Revealed: NBA team interviewed Phoenix coach

The high regard the NBA holds for the NBL's players and coaches has been a recurring theme for ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon throughout their Australian tour.

A key example of that was revealed by ESPN Australia's Olgun Uluc, who told a live recording of The Hoop Collective in Melbourne that South East Melbourne Phoenix head coach Josh King had interviewed for a key NBA coaching role in the off-season.

"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."

King has held coaching roles amongst US college teams, in the German Bundesliga, and in the Czech, Turkish and Puerto Rican leagues, before joining the Phoenix in 2024.

He has led South East Melbourne to consecutive Playoffs appearances in his first two seasons at the helm.

"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."

Windhorst, who spoke to several candidates in the Blazers' search, said Dundon was heavily involved, often calling them personally for a second interview straight after their first.

"I promise you he will be on other teams' lists and definitely be paid attention to," Windhorst said of King.

The interview is the latest sign of the NBL's growing standing with the NBA, with Windhorst noting the NBA "is looking to the NBL for more than just players".

"I feel like the NBL is in a really good place right now," he said.

"The respect level that it has internationally has grown."