Brett Brown to Coach Australian Men's Team

[Nolan]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/58213/20090331/spurs_assistant_to_coach_team_australia/

San Antonio Spurs' assistant coach Brett Brown has been selected as head coach of Australia’s men’s basketball team, the Boomers, through to London 2012.

Brown, a 48-year old American, has been an Assistant Coach with the Spurs for the past six years and
has extensive experience with the Boomers program and the National Basketball League.

This really is not big news but its always good to see people within our organization get opportunities like this.

Brown already has a extensive history with basketball Australia so this really is not a surprise. I hope he does well.

[Donald Kaufman]

Yeah this is pretty big news over here in Oz.

I think it's a great move, and the most obvious choice to take over from Brian Goorjian.

Hopefully Bogut is healthy for the next Olympics, we might be able to make some noise at the London games.

[Nolan]

Well considering Canada is not going to make it too the Olympics in 2012 I think i'll be rooting for Australia.

[second_coming#15]

I think this is a good move for the Boomers, I never really liked Goorjian the previous coach.

But what wasn't mentioned in the Wiretap is that apparently the Boomers are going to be playing in the Vegas Summer League. Of course, Australian NBA players such as Andrew Bogut, and Patty Mills (if he gets drafted) won't be able to play for the Australian National Team due to commitments to their teams, but I think it will be a good move to showcase some of the other Australian players.

It's significant because the Australian league has always made a big deal of trying to keep their best home grown players at home.