Morrison Reveals Family Struggle

Former Perth coach Scott Morrison has revealed his son Max’s autism diagnosis led him to resigning from the Wildcats.

In a raw and honest chat with The West Australian’s The Dribble Podcast, Morrison said he spent $10,000 on an MRI for Max’s brain, before having to spend $700 a week on his development and therapies, costs that weren’t subsidised due to the family not being Australian citizens.

Since returning to Canada, Max has been diagnosed with autism, a process which took four weeks. The diagnosis might have taken over a year in Western Australia due to waiting lists, which confirmed to Morrison he made the right decision in returning home.

“The morning after we did the press conference to say I was going to resign, I was feeling pretty down about it and I got a call from one of the places I had been calling to say they had an opening for Max in mid-July. I took that as a sign we did the right thing,” Morrison said.

“It gave me a little bit of hope things were going to be a little bit easier and it was going to be better. It was kind of the break we needed.

“This is kind of the first real stuff I’ve had to deal with in my life. I’ve been pretty blessed that way. The only pressure I’ve ever felt has been on the court and that’s not really pressure when it comes to life.

“Bringing the family over there, saying it was going to be a good thing for our family and then being separated and then having to deal with stuff that Max went through, I learnt what real pressure was.”

The family hopes speaking publicly about their challenges will shine a light on the issue and help other families in Western Australia seeking assistance and help with autism.

Morrison is currently living on Canada’s Prince Edward Island, while he has been interviewing for NBA positions. The former Boston Celtics assistant coach could be back in the NBA as early as this season.

The Wildcats missed the finals for the first time in 35 years last season. Morrison has been replaced by John Rillie, who will coach his first game for Perth when it tips off its campaign on October 2 against the Brisbane Bullets.

Full story at The West Australian