Club legend Ninnis returns as assistant coach

The Adelaide 36ers are excited to announce the signing of club Hall of Fame legend Scott Ninnis as assistant coach.

Ninnis returns to the NBL coaching ranks after leading South Adelaide Panthers to a drought-breaking NBL1 Central men’s championship in 2022.

Adelaide 36ers head coach CJ Bruton said with Ninnis joining his coaching team, alongside Jamie Pearlman and Michael Lake, the new-look NBL24 roster will be exciting to watch.

“Scott is a legend of the 36ers and the NBL, he has so much experience as a player, assistant coach and a head coach, this is a great fit for the club,” Bruton said.

Ninnis played 318 NBL games (233 with Adelaide 36ers) across a 12-year career and is a three-time champion, two with the 36ers in 1986 and 1998 and one with South East Melbourne Magic in 1992.

After finishing his playing days after the 36ers’ 1998 championship win against the Magic, Ninnis then became assistant coach to Phil Smyth and was on the sidelines for two more championship wins in 1998-99 and 2001-02.

The 1993 NBL Most Improved Player also has assistant coaching experience at Townsville Crocodiles and South Dragons before his two-year stint as head coach of the 36ers from 2008 to 2010.

Ninnis said it’s an honour to come back to the club in an official coaching role.

“It’s very exciting, it seems quite surreal that I’m back involved with the club that has been such a huge part of my life, it’s very humbling and I can’t wait to get started,” Ninnis said.

“I’ve been around the club the past four years being involved with the clinics with Mahersy (Brett Maher) and I helped out a little bit with pre-season last year.”

Ninnis is the only person to be involved in all four of the Adelaide 36ers NBL championships wins in 1986, 1998, 1999 and 2002.

“It’s funny, my wife (Rebekah) said to me last week that two years ago I said ‘I would never coach basketball again’ and here we are knee deep in it and NBL1 and now at NBL level,” Ninnis said.

“It’s a great opportunity to assist CJ and help out any way possible to make the club be successful, I’m up for the challenge.”