The promotion of 2025 G League Coach of the Yr Scott King to assistant beneath Mitch Johnson in San Antonio left the Austin Spurs on the lookout for a brand new chief. The franchise was fast to fill the emptiness with up-and-coming Australian coach Jacob Probability.
Probability, 31, spent the previous two seasons as an assistant on the NBL’s Melbourne United, however don’t let his youth or lack of expertise main a workforce idiot you. Those that know him assume he’s probably the most promising coaches in Australia. He’s been a part of their Nationwide Crew program and is following the footsteps of Matt Nielsen, one in all his mentors, who coached in Austin earlier than becoming a member of the employees of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, and now continues to be an assistant beneath Mitch Johnson.
Probability first bought in touch with the Austin Spurs brass throughout Summer season League and went by way of the interview course of earlier than touchdown the job, in response to ESPN. The match was nice, as Probability explains:
”I began to get a little bit of curiosity and have some conversations. I believe the problem of the G-League and what that brings; it’s a high-quality league; it’s clearly come a good distance… in the way it’s resourced and handled, and the Spurs deal with their G-League workforce with lots of respect and lots of assets.”
The newcomer can have massive sneakers to fill. King not solely received Coach of the Yr in 2025 but in addition led the Austin Spurs to the Western Convention Finals final season. Probability received’t solely be anticipated to have related success with the affiliate but in addition be accountable for serving to San Antonio’s two-way gamers David Jones-Garcia, Riley Minix and Harrison Ingram enhance. He might additionally doubtlessly have a possibility to work with rookie Carter Bryant if minutes are scarce with the massive workforce for the 14th general choose within the 2025 draft.
Fortuitously, the younger coach appears prepared for the challenges concerned with main a G League workforce, and his stellar status in Australia suggests he might ultimately discover success on the subsequent degree, as many Austin Spurs coaches have previously for the franchise.