Highly regarded Rob Beveridge is set to look overseas for a basketball coaching position after the Sydney Kings announced American Will Weaver as their new coach .
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Kings chairman Paul Smith said Weaver's appointment might be seen by some as surprising or left-field, but it had been an exhaustive recruitment process.
Weaver is head coach of the Brooklyn Nets affiliate the Long Island Nets, who compete in the NBA G League, and is also an assistant coach of the Australian Boomers.
The Nets, whose roster includes Australian Mitch Creek, top the eastern conference of the G League and are set to participate in the playoffs, meaning Weaver won't join Sydney until sometime in April..
With no NBL vacancies left, after Illawarra and himself mutually decided not to renew his contract, Beveridge intends looking overseas if he decides to remain in the sport.
A title winner with Perth in 2010, he guided the Hawks to grand final and semi-final appearances in his four years at the club
With Andrew Gaze leaving Sydney at the end of the season, Beveridge's record and his associations with Kings stars Andrew Bogut, Kevin Lisch and Brad Newley made him a strong candidate for that job..
"He was an outstanding candidate," Smith told AAP.
"Frankly he made our decision very difficult because of the quality of the person and what he brought to the equation,.
"It's one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made in a people decision because of what Rob represents and what I respect.
"I talked to Rob this morning and I've expressed my appreciation and my respect to him and I can only say I hold him in the highest regard for the way he handled the conversation."
Smith said he hadn't approached Trevor Gleeson, a four-time NBL title winner with Perth, who only re-signed with the Wildcats on Friday..
He said Weaver, who he described as a cutting-edge coach, had signed a long-term contract and would continue to work with the Boomers.
'Will brings to the Kings and Australian basketball bring a very rounded, very experienced view," Smith said.'
He stressed the importance of signing a new coach before free agency stars on April 1.
Bogut, whom he described as the 'Mount Rushmore of Australian sport" is one of the few Kings signed for next season.
"We're comfortable with our situation right now. We've got a ,lot of conversations going on with our players who we hold options on," Smith said.
'We want to retain some of the players and want to bring in new talent."
Australian Associated Press
