Sydney won’t stand in the way if NBA teams come calling on back-to-back championship coach Chase Buford.
But, Right now, the combative Kings coach is focused on putting together a roster in search of a rare three-peat, with Kings owner Paul Smith keen to exercise the club option on Buford’s contract for NBL24. The Kings could even renegotiate a longer-term deal — provided he doesn’t land in the big league.
“That’s the plan, for sure — we’ll try to reload and come back strong and give it another crack,” Buford said.
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“I’m sure we’ll have some conversations and see what (NBA head coach) opportunities come up but those are 30 tough positions to get that a million people around the world want.
“I’m just loving where I’m at right now, love being a head coach, love coaching basketball, so, whatever that looks like, is fine by me.
“I’ve got a great job and enjoy coming to work every day.”
Smith wears the Kings’ success at fostering NBA talent as a badge of honour, with Xavier Cooks the latest to step up, and he said he’d like to see Buford do the same.
In two short seasons, the 34-year-old has become one of the most-polarising — and well known — personalities in the NBL.
At different times, he’s danced on the sidelines, celebrated big plays with his charges, kicked in doors and directed plenty of rage at his favourite sparring partners — the referees.
It’s left him lighter in the pocket and with an army of haters outside Sydney, who, if they were looking for some compunction, better not hold their breath.
“I’m not going to apologise for being who I am,” Buford said.
“I know, for a lot of people, I’m not their cup of tea.
“But I think, for the guys I go to work with every day, they have a lot of respect for me and the way we go about it and it’s a fun environment that we’ve created in our building.
“I’m happy with the opinions of the people closest to me and that’s what matters most.”
The reload is already well advanced for the Kings. They’ve locked away much of the supporting cast that led them to title No.5, renegotiating young gun Jaylin Galloway’s contract to add two more years. Galloway, still just 20, enters his fourth season in the NBL, all with the Kings, and his combination of athleticism and defensive prowess has some touting him as a future NBA talent. The Kings have also locked in grand final hero Angus Glover for the next two seasons and, on Sunday, exercised forward Kouat Noi’s team option for NBL24.
Buford’s under no illusion the challenge in finding a replacement for reigning MVP and new Washington Wizard Xavier Cooks is monumental.
“I don’t think you can just act like you can find a like-for-like replacement and just go from there — it will be all about how you build the roster and find new pieces that fit together,” he said.
Buford wouldn’t be drawn on outside talent — free agency doesn’t officially commence until Thursday — but star Cairns big man Keanu Pinder is a name that continues to pop up as a potential Cooks replacement. Grand final MVP Derrick Walton will test his value in the overseas market, while both Justin Simon and the club have a mutual interest in a return.
Basketball journalist
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