Trevor Gleeson

Trevor Gleeson Joins Bucks’ Coaching Staff

The Bucks have filled an opening on their coaching staff by hiring Trevor Gleeson as an assistant, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Head coach Adrian Griffin made the announcement prior to tonight’s game at Brooklyn.

Griffin and Gleeson worked together for the past two years on Toronto’s staff before head coach Nick Nurse was fired at the end of last season.

Before coming to the NBA, the 55-year-old Gleeson built a reputation as one of the top coaches in Australia’s National Basketball League, where he led the Perth Wildcats to five championships. He was a two-time winner of NBL Coach of the Year honors.

Gleeson will be given time to adapt to his new surroundings, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

“We’ve kind of had some talks already this year and even in Australia, he’s been watching our games and just kind of giving us and giving me feedback, but he’s someone that I trust,” Griffin told reporters. “He has a great mind for the game. But right now, I think we’ll just ease him in and let him get acclimated to our team, but he’s strong on both sides of the ball. He’ll definitely start doing some of the scouts as he gets more comfortable.”

There has been a vacancy on Milwaukee’s staff since former Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts resigned in October, just days before the start of the regular season.

Eastern Notes: Griffin, Nets, Harris, Cavs, Raptors Staff

The Nets plan to re-sign unrestricted free agent Blake Griffin and are also looking to add depth at center as the free agency period begins, general manager Sean Marks told ESPN’s Malika Andrews and other media members (Twitter link). Money does not appear to be an object — Marks said the Nets are “married to the luxury tax” and owner Joe Tsai is willing to spend whatever it takes to win.

We have more from the Eastern Conference

  • A report that the Sixers are shopping Tobias Harris isn’t accurate, a source familiar with the situation tells Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice. It’s likely that the Harris trade rumor is old news, since his name came up as part of a larger deal with the Rockets earlier this year before James Harden was dealt to the Nets.
  • Along with the pending acquisition of Ricky Rubio, the Cavaliers could look to add another veteran or two in free agency, particularly on the wing, Kelsey Russo of The Athletic writes. Doug McDermott and Reggie Bullock are two names to watch with Cleveland dangling all or part of its mid-level exception for their services. The Rubio deal with the Timberwolves can become official on Friday.
  • The Raptors have added Earl Watson, Trevor Gleeson and Nathaniel Mitchell to Nick Nurse‘s coaching staff. However, former assistant Nate Bjorkgren, who was fired after a season as the Pacers’ head coach, will not return to Toronto, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports (Twitter links).

Australian League Coach Trevor Gleeson To Join Raptors As Assistant

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse will be adding former Perth Wildcats head coach Trevor Gleeson to his bench for the 2021/22 season, tweets Marc Stein.

As Stein notes, Gleeson led the Wildcats to five National Basketball League championships in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Gleeson is the reigning NBL Coach of the Year for the 2020/21 season. Gleeson asked to be released from the final year of his contract with Perth this weekend in order to pursue an NBA opportunity, per a team press statement.

Gleeson led the club to a 171-99 record during his eight seasons with Perth. The Wildcats made it to the championship round again this year, but lost to Melbourne United.

Nurse has been the head man in Toronto since the team’s championship 2018/19 season. He inked a multiyear extension with the club ahead of the 2020/21 season that is set to take him through at least 2024. The Raptors have a 226-138 record under Nurse.

Josh Lewenberg of TSN tweets that Nurse appreciates assistants with head coaching track records, which may have added to Gleeson’s appeal. Lewenberg adds (Twitter link) that Gleeson also served as a basketball coach in Korea and the NBA G League, and moonlit as an Australian rules football coach.