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Will Weaver is an American professional basketball coach who has had a successful career across various teams and leagues. Weaver's coaching career began at the University of Texas at Austin, where he started getting involved in the university's basketball program. He then went on to coach the Australia men's national basketball team, the Brooklyn Nets, the Sydney Kings, and the Houston Rockets. In 2022, Weaver was appointed head coach of Paris Basketball, and most recently, he returned to the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach in 2023. With a wealth of experience and a track record of success, Will Weaver is a well-known figure in the world of basketball coaching.
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What You'll Learn
Will Weaver's coaching career
Will Weaver is an American professional basketball coach. He was born around 1984 and began his coaching career while completing a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, where he got involved in the university's basketball program. After completing his bachelor's degree, Weaver continued his education with a Master of Education and joined the Longhorns as a graduate assistant and later as a special assistant. Following this, he moved to Huntsville, Texas, and joined the Sam Houston State University basketball program as an assistant coach. During his time in Huntsville, Weaver started making connections within the basketball world, notably with Sam Hinkie, then the assistant general manager for the Houston Rockets.
Weaver was hired as a basketball operations assistant and later named video coordinator by Brett Brown. In his subsequent role as a special assistant to Brown, he helped the Philadelphia 76ers through a rebuilding phase, which led to him being hired by the Brooklyn Nets in a similar capacity. After two years with the Nets, Weaver replaced Ronald Nored as the head coach of their NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. In his single season with the club, he led them to win their conference final and recorded Long Island's best season performance since 2016, earning the NBA G League Coach of the Year Award.
On March 22, 2019, Weaver was appointed head coach of the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). In his first season, the Kings were minor champions for the first time in over a decade and advanced to the grand final series, which they lost to the Perth Wildcats due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After finishing as runner-up for the Oklahoma City Thunder head coaching job, Weaver was hired as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets on November 30, 2020. On July 22, 2022, he became the head coach of Paris Basketball of the French LNB Pro A. Following the 2022-23 campaign, he returned to the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach.
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Weaver's time with the Brooklyn Nets
Will Weaver's time with the Brooklyn Nets began when he was hired as a special assistant to head coach Kenny Atkinson. This came after his work with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he helped the club through a rebuilding phase under Sam Hinkie, gaining experience in club redevelopment. During his two-year stint with the Nets, he also served as an assistant coach for the Australian men's national basketball team, a role he took on in 2014 and continued until at least 2018, being part of the Boomers staff at the 2016 Olympics.
After Ronald Nored stepped down as head coach of the Nets' NBA G League affiliate club, the Long Island Nets, Weaver was chosen as his replacement. In his single season with the Long Island Nets, he guided them to their conference final, but they fell short in the league final against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Despite falling short in the final, the Long Island Nets recorded their best season performance since joining the League in 2016, a testament to Weaver's coaching abilities. This impressive season led to Weaver being awarded the NBA G League Coach of the Year Award.
On March 22, 2019, Weaver took on a new challenge as he was announced as the new head coach of the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). In his first season with the Sydney Kings, they became minor champions for the first time in over a decade and reached the grand final series. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kings withdrew after three games and ultimately lost the series. Following this, Weaver continued to build his resume, taking on assistant coach roles with the Houston Rockets and Paris Basketball.
On June 20, 2023, Weaver returned to the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach, marking his second stint with the organisation. This move came after he rejected an offer to renew his contract with Paris Basketball, citing a desire to return to the NBA. With a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success, Weaver's return to the Nets added valuable coaching depth to the organisation.
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Paris Basketball head coach role
Will Weaver is an American basketball coach with a wealth of experience in the NBA and other leagues. He was appointed as the head coach of Paris Basketball, a team in the French LNB Pro A league, on July 22, 2022.
Weaver's journey to becoming a head coach began at the University of Texas at Austin, where he started getting involved in the university's basketball program while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree. After completing his bachelor's degree, he continued his education with a Master of Education and joined the Longhorns as a graduate assistant and then as a special assistant. Weaver then moved to Sam Houston State University, where he joined the men's basketball staff as an assistant coach.
His connection with Sam Hinkie, the assistant general manager for the Houston Rockets at the time, proved pivotal. Weaver was hired as a basketball operations assistant and later served as a video coordinator and special assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers. After a stint with the Brooklyn Nets, he took on his first head coaching role with the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2019. In his inaugural season, the Kings became minor champions for the first time in over a decade and advanced to the grand final series. However, the team chose not to proceed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lost to the Perth Wildcats.
