Purves exits ABL, eyes NBA next but leaves PBA door open

MANILA, Philippines – The Indonesia Warriors and their American coach Todd Purves have mutually agreed to part ways following his failure to lead the team to a back-to-back title in the Asean Basketball League.

The decision was announced on Tuesday in the wake of an online report (not on this site) that Purves is moving to the Warriors’ rival San Miguel Beermen’s sister team Petron Blaze Boosters in the PBA as a team consultant.

Purves, however, neither confirmed nor denied Petron’s offer but the American mentor told the ABL website that his successful two-year stint in the league has opened up so many doors for him including a dream stint in the NBA.

“There are a number of options I’m weighing right now with the help of my agent.  No decision has been made at this point but I have been contacted by number of teams, both internationally and domestically in the United States,” Purves told the ABL website. “I will weigh those options and I will make a decision that I think will be best for my career and my family.”

As of the moment, Purves is eyeing a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA.  The American mentor has a standing offer to join the Grizzlies’ summer league team coaching staff in Las Vegas next month.

“I look forward to be part of the Memphis Grizzlies coaching staff during the NBA summer league. That would help me from the experience perspective and I look forward to contribute to their organization in the best capacity possible.”

Purves also added that there was no animosity between him and the Warriors hinting that they mutually parted ways.

“Nothing went wrong or anything like that,” Purves said. “It was a wonderful time here and the success I had there has given me some opportunities both in the NBA and internationally. So I will look forward to furthering my career and I owe a great deal of that to the Indonesia Warriors.”

His two-year contract with the team is set to expire at the end of the month. 

In two seasons, Purves was a series short of leading the Warriors to an unprecedented back-to-back ABL title. The Warriors had a 35-19 win-loss record with him at the helm. He was named the ABL coach of the year in 2012 in leading the Warriors to the franchise's first ever league title. 

Purves was widely criticized for calling a timeout in the closing seconds of Game 2 of the recently concluded ABL Finals against the Beermen, who have ran out of timeouts.  The infamous timeout led to San Miguel mapping out the winning play that saw import Brian Williams sinking the game winner off the inbound, a brilliant play which Beermen coach Leo Austria took out from Purves' playbook.