NBL owner Larry Kestleman says he's not concerned about his investment in the Brisbane Bullets despite the struggling side firing coach James Duncan last week in its latest low point.
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Duncan copped the axe after a 3-6 start to the campaign, with the Bullets now second-last on the NBL ladder even with a loaded roster that includes Boomers star Aron Baynes and NBA veteran Tyler Johnson.
But Kestleman, whose league retains a 25 per cent in the Bullets, says the latest chapter of struggle for the franchise hasn't shaken his confidence even though the team has played finals only once since returning to the league six seasons ago.
The Bullets majority ownership group includes former NBA guard Kevin Martin, Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton and Toronto Raptors forward Thaddeus Young, while sports agent and executive Jason Levien and the co-owner of English Championship soccer team Swansea City Jake Silverstein also have a stake in the club.
"You get some things right and you get some things wrong," Kestleman told AAP.
"The new ownership group is the one driving decisions around players and coaches, they'll be the first ones to acknowledge they still have work to do.
"Off the court you have sellout crowds, wonderful sponsors, the team is thriving and the community is getting right behind it.
"If anything their venue is way too small, so it's about finding their growth pattern on the court. I'm sure they'll figure it out."
NBA champion Baynes said the players remain confident they can turn things around despite languishing at 3-7, already way back from fourth place and the prospect of finals.
The veteran centre, who is playing his first competitive ball since a career-threatening spinal cord injury at the Tokyo Olympics, said he had more to offer the Bullets than the 11.9 points and 8.7 rebounds he's currently averaging.
"I'm just trying to get back to what I could do before ... I have all the confidence in myself," he told AAP.
"The end goal is to get back to the NBA, if you're playing professionally you want to get back to playing with the best.
"There's still plenty of games left, you see it's not too far between some of the teams.
"Some teams are rolling and doing well, we're just looking to build towards the end of the season and hopefully get rolling then."
Australian Associated Press
