Camilla Buchanan: Mavericks not weighed down by the past
London Mavericks head coach Camilla Buchanan believes breaking free from the shackles of the past has helped her side reach this season's play-offs.
The franchise finished in the top four for the first time since 2016 and Buchanan feels the fresh rebrand under new ownership has meant her squad have not felt the unwanted hand of history on their shoulders this term.
Mavericks had finished fifth in five of the last six completed seasons, with the franchise becoming the perennial nearly side to many, but Buchanan insists her youthful squad had no time to be burdened by what went before them en route to securing an historic fourth-place finish this term.
'It has been a completely new journey,' she said. "While it is still Mavericks, it has felt completely brand new at times. I don't think this group feels the weight of what was.
'That reflects in the nature of the squad; we are a really young squad that is still building.
'It is an achievement, but it is just the first step, and we don't want to stop there. You have to take stock of the small wins, but by no means are we done.'
The new ownership and rebrand has gone beyond just a shiny new name, logo, and colour scheme for the two-time Netball Super League champions.
Buchanan's side have been well-backed in their pursuit of the play-offs, with a wide-ranging support staff complementing the work of Buchanan, Mikki Austin, and Tamsin Greenway.
That also extends beyond training sessions, which now almost exclusively take place during the day and end with group meals.
'Eating together after training is one of the highlights of the day,' added Buchanan.
'It is all integrated with the back office staff, everyone is sitting and enjoying food together.
'It sounds like a Brady Bunch moment, but it really matters. You can see that in the squad this year, they are a really tight knit group – one of the tightest groups I've ever been involved with.
'The players are really well looked after, and I think that shows in what they give back to the club.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Cooper Flagg is ready to do whatever the Mavs ask
June 27 - Cooper Flagg has enormous shoes to fill, trying to carry the mantle of the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic in Dallas, but the NBA draft's No. 1 pick is willing to do whatever is asked of him to help the Mavericks continue their recent success. And head coach Jason Kidd, who was the No. 2 pick by Dallas in the 1994 NBA Draft, is ready to challenge the Duke alum. "I think it's a versatile position, doing a lot of different things," Flagg said of his expectations on the court at his introductory press conference Friday in Dallas. "I think with the team, looking at the roster, we can play a really good brand of positionless basketball, with a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things. So I think that'll be one of the biggest strengths, and trying to play to that and just doing whatever I can to help the team win." Kidd is also looking forward to the versatility that Flagg brings. "I don't look at the position. I want to put him at the point guard," Kidd told reporters Friday. "I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts, being able to run the show, being able to play the two, play the three -- he's comfortable playing that but we want to push, and I think he's going to respond in a positive way." Kidd called out Flagg's maturity as the teenager fielded questions with all eyes on him. "Just sitting here listening to him, isn't it incredible? I mean we're talking about an 18-year-old who has all the right answers and is talking about working out after this," Kidd said. "Just his poise, he's going to be successful for a long time. He likes to work, he's not afraid to work. ... I'm very blessed and the Mavs are very blessed to have him be a part of the family." Joining a team with NBA Finals aspirations and the likes of Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II puts the Newport, Maine native in the unusual position of being a top pick on a team that's ready to win it all now. Flagg considers that a blessing. "A lot of people in this position or this situation aren't granted this opportunity," Flagg said, "so I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I've been given and I'm just looking forward to being a sponge, you know, just getting down here excited to just learn, soak it all in and learn from the guys that are older have been through it all before." Kidd is eager to put Flagg to work. "I'm excited about giving him the ball against the Lakers and see what happens," he said. "Let's get it started right off the bat." --Field Level Media
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
NBA draft winners and losers: Mavs' shot at redemption and the strange tale of Ace Bailey
Cooper Flagg and Nico Harrison The biggest winners of the 2025 NBA draft are Cooper Flagg and Dallas general manager Nico Harrison. Beyond the prestige and financial rewards of being the top pick, Flagg won draft night because he avoided going to a rebuilding team, where it could have taken years to gain playoff experience. By landing with the Mavericks, Flagg joins All-NBA veterans Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, whose mentorship should make his learning curve less treacherous. Instead of enduring the tribulations of leading a bottom-feeding team, Flagg will play a key role in helping the Mavs contend for a title in his rookie season – albeit in a packed Western Conference that includes the champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokić's Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring the Mavericks' former crown jewel, Luka Dončić. Expect Flagg to fit right in as a wing who can play multiple positions and contribute defensively. In turn, Harrison's redemption story begins with the selection of Flagg. After months of enduring intense backlash for trading away a generational talent in Dončić, Harrison gets an unexpected opportunity to rewrite his legacy if Flagg reaches his full potential. San Antonio Spurs The selection of Dylan Harper at No 2 adds to the Spurs' explosive backcourt that already features De'Aaron Fox and rookie of the year Stephon Castle. Harper's ability to put pressure on defenses with his speed and aggression will lead to more open looks and one-on-one opportunities for Victor Wembanyama, already a superstar at the age of 21. They also selected Carter Bryant at No 14, a defensive-minded guard/small forward with a consistent three-point stroke. But if the Spurs are contemplating more ambitious moves, they are in prime position to trade a few of their young assets for an All-NBA player like Giannis Antetokounmpo – that's if trade talks ramp up over the next few months. Whatever direction they choose, the Spurs took a step forward on draft night and are closer to making a playoff leap in the Western Conference. Atlanta Hawks The Hawks made several savvy moves this week by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team trade. On draft night, the Hawks remained active by sending the No 13 pick to New Orleans for pick No 23. In the exchange with the Pelicans, the Hawks also obtained an unprotected 2026 first-round draft pick that will be delivered via the most favorable position between the Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks. With the loaded Western Conference expected to be even more rigorous next season, the Pelicans will find it difficult to secure a top-eight spot. The impressive coup gives the Hawks an elite asset considering next year's highly-anticipated draft class. With the No 23 pick, the Hawks snagged Asa Newell, a late-lottery prospect who unexpectedly fell to his hometown squad. In an conference that lacks a dominant team due to the achilles injuries of Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the Hawks used draft week to retool as every Eastern Conference franchise seeks to take advantage of the window of opportunity. Ace Bailey In the weeks leading to this year's draft, Bailey put on a masterclass on how to land in the 'loser' category. Whether his choices came due to bad advice from his reps or the misguided boldness of youth, Bailey's immense talent was overshadowed because of poor decisions which led to negative press. The third-best prospect in the draft decided against working out for teams and snubbed the Philadelphia 76ers who owned the No 3 pick. Falling outside of the top three cost Bailey $10m and the opportunity to learn from Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. Drafted by the Utah Jazz even after declining a workout and interview, Bailey lands on a team that finished with the league's worst record and will be in rebuild mode for the foreseeable future. Bailey has enough talent to bounce back from his draft blunders, but unfortunately, he's already found ways to make rookie mistakes. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets entered this year's draft with a record five first-round draft picks and proceeded to end the night in infamy. Their first mishap came with the selection of Egor Demin with the No 8 pick. Demin was projected to fall in the mid-first round, so the Nets appear to have overreached by selecting Demin and passing on players with higher ceilings such as Khaman Maluach and Collin Murray-Boyles. But the Nets' most glaring faux pas was the act of keeping all their picks. Brooklyn fumbled an opportunity to trade up for a more talented prospect or use the picks to acquire a rising star to build around. It's possible that each draft pick will be serviceable and Demin could make an All-Rookie team. But overall, the Nets made history by selecting five players in the first round while at the same time failing to change the trajectory of their franchise. New York Knicks For Knicks fans, the draft should be known as 'five first-round picks for Mikal Bridges awareness day.' Without a head coach or a first-round draft pick, the Knicks remained dormant on day one. After a lively run to the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks have an opportunity to take control of the East by adding a few key players who could put them over the hump. But in a week when multiple teams traded for picks or other assets, the Knicks' decision to stay on the sideline is not a promising sign as the offseason unfolds. The Knicks, who forfeited their own second-round pick for tampering in the Jalen Brunson signing, will have to wait until the 50th pick (via Memphis) to make a selection. Knicks fans can only hope for more aggressive moves on day two of the draft.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Minnesota Timberwolves will make the first selection of the second round of the NBA draft
The NBA draft resumes Thursday night with the Minnesota Timberwolves making the first selection of the second round. The draft picks up where it left off at Barclays Center in Brooklyn — though in a much smaller portion of it than was used Wednesday for the first round. The second round begins with the No. 31 pick and this year runs through No. 59 instead of 60, with the New York Knicks having been penalized their selection for tampering by negotiating with Jalen Brunson too soon before eventually signing the guard away from Dallas in 2022. The NBA points to the success of players such as Brunson, who became an All-NBA selection in New York, and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of Denver when touting the types of difference-makers who could come out of the second round. The Mavericks, who selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick on Wednesday, do not currently have a selection in Round 2. The NBA began a two-night format for the draft last year after doing it one night ended too late. ___
