'Dream Weaver': Will emerges as Bullets' top target

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Former Sydney Kings and longtime NBA assistant coach Will Weaver is on the verge of becoming the next head coach of the Brisbane Bullets.

The 42-year-old American is working through his contract, ESPN's Olgun Uluc is reporting.

Weaver is coaching advisor at the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. With the NBA season at its midway point and the Bullets out of the NBL26 playoff hunt, it is uncertain when Weaver would arrive to begin preparing for NBL27 once he signs.

The Hornets stunned the defending champion OKC Thunder today 124-97.

The Bullets tried to walk back interim head coach Darryl McDonald's claim the club had tabled an offer for a coach in the US after D-Mac lobbied hard to made the permanent head coach on December 30, 2025.

"They don’t need a coach – I’m right here, man," McDonald said.

"Stop bringing these coaches from the States. It hasn’t worked. What we doing is overhauling people. You got a coach right here.

"I know what it takes to win in this league. I’ve won in this league as a player and as an assistant coach. If you feel the need to go get somebody, okay – but the club needs stability. That’s the one thing we haven’t had.

"I haven’t spoken to Jason (Levien) yet. I’m trying to get on a call with him. But I understand – there’s a contract on the table for a guy in the States, but he wouldn’t come until next year (2026). So most likely I’ll finish the year.

"They think a big name’s gonna come in and change things. But you’ve already got somebody in the seat. If you give me the opportunity and give me what I want, I’ll win in this league. I know I can."

Uluc reports: "Weaver has been in deep discussions with the Bullets over the past few weeks."

Weaver led the Sydney Kings to the league's best record in 2019-20 before the COVID lockdown crushed their championship hopes, conceding to the Perth Wildcats after three games in the 2020 NBL Grand Final Series.

Will Weaver Coaching Career

• 2006–2010: Texas Longhorns (assistant)
• 2010–2012: Sam Houston State (assistant)
• 2013–2016: Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
• 2016–2018: Brooklyn Nets (assistant)
• 2018–2019: Long Island Nets
• 2019–2020: Sydney Kings
• 2020–2022: Houston Rockets (assistant)
• 2022–2023: Paris Basketball
• 2023–2024: Brooklyn Nets (assistant)
• 2025: Charlotte Hornets (assistant)

Weaver is no stranger to Australian basketball. He was an assistant coach to Andrej Lemanis' Australian Boomers at the 2014 FIBA Men's World Cup, 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and was the Boomers acting head coach in 2020 for the Asia Cup qualifiers.

Before taking on the Kings job, Weaver was the 2019 G-League Coach of the Year at the Long Island Nets. He was a leading candidate for the head coaching role at the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020 but missed out to now NBA champion Mark Daigneault.