Weaver then returned to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets from 2020 to 2022. On July 22, 2022, he embarked on a new challenge as the head coach of Paris Basketball. While the team offered him a long-term deal, including a position as their GM, Weaver ultimately declined and returned to the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach in 2023.
Throughout his career, Weaver has demonstrated a strong ability to lead and develop teams. His time with the Sydney Kings showcased his potential as a head coach, and his extensive experience as an assistant coach in the NBA has provided him with a deep understanding of the game. Communication is one of the attributes that Weaver values highly, and he aims to utilize it effectively in his coaching endeavours.
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Sydney Kings' success under Weaver
Will Weaver is an American professional basketball coach who was appointed head coach of the Sydney Kings in March 2019. In his first season with the club, Weaver guided the Kings to a 20-8 record, finishing top of the National Basketball League (NBL) ladder. The Kings were minor champions for the first time in over a decade and made it through to the grand final series.
Weaver's success with the Sydney Kings is attributed to his strong coaching abilities and his experience in rebuilding a club and running a development program. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA and the Australian national basketball team, where he gained valuable knowledge and connections within the basketball world.
One of the key strategies that contributed to the Sydney Kings' success under Weaver was the club's financial flexibility. Despite criticism of the Kings' high spending and accusations of "buying a championship," Weaver and the club's management emphasized that they were focused on building an organization that could sustainably win championships rather than just buying talent. Weaver confirmed that the team had built flexibility within the group by taking pay cuts and managing the number of imports and salary types.
Additionally, Weaver's ability to forge strong connections within the basketball world benefited the Sydney Kings. He developed notable relationships, such as with Sam Hinkie of the Houston Rockets, which likely played a role in his subsequent hiring by the Rockets as an assistant coach. Weaver's connections and reputation in the NBA and internationally undoubtedly contributed to the Sydney Kings' success and exposure.
Overall, Will Weaver's tenure as head coach of the Sydney Kings was short but impactful. He led the team to their first minor championship in over a decade and positioned them for continued success. Weaver's coaching abilities, strategic decision-making, and network within the basketball world were instrumental in the Kings' achievements during his time with the club.
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Weaver's early coaching days
Will Weaver's journey to becoming a basketball coach began during his time at the University of Texas at Austin, where he started getting involved in the university's basketball program from a coaching perspective. While working towards his Bachelor of Arts, Weaver helped run camps at the university, which led to an opportunity with the Longhorn program. After completing his bachelor's degree, he pursued a Master of Education and officially joined the Longhorns, first as a graduate assistant and then as a special assistant.
Weaver's next step took him to Huntsville, Texas, where he joined the Sam Houston State University basketball program as an assistant coach. During his time in Huntsville, he began forging connections within the basketball world, notably with Sam Hinkie, then the assistant general manager for the Houston Rockets. Weaver's growing network and reputation as a capable assistant would soon open new doors for him.
After his stint at Sam Houston State University, Weaver was hired as a basketball operations assistant and later named video coordinator. He continued to impress, and was eventually promoted to special assistant for his final two seasons with the club. Weaver's experience and skills in rebuilding a club and running a development program were recognised, and he was hired by the Brooklyn Nets as a special assistant to head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Weaver's time with the Brooklyn Nets marked a significant step forward in his coaching career. After two years with the Nets, he took on a new challenge, becoming the head coach of the Sydney Kings in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) in 2019. In his inaugural season with the Kings, the team achieved remarkable success, becoming minor champions for the first time in over a decade and advancing to the grand final series. However, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted their momentum, and they ultimately lost the series to the Perth Wildcats.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Weaver was born in 1984 and is currently in his late thirties.
Will Weaver is an American professional basketball coach.
Will Weaver has been a coach for the University of Texas Longhorn program, the Sam Houston State University basketball program, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Brooklyn Nets, the Sydney Kings, the Houston Rockets, and Paris Basketball.
Will Weaver is currently the head coach of Paris Basketball, a team in the LNB Pro A, a French basketball league.
Yes, Will Weaver has previously been a head coach for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Long Island Nets, the Brooklyn Nets' NBA G League affiliate club.
