Lemanis joins NBL coaching 300 club
THE people and the process.
They have always been – and always will be - the guiding lights for Brisbane Bullets mentor Andrej Lemanis who brings up his 300th game as an NBL head coach this Thursday night.
Lemanis will be the 13th man in NBL history to reach the milestone when the Bullets take on Cairns at the Cairns Convention Centre in the third “Sunshine Stoush’’ of the season.
After serving as an assistant coach with the Townsville Crocs, Lemanis took the reins at the New Zealand Breakers in 2006.
He guided the Breakers to a hat-trick of titles from 2011-13 and collected two NBL coach of the year gongs in the process before leaving to take up the Australian Boomers post he still holds.
Lemanis says the silverware is not always the highlight.
“It’s about the people and the journey along the way. The biggest reward in coaching has always been seeing others achieve their full potential. Maybe being a part of that journey for people always gives you a buzz,’’ he said.
“Championships are nice but to me it’s about getting into the process, caring about the people and letting it play out.
“That’s the reward. The only thing you have to worry about is getting better each day.’’
The rise of Peter Crawford from Crocs development player to 2012 Olympian and Torrey Craig’s elevation from the Bullets to the NBA are two success stories he takes great pride in.
The one game that stands out for Lemanis is game two of the 2011 semi-final series against Perth. Minor premier New Zealand were smashed at home by the Wildcats in the series opener when Breakers talisman Mika Vukona injured his knee.
But a hobbling Vukona and a red-hot Kirk Penney inspired the under-pressure Breakers to a win in Perth to spark their run to a maiden title.
Having a milestone game against the Taipans is not new to Lemanis who coached his first and 200th game against Cairns.
He said Brisbane’s 85-77 win over Sydney on Saturday was full of positives that could be carried into the clash with Cairns.