South East Melbourne Phoenix coach Josh King sat a genuine interview for the Portland Trail Blazers head coach job during the NBA off-season, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc has revealed.
Uluc made the revelation at a live recording of ESPN’s The Hoop Collective podcast in Melbourne, as reported by NBL.com.au on Monday 5 October.
“I was told that over the off-season, when the Portland Trail Blazers had a vacant head coach position, they interviewed Josh King,” Uluc said.
“Josh King had a 90-minute Zoom interview with Tom Dundon, the new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers. And my understanding was that in that search they cast a wide net.
“He sat for a very real interview with the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers as a legitimate potential candidate for their head coach position.”
Blazers went another way
Portland eventually hired Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as head coach in June, in the first major appointment under Dundon’s ownership. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who spoke to several candidates in that search, said Dundon was heavily involved and often called candidates personally for a second interview straight after their first.
Windhorst also tipped King to attract more NBA interest.
“I promise you he will be on other teams’ lists and definitely be paid attention to,” Windhorst said.
Doing more with less at the Phoenix
King joined South East Melbourne in 2024 after coaching US college teams and in the German Bundesliga, plus the Czech, Turkish and Puerto Rican leagues. He has taken the Phoenix to the playoffs in both of his first two seasons.
“The South East Melbourne Phoenix were second last in cash spend [in NBL26],” Uluc said. “So Josh King is the guy that did the most with the least. They came third last year.”
The news comes a day after King’s side ended a rough patch, beating the Illawarra Hawks 113-96 at John Cain Arena on Sunday, with Nathan Sobey scoring 24 points.
“It was a really good team win at a really good time for us,” King said after the game, as reported by AAP.
Windhorst said the NBA “is looking to the NBL for more than just players”, adding: “The respect level that it has internationally has grown.”
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