NBL news: Mackinnon replaces Kelly as Phoenix coach

South East Melbourne Phoenix have acted swiftly to appoint a replacement for Mike Kelly, who was sacked by the NBL club on Sunday.

The Phoenix are winless after five matches and have the second worst points differential in the NBL, behind the Tasmanian JackJumpers.

Kelly, who was appointed Phoenix coach in March 2023, is a former championship winner and Larry Sengstock Medallist with the South East Melbourne Magic in 1996.

He will be replaced in the hot seat by former Boomer Sam Mackinnon.

Mackinnnon, 48, is a long-time NBL figure and was an assistant at the Phoenix under Kelly, before he was announced as the interim coach.

The former shooting guard represented Australia at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and was a constant in the Boomers line-up throughout his career.

Mackinnon, who retired after the 2009-10 season, joined the Brisbane Bullets as an assistant in 2017, where he remained until 2020, before a stint in the back office as General Manager of Basketball.

He stepped up to become interim coach of the Bullets in 2022, before missing that job, and joining the Phoenix as an assistant coach.

Mackinnon is likely to be among the candidates to take on the Phoenix role permanently.

The Phoenix are paying $41 to win the NBL championship with Ladbrokes, while they are $4 to reach the playoffs, despite being winless.

The Sydney Kings are the $3 favourite to win the championship with Australian online bookies.

Sports betting news