Vanderjagt Addresses Bullets Drama

Brisbane Bullets interim coach Greg Vanderjagt has addressed the turmoil that surrounded the club this week.

On Tuesday the Bullets made a second coaching change of the season, with Vanderjagt taking over coaching duties from Sam Mackinnon, who moved back into the GM of Basketball position. It followed the club parting ways with former head coach James Duncan in late November.

It left Brisbane with their third coach in five games when they hit the court against Cairns on Wednesday night, where they fell in a brave effort against the Taipans 85-76.

Speaking after the game, Vanderjagt explained how his focus has now solely turned to looking after the playing group and not getting sucked into the off-court controversy.

“From a club perspective, from a team perspective, what’s happened has happened. All I want to talk about is the playing group,” Vanderjagt said.

“That’s the staff’s concern, and my concern is for Sobes (Nathan Sobey) and the rest of the group, is their welfare and wellbeing.

“The distractions are frustrating, there’s no doubt about that for the group. The club has made some decisions over the past couple of weeks the club is entitled to make.

“What we need to moving forward is compete and play for each other, like this group did tonight.

“My focus is on the playing group and getting this group ready to compete in Adelaide on Saturday night against a talented basketball team.”

Vanderjagt added the search for a permanent coach, and other off-court matters, are now being dealt by CEO Peter McLennan and the ownership group.

“We need to find consistency, in terms of what we do off the court as an organisation, there will be a lot of questions about what’s happened but right now they’re questions for our CEO and the ownership group. They’re managing the situation as it keeps unfolding,” he said.

“From what I understand there’s things in process. I don’t know when those things will come to a close and a decision is going to be made. That’s a question for the CEO.”