Coach spending spree seems like common cents

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• Breakers land world champion in huge NBL coaching coup
• NBL27 Roster Tracker: Big moves headline free agency period
• Cut to the Jase Episode 34: Mike Wells opens up on decision to leave 36ers

It's about time NBL clubs put their hands in their pockets and actually invested in quality head coaches.

In recent years, there's been a narrative that the NBL can't come close or compete with the money on offer for the best Aussie coaches who are plying their trade in the Japanese B.League or that there's no way we can afford to attract the best coaches in the world back to our shores.

It's a narrative some clubs have pushed beyond belief.

It's a narrative some clubs have even gone out of their way to make that point in the media.

It's also a narrative that some clubs have pushed to cover up or make excuses for terrible decisions that they themselves are to blame. Decisions that fans, commentators and other experts around the league could not fathom.

That narrative is BS.

I have bitten back on people and even some media figures on social media about it over the past year.

It's a lie.

And if anything shows that it's a lie and just a tactic to deflect attention to their own poor decisions, it's the coach signings that have headlined the NBL this offseason.

First of all, we started with Will Weaver joining the Brisbane Bullets. A man and leader with an incredible reputation from his time with the Sydney Kings, as an assistant with the Australian Boomers and also throughout his time with the NBA.

Ironic because it was a year earlier the Bullets made the puzzling decision to hire someone who had never coached before, rendering their NBL26 campaign basically over before it had even started.

Now, a smart investment in a leader like Weaver has set the club up for a dramatic turnaround in NBL27.

Secondly, the New Zealand Breakers making one of the biggest coach signings in the history of the league, bringing in FIBA World Cup winning coach Gordon Herbert.

Herbert's signing, more than anything, proves the above narrative that we can't attract the best coaches in the world is a lie. It's a move which has brought even more credibility to the NBL and has the Breakers set for a bounce back season.

Lastly, we welcome back five-time NBL championship coach Trevor Gleeson to reunite with his old mate Bryce Cotton at the Adelaide 36ers. Ironically, Gleeson has made his way back from Japan to Australia after leading the Chiba Jets following several seasons as an assistant in the NBA.

We can't compete with the money on offer in Japan? Hmmmm, I don't know about that. The cheque book from the 36ers to attract Gleeson would probably say differently.

Anyway, summing this all up, is the fact that clubs in the NBL are finally investing the same money into coaches that they're putting into their rosters. Which should have been common sense from the start.

If history has shown you anything, it's that no matter how much talent you have, it doesn't mean ANYTHING without the right leader in place.

Look at the league's top earners. Bryce Cotton, JLA, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Jack McVeigh, Xavier Cooks and now Kendric Davis - all are on more than $1 million per season.

Why would we not invest the same amount to make sure the money we're putting into rosters actually results in success?

It seems we're finally doing so and Melbourne United are the next up but look like they're doing the same with their pursuit of former NBA coach Dave Joerger.

We've been pretty vocal on the Cut to the Jase podcast about providing opportunities for Australian coaches, while I am an advocate for that, I do love the fact we can attract mentors like Weaver, Herbert and possibly Joerger.

But one last thing.

If we're bringing in international coaches, can we not have their whole staff be international as well?

To me, that seems a little tone deaf.