How Kings’ son of a gun carved his own royal legacy, as Sydney ends 17-year drought

The NBL’s new championship-winning coach has created some history in the League. Here’s the background that led Chase Buford to glory down under.

Chase Buford has become the youngest ever NBL coach to sweep a grand final series after the Sydney Kings defeated the Tasmania JackJumpers 3-0.

It is a remarkable achievement for the 33-year-old, especially considering this season was his first coaching in the NBL.

Buford is the fourth youngest championship-winning coach in NBL history, with Bob Turner (1983), Ken Richardson (1982) and Jim Ericksen (1981) the only coaches to win it at a younger age. 

Two of those were player-coaches – Richardson at West Adelaide Bearcats and Ericksen at the Launceston Casino City. 

The Sydney Kings ended a championship drought of 17 years.

How did Chase Buford arrive here?

Buford is from a basketball royalty family and his father, R.C. Buford is known as one of the most distinguished executives in NBA history.

R.C. Buford was one of the key figures of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty from 1999 to 2016, a period in which the club won five NBA championships.

Chase Buford is known as a passionate, intense coach who has been known to display courtside emotion.

It’s possible that stems from his college basketball days for the University of Kansas, with his side in fact winning the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Buford began his coaching career in 2017 and was appointed assistant of the Erie Bayhawks, the G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks.

In 2018, Buford became assistant coach for the Delaware Blue Coats, the G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Buford was successful in the G League and in 2019 he progressed to a head coaching position with the Wisconsin Herd, the G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks.

During the 2019-20 season, Buford led the team to a 33-10 record, before the campaign was cut short due to COVID-19.

At the Kings, Buford has assembled a talented roster with NBL MVP Jaylen Adams leading the way.

Buford praised the fighting spirit of his team following their game three triumph.

“Down at quarter time, down at half-time, down at quarters and just kept grinding,” Buford told the media post-match.

“(It was a) fun game to be part of – credit to Tassie, they were terrific tonight, gave us everything we could handle.”

After such a dominant grand final series and with an outstanding team on the court, Buford has a golden opportunity to create his own dynasty at the Sydney Kings.