Off-court structure locked away for NBL25

Adelaide 36ers are delighted to announce the completion of the club’s off-court structure for the NBL25 season.

The club has re-signed Nik Popovic (GM of High Performance), Tristan Chai (Head of Physiotherapy) and Jared ‘Jazzy’ Campbell (Team Manager), while adding Michael Lake and Igor Cvjetkovic as assistant coaches and Dr Damian Newberry as Club Doctor.

Sixers CEO Nic Barbato is pleased with the club’s revamped off-court team ahead of the NBL25 season.

“We have worked this off season to retain experienced, high-level staff and add new personnel to further support the playing group,” Barbato said.

“We understand our members, partners, sponsors and fans want on court success and we are all in to achieve our goals this season.”

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Popovic has over 25 years’ experience and returns for a second season at the club after spending the off-season working with former 36ers NBL Next Star Josh Giddey.

“Unfinished business, last season was a difficult season for everyone, but you push through it, you got good people around,” Popovic said.

Campbell will begin his 18^th straight season as team manager and Chai returns for his seventh season at the club, while Dr Newberry joins the club after over a decade with AFL club Port Adelaide.

Lake and Cvjetkovic will join Lead Assistant Coach Mike Wells and Senior Assistant Coach Marko Marinovic in the coaching group led by head coach Scott Ninnis.

GM of Basketball Operations Matt Weston said Lake and Cvjetkovic joining the staff as assistant coaches will add another dimension to the dynamic team.

“Lakey and Igor bring us added basketball knowledge and tremendous energy, which creates another element to our coaching group,” Weston said.

Ninnis said he is thrilled to have Lake and Cvjetkovic on his coaching staff for the NBL25 season and hopes to build on the back end of the NBL24 season.

“Michael Lake was a very important piece to the puzzle for me when I took over last year, I elevated him and he was outstanding, he has a brilliant basketball mind,” Ninnis said.

“Igor was great for our club last season, he has a great rapport with our players.”

Lake said he is thrilled to be promoted to the assistant coach role after spending two years as the club’s Development Coach.

“I am grateful to Scotty (Ninnis), Grant (Kelley, Executive Chairman), Matt (Weston, GM of Basketball) and the club for having the faith in me to move into a full-time role,” Lake said.

“To continue to work with Scotty and now also with the calibre of Mike and Marko is definitely something I am looking forward to this season.”

Cvjetkovic, who is currently a development officer at SA Country Basketball while also being an assistant coach with the New Zealand Under 17 women’s side and NBL1 Central club Southern Tigers, joins the NBL25 coaching group after spending last season as a Development Coach.

“My focus is to add value wherever I can for the club, but mainly in the player development space and video room,” Cvjetkovic said.

NBL25 OFF-COURT STRUCTURE

Head Coach
Scott Ninnis

Lead Assistant Coach
Mike Wells

Senior Assistant Coach
Marko Marinovic

Assistant Coaches
Michael Lake
Igor Cvjetkovic

GM of High Performance
Nik Popovic

Head of Physiotherapy
Tristan Chai

Club Doctor
Dr Damian Newberry

Team Manager
Jared ‘Jazzy’ Campbell