SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 METSBASKETBALL
The Guaynabo Mets of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional have made a head coaching change, replacing Christopher Thomas with Brad Greenberg.
Greenberg has more than 40 years of professional basketball coaching experience at the NBA, collegiate, and international levels. He most recently led Ironi Ness Ziona B.C of the Israeli Basketball Premiere League to the FIBA Europe Cup Championship in the 2020 – 2021 season, setting multiple club records en route to earning Eurobasket.com FIBA Europe Cup 2021 Coach of the Year honors.
“The BSN has always had a strong reputation as a uniquely competitive league,” said Greenberg. “It’s a league I have followed for years, and have always felt an urge to one day coach in. I’m thankful for this opportunity to work with some very talented players and fine men.”
Guaynabo had a busy off-season, re-signing team leaders David Stockton and Angel Nunez and bringing in a crop of newcomers led by Renaldo Balkman. On paper, the team has the talent to make another deep playoff run a season after coming within one win of reaching the finals. But on the court, the pieces haven’t yet come together as planned, despite a number of strong individual performances, including from Stockton, Nunez, Jonathan Han, and in-season addition Tony Bishop.
The winner of several Coach of the Year awards, Greenberg is known for connecting with his players and maximizing their potential. He has been described as a “basketball mastermind” by Basketball Insiders and “one of the premier coaches in the world” by the former Global VP of Adidas. He spent 12 years in the NBA as an assistant coach, scout, and front office member. He’s also coached collegiately at American University, St. Joseph’s University, the University of South Florida, Virginia Tech, and Radford University. Internationally, Greenberg has served as head coach of the Venezuelan National Team and the Kosovo National Team, an assistant coach of Team Canada, and head coach of basketball clubs in Israel, Russia, and Turkey.
He takes the helm of a Mets team that entered the season with high hopes but has posted an 8 – 11 record through the first nineteen games. There is strong optimism within the Mets organization that they can ascend under Greenberg. Co-owners Marc Grossman and Mark Linder, who brought back the Mets franchise in 2020 as an expansion team, expressed their pleasure with the coaching change.
“Coaches often talk about in-game adjustments. From an ownership standpoint, we felt that we needed an in-season adjustment to give this team the edge it needs to not just compete with the best, but to be the best,” said Grossman.
“Brad has been a winner at every level and we’re extremely fortunate to add him for the stretch run,” said Linder. “We expect to be very competitive in the playoffs. Chris Thomas did a good job putting together our roster and the Mets organization will always be grateful to him for making our return to the BSN last year a huge success.”
Greenberg will make his Mets coaching debut on September 2 at home against Humacao. Guaynabo currently sits in 4th place in the BSN’s B Division, a spot back from Santurce and four games back in the loss column from second place Guayama. They’ll look to build momentum over the next three games heading into a break for the BSN All-Star Game.
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