isaac Burton, Adonis Jordan, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry, Gary Ervin, Ebi Ere, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more.
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