After refusing job in Vietnam, the Edge came calling
The Lightning went 35-5 that year (46-7 overall) en route to winning the championship.
During the off-season, Julius was courted by a team in Vietnam, of all places, and opted to take the plunge. He wanted Plumb to tag along, but by this point, Plumb’s basketball academy back in Vancouver was beginning to grow, and he decided to stick close to home.
Shortly afterwards, the expansion Edge came calling.
The team was a huge success in their first season, reaching the second round of the playoffs before it was ousted by the Lightning, who won a second straight championship.
Only three players are back from last year’s squad, including reigning MVP Carl English.
On paper, at least, this year’s team is as good, and perhaps a bit better, than last year’s squad. Newcomers include former NBL Canada regular season and playoff MVP Gabe Freeman, Maurice Jones, who won rookie of the year two years ago, Guillaume Boucard, who was among the league’s rebounding leaders last season, and national team veteran Junior Cadougan, a player on whom Plumb is very high.
“Buy-in is massively, massively important, probably No. 1 to be honest. In a 48-minute game, over a 40-game season, you’re going to have a night where it’s yours, a night where it’s the next guy’s. So you need to have guys who are happy for each other’s success.
“You could have the most talented team, but you’re not going to go anywhere if you have guys who don’t love to show up every day.
“That was the biggest thing that I looked for, guys who are good people, first and foremost.”
As for Plumb’s basketball academy, the Vancouver Academy Basketball, which he co-founded with friend Mark Starkey, the former Nike brand director for North America, has become a going concern with a state-of-the-art facility planned.
Through Starkey, Plumb met Chris Brickley, trainer to the NBA stars, and has been in the gym with Brickley helping train the likes of Carmelo Anthony.
For the past couple of summers, he’s helped former NBA star Carlos Boozer run his camp in Alaska.
”Based on how the schedule goes,” Plumb said, “I have time through the fall and winter to coach out here.
“I love teaching skill development, but there’s nothing like competition. Gameday is the best.
“To be a young coach and flex my basketball brain and get to do things the way I want to do them is great. I love it. It doesn’t get any better.”
Well, there is one thing. A season capped with a championship.