‘Can be really big’: How NBA legend plans to restore a fallen force
By Nick Wright
NBA legend George Gervin has revealed his hopes of creating a “feeder” system between Australian and American basketball, as he seeks to transform the Brisbane Bullets into a juggernaut.
The San Antonio Spurs great, recognised in the NBA’s top 75 players of all time, has taken on an ownership stake of the Queensland club through his involvement with global entertainment brand GameAbove, and has touched down in the River City to plot a path back towards sustained success.
The Bullets have not won an NBL championship since the 2006-07 season, which ended a title drought spanning more than two decades.
George Gervin during his days playing with the Spurs.Credit: NBAE via Getty Images
A nine-year hiatus from the competition soon followed as former owner Eddy Groves was forced to sell, not returning for almost 10 years.
Gervin – a nine-time NBA All Star – shifted into coaching with the Spurs following his 18-year playing career, before taking on a role in the Big3, a three-on-three competition founded by rapper and actor Ice Cube, featuring former NBA stars and international talent.
And the 72-year-old Gervin, affectionately known as “The Iceman”, declared there was no reason the concept could not be incorporated in Australia to help usher talent to and from the United States.
“We have a lot of talented guys who still want to play. We would love to see that opportunity for some of them to come and be a part of this, and vice versa – some of the Australians coming to be a part of the Big3,” he said.
“I think that relationship can be really big. It isn’t like we can’t start a Big3 over here, so to have a feeder where we can keep talent around is good for everybody.
“Our goal is to help make the Bullets better. I’m old now, so I do have a little wisdom to be able to pass on to younger guys and help them understand where they are in their game.”
The looming Brisbane 2032 Olympics proved a palpable carrot to convince Gervin to link with the Bullets, as he stressed there was strong growth potential for basketball if it capitalised on that exposure.
But Gervin’s passion for coaching has never died, as he suggested the youth of the region would soon benefit from his presence.
Already the founder of the George Gervin Academy in Texas, the American great was determined to instil the same lessons he emphasises there on the emerging prospects of the Sunshine State.
“You’ve got quite a few Australians playing in the NBA, so we know talent is here. To come over and help think about ways to continue to build on that, it always starts in the academies and the juniors, and teaching them the right way to play,” Gervin said.
“To get better, you have to be fundamentally sound. Our kids want it now, so they go past the fundamentals and base their career on athleticism.
“But if you get hurt, and you aren’t fundamentally sound it’s hard to get better because you’re dependent on your physical aspect.
“I want to be able to help young people understand you have to be fundamentally sound to have a chance for the long term.”