
Frisbee14
Yesterday
Untitled
Alright, let's just throw the Joey management blow-up and his group-chat Hiroshima into the memory hole for a second—pretend it never happened. The real question: could Joey actually lead this team to a finals run? Not a play-in cameo, not a moral victory, I’m talking real-deal, "we’re gunning for a title" kind of basketball.
Last season was basically the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars moment stretched over six months. You had Harrell barking at Davis, Davis sulking like a teenager grounded for forgetting to switch off the PS5. Wells had his moments as well and jury is still out, but they still only took their first L last week. But even now, everyone’s side-eyeing Wells like, “does this guy actually know what he’s doing?”
And honestly, Joey is probably the best coach not in the NBL right now. He’s better than half the guys in it. But the baggage? It’s Kardashian-level luggage. The kind that needs three trolleys just to leave the airport. If he could ever get that under control, he could absolutely yank the most out of this current group. Like, actually make them care on defense for longer than five minutes.
The problem is Mikes still trying to figure out Brian's game plan from last week, and by the time he does, United or Tassie are already rolling into town dropping 30 threes a night and shutting down Cotton. If Joey came back, would the players even want him? Probably not. Kevvie White’s not exactly getting promoted to assistant. But Joey’s presence alone would bring a jolt—they need that old-school sideline energy. Someone who’s not afraid to bench DJ after his fifth heat-check three or, God forbid, tell him to cool it at practice.
Now, this whole thing happening is about as likely as Ben Simmons hitting back-to-back clutch free throws in a playoff elimination game. But imagine for a second: an alternate universe where Joey didn’t detonate his coaching career, where ownership gave him the farewell tour, where White and Froling carry him off like he’s Popovich meets Phil Jackson. Instead, he’s running an academy where the uniforms look like something Jackson Pollock would’ve used as a tarp.
Would he be the best coach for this team now? Maybe. Actually, probably. Because if Wells keeps stacking L’s and Bryce keeps dropping single digits, we're a couple of road trips away from him updating his résumé for a high school gig. Wouldn’t be the first import coach to go that route after a “mutual” parting of ways.