Australian Boomer Mitch Creek has provided his thoughts on the reported hiring of Brett Brown to be the national team head coach.
ESPN reported yesterday morning Brown, who currently coaches the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA, will return to the helm as Boomers coach for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, replacing Andrej Lemanis. Brown previously coached Australia from 2009-2012.
Creek, who played under Lemanis at this year’s FIBA World Cup, has given an account of how he found out about the news and his thoughts on Brown.
“I actually spoke to Andrej Lemanis (yesterday) afternoon,” Creek told The SEN NBL Show.
“He ran me through everything, and we had a really good conversation. It is what it is, and it is change but at the same time I haven’t had much to do with Brett Brown at all.
“All I’ve heard is amazing things about the guy, how good a coach he is, how good he is with his players.
“All I can do right now is try better myself, stay healthy and put my hand up for hopefully an opportunity at a selection camp and if that comes up then we just take it where it comes and see where the chips land.”
Creek said his chat with Lemanis was a private conversation and something he wouldn’t expand on.
Despite the change, the South East Melbourne Phoenix star believes the culture amongst the Boomers won’t be impacted.
“There’s a culture that’s been instilled for a long time now. That’s not going to waver, that’s not going to change because a few things get said in the media,” Creek said.
“I know the guys in that team and there are going to be the same guys who have been present in previous campaigns and they’re going to be the guys that whatever happens, it’s going to be up to them to continue that same mentality, the same approach we have, the gold medal mentality, that Boomers approach.
“Just because some things get said or changes happen, it’s not a bad thing. We have such a deep roster with so much potential to be great and to medal, that pressure is always there to perform.
“Regardless of who we have coaching us, the players will do everything we can to chase that gold medal dream.”
Listen to this week’s edition of The SEN NBL Show below featuring Sam Hargreaves, Peter Hooley, South East Melbourne Phoenix forward Mitch Creek, Sydney Kings guard Shaun Bruce and former Sydney Kings captain Brad Rosen