Former Sydney Kings coach Will Weaver is in pole position to become the next head coach of the Brisbane Bullets, emerging as the frontrunner ahead of two other candidates.
According to an ESPN report, Weaver has been in discussions with the Bullets to replace Stu Lash, who stepped down last month following a poor start to the season.
If appointed, Weaver is expected to take charge ahead of the 2026–27 campaign, with interim coach Darryl McDonald set to step aside despite publicly declaring himself the best candidate for the role.
During his time in the NBL, Weaver led the Kings to their first minor premiership in more than a decade during the 2019-2020 season. Sydney reached the finals that season, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the club to withdraw from the final two games of the series while trailing 2-1, handing the championship to the Perth Wildcats.
Since leaving the league, Weaver has built an impressive NBA résumé as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and, most recently, the Charlotte Hornets.
His last head coaching role came with Paris Basketball in France’s LNB Pro A, where he declined a contract extension following the 2022–23 season.
Another key strength in Weaver’s candidacy is his extensive experience with the Australian Boomers, having served as an assistant at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
He also acted as head coach during the 2020 Asia Cup qualifiers in Brett Brown’s absence due to NBA commitments.
If the Bullets secure Weaver’s signature, it would be widely viewed as a positive move given his extensive experience across the NBA, international competitions and the NBL, as well as his deep understanding of the Australian basketball landscape.
Other Candidates on Brisbane’s Radar
FoxSports.com.au understands the Bullets have also reached out to former coaches in Chase Buford, Andrej Lemanis and Paul Henare, all of whom bring significant NBL experience.
It is understood Brisbane made contact with Buford, however the opportunity to become head coach was not mutual.
Buford coached the Sydney Kings from 2021 to 2023, departing the league as a two-time championship-winning coach after leading the Kings to back-to-back titles.
In August 2025, he joined the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach, making a return to Australia highly unlikely.
The second candidate, Andrej Lemanis, was reportedly reached out to by the Bullets, but at this stage the pursuit appears to have hit a dead end, with the Bullets leaning towards Will Weaver.
Lemanis is no stranger to the NBL and Australian basketball, having coached the New Zealand Breakers from 2005 to 2013 before spending five seasons with the Brisbane Bullets. He claimed back-to-back Coach of the Year awards and three championships with the Breakers.
Lemanis also boasts extensive international experience, serving as head coach of the Australian Boomers from 2013 and leading the program to sustained success on the FIBA stage, including a gold medal at the 2015 Oceania Championship. Since 2021, he has been coaching in Japan’s B.League with Altiri Chiba.
The Brisbane Bullets originally reached out to Paul Henare during the preseason, with the former NBL champion interviewing for the role and showing strong interest. Ultimately, however, the club opted to appoint Stu Lash as head coach.
In an ironic twist, the Bullets re-entered discussions with Henare in December, but by then the opportunity had passed.
Speaking to FoxSports.com.au, Henare made it clear he was no longer pursuing the job.
“No way I am leaving my current situation in Nagasaki this year,” Henare said.
Henare is currently an assistant coach with Nagasaki Velca in Japan alongside Mody Maor, after spending several seasons as head coach of the Shimane Susanoo Magic.
The 2011 NBL champion would have brought extensive experience to a team lacking in that area, but ultimately the Bullets missed their window – and for now, the door is firmly closed.
The Brisbane Bullets sit 9th on the NBL ladder, having won just six of their 24 games this season. With the campaign winding down, the club is looking ahead, and appointing an experienced head coach is seen as the best way to kickstart the 2026-27 season for a team that has struggled in recent years.
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