Brett Brown set to return as Boomers head coach

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown is returning to coach the Australian Boomers again.

Details of the agreement are unknown at the moment.

Update: When reached for comment, Basketball Australia confirmed to Fox Sports Australia's Olgun Uluc that "at this time, no comment will be made in relation to the speculation surrounding the Australian Boomers."

The move will see him replace Andrej Lemanis, who performed honourably in the top job, despite receiving some criticism during this year’s FIBA World Cup, where the Boomers finished fourth. Lemanis was originally contracted to serve as head coach until after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Update: On his blog, Boti Nagy wrote about how Lemanis had apparently been stood down, and that relationship challenges between him and the newer generation of Australian NBA players had been a factor, according to sources.

Having Brett Brown as head coach is expected to improve the chances of Ben Simmons playing at the 2020 Olympics. It may also see Jonah Bolden return to the national team, after his abrupt exit during the buildup to the World Cup tournament.

https://twitter.com/OlgunUluc/status/1196892110659543040?s=20

Brown served as an assistant coach of the Australian national team between 1995 and 2003, before taking the top job in 2009.

During his time at the helm, Brown coached Australia to the 2010 FIBA World Championships (tenth) and the 2012 Olympics (quarter-finals).

During his tenure leading the Boomers, he coached the likes of Patty Mills, Aron Baynes, Joe Ingles, and Matthew Dellavedova. These players are expected to make up the core of the team that will go to the Tokyo Olympics.