Scott Roth says the Brisbane Bullets are the real deal, crediting coach Justin Schueller for his own first-year exploits at the NBL club.
Former NBA forward Roth won 2022 coach of the year honours when he took the Tasmania JackJumpers to the grand final series in the club's maiden NBL campaign.
They were upset by Schueller's Bullets in Brisbane on Wednesday night, the hosts notching a third straight win to move into fifth spot, just one win behind the third-placed JackJumpers.
The win came without in-form guard Nathan Sobey, who should be fit to return from a foot injury to face Illawarra on Sunday.
The Bullets have struggled since their NBL return in 2016, reaching the post-season just once in seven campaigns.
Ninth last season, the club has triggered dramatic change in the board room and on the sidelines, with former Melbourne United assistant and long-time Australian under-age coach Schueller handed the keys.