HANDY OPTION

JackJumper coaching lure to NBA gun

AN NBA championship winning assistant coach who has worked with superstars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kyrie Irving has emerged as a candidate to coach the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Phil Handy — a former Melbourne Tigers and West Sydney Razorbacks guard — has become one of the world’s best development coaches following NBA stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors.

Handy has been to six consecutive NBA Finals — four with the Cavaliers ( 2015- 2018), one with the Raptors ( 2019) and the Lakers this year.

The 49- year- old California native is keen to become an NBA head coach, but an opportunity in this space isn’t presently available.

Handy’s name has been mentioned as an option for the JackJumper’s maiden head coach in the 20212022 NBL season, according to Boomers legend Chris Anstey.

“I have heard from a couple of sources and, if this is true, he would be an absolutely incredible hire for the JackJumpers,” Anstey said on his Two Way Talk basketball podcast.

“Phil has been involved in the NBA for a long time, he played in the

NBL and he is one of the best development coaches in the world.

“He aspires to be a head coach. He might not get that opportunity in the NBA for the next two or three years, so he may take his opportunity to get his head coaching experience in Tasmania. If that rumour is true, he would be an incredible acquisition.

The new Tasmanian team has launched a global search for a head coach. JackJumpers CEO Simon Brookhouse declared the club would hire the best candidate for the job.

“We have said from the outset that we want to find the very best candidate for this role,” he said.

“Having assessed the market, we believe this is a tremendously attractive position for a coach from anywhere around the world. Australia is a very attractive destination for players and coaches at present and the NBL is one of the best leagues in the world outside of the NBA.”