Why Adelaide will look different under Gleeson

The Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season looms as a massive one for the Adelaide 36ers, and a big part of that is the new Head Coach, Trevor Gleeson.

The five-time NBL championship-winning coach recently signed with the Sixers, who finished as last season’s runners-up, on a multi-year deal, as the club aims to win its first title since 2002.

“Right from the start, I felt they wanted me and my skillset here for the team,” Gleeson said during the 36ers’ media availability on Wednesday.

“They [the club] have done a great job building the team, now it's how we’re going to take that next step, and it's the hardest step to take.

“The challenge is right there, and that's the beauty of it.”

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While many believe the team from the City of Churches can go one step further than their Championship Series appearance, two-time Coach of the Year Gleeson isn't getting too far ahead of himself.

“To be honest, I really won't know [what we have as a group] until we get together,” he said.

“Obviously, I have a different philosophy on the game, both offensively and defensively.

“Having Bryce [Cotton] part of that was a big incentive coming here, as we’ve got a great relationship and we’re going to use that to our advantage with the personnel.

“Bryce is a major piece of [our group], but there are other elements as well.

“[Last year’s group] had their own identity, and it was magical, but we will develop our own, which will be defensively oriented, by getting after teams with our physicality and speed.

“I've talked to most of the guys, and they're excited to move forward and get after it when pre-season comes around at the end of July.

“I’m excited for the year ahead, and hopefully we can be right up there again.”

One part of that group that still isn’t locked in is the Sixers’ third import, alongside Zylan Cheatham and Nick Rakocevic.

“We've got a shortlist right now and are going through what the team needs,” he said.

“That's the process, which hopefully [takes care of itself] sooner than later.

“It'd be nice to get the team settled and get some plans in place.”

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After numerous seasons abroad in the United States (NBA) and Japan (B.LEAGUE), Gleeson hopes to finish his career back in the NBL and 36ers, a team with which he has ties to from a young age.

“Basketball has a rich history of basketball in South Australia,” he said.

“I used to watch when I was a kid, and I actually had a nice gold 36ers sweater when I was young in the mid-1980s.

“We want to tap into that [rich history] and build that culture up that lasts a lot longer than I'm here.

“Just like I did with the Wildcats for eight years, I want to pour my heart and soul into Adelaide.

“After five years overseas, it was time for me to come home. I’m looking forward to coming back to the NBL and hopefully finishing my career here.”

As it stands, Gleeson has Cotton, Zylan Cheatham, Flynn Cameron, Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries, Bul Kuol, Nick Rakocevic, Keanu Rasmussen and Isaac White on his NBL27 roster.