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Andrew Gaze has confirmed he will quit as the Sydney Kings coach after this year's National Basketball League playoffs.
- The coach and former Olympian said he wanted to spend more time with his family
- Gaze burst on to the coaching scene in the 2016-17 season at the helm of the Melbourne Tigers, before coaching the Kings
- The NBL great has not ruled out coaching with another team, saying he will be "back on the tools" in Melbourne
The Kings returned to the limelight this season under the leadership of powerhouse duo Gaze and former NBA star Andrew Bogut.
"Right now spending time with my family and coaching my son is the number one priority," Gaze said at a press conference today.
"The club decided a while ago I won't be continuing as head coach; it is disappointing but I have peace of mind about it all and [I'm] looking forward to the next challenges."
The loss of arguably Australia's greatest basketball product could be a big blow ahead of this year's playoff series — the first time the Kings have made it to the post season in six years.
The club has also enjoyed sell-out crowds for the 2018/19 season.
The Kings will take on defending champions Melbourne United in game one of this playoff series in Melbourne on February 28.
"I am really proud," Gaze said, reflecting on the season.
"We had some expectations when we first started and we want to do better, but we've put the club in a really good position and someone is now inheriting the best job in the competition, I can't speak more highly.
"A lot of the guys I have known for a while, I don't think it will affect them in the finals."
The announcement came after Kings centre Bogut was yesterday named the NBL's most valuable player.
"It's obviously been a tough decision for [Gaze] and the club; Drewy's going to move back to Melbourne to be with his family," Bogut said.
"We love him as a person and want to work hard for him in the finals."
Bogut said he and other leaders at the club wanted to have a say on Gaze's replacement.
"It wasn't a throwing things at each other kind of split, it was a mutual agreement [and] we wish him all the best, but obviously we have business to attend to these next couple of weeks. It's not ideal going into finals."
Gaze's decorated career has seen him represent Australia at a record five Olympic Games with the Boomers from 1984 to 2000.
He also won an NBA championship in 1999 with the San Antonio Spurs.
At home, he has won two NBL championships as well as being named the league's MVP seven times.
Gaze burst on to the coaching scene in the 2016-17 season at the helm of the Melbourne Tigers, before taking up the position with the Kings.
He has not ruled out coaching at another club.
"As soon as I'm finished here, I'm back to Melbourne and back on the tools," Gaze said.
"I would love to coach somewhere and I will be coaching absolutely, this game is played in more countries than any other sport, so there's lots of opportunities."
Topics: sport, basketball, sydney-2000