Sydney Return off Cards for Weaver

Following the announcement that Chase Buford will not be coaching the Sydney Kings next season, whispers of a potential Will Weaver return began to surface - whispers that have now been put to bed.

Weaver took charge of the Kings for a solitary season in 2019-20, and took them back to the top of the ladder come season’s end for the first time in over 10 years.

They did, however, fail to complete the Grand Final Series against the Perth Wildcats due to the Covid pandemic and travel restrictions and forfeit the series after three games.

Following his sole season in charge of the Kings, Weaver headed to the NBA as an assistant coach with Houston – and brought All-NBL First Team and Sydney fan-favourite Jae’Sean Tate with him.

Tate has since played over 170 games for Houston, and earned All-Rookie First Team honours in his madien campaign with the side.

Will Weaver and Jae'Sean Tate during the 2019-20 NBL season.

After two years at the Rockets, Weaver became head coach of Paris Basketball in the French LNB Pro A where he linked up with Chris Goulding, and he says an NBA return is on the cards.

“The club (Paris) offered me the chance to stay,” Weaver said. “We discussed it in March that they wanted me to stay on as head coach and general manager.

“I was super flattered that they would trust me and offer me a long-term deal to do that, but the timing wasn’t right for me and my family.

“We have opportunities back in the NBA, so that’s where I’ll be coaching next year.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Will Weaver sur les raisons de son départ du <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> ???<br><br>Le technicien américain a refusé une prolongation de contrat à Paris pour une opportunité en NBA.<br><br>? <a href="https://twitter.com/Flavinino?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Flavinino</a> <a href="https://t.co/oFX5obFED3">pic.twitter.com/oFX5obFED3</a></p>&mdash; Paris BBall On Air (@ParisB_OnAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisB_OnAir/status/1658866291044675589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Weaver and Goulding's Paris side missed out on the playoffs after needing to match or exceed the results of both Strasbourg and Graveline-Dunkerque to earn a place in the post-season, but ultimately fell to the Victor Wembanyama-led Metropolitans 92 by eight points.

Projected number one NBA draft selection Wembanyama was joined by fellow draft prospect Bilal Coulibaly and NBL23 imports TaShawn Thomas and Barry Brown Jr in the win - as well as former New Zealand Breaker Hugo Besson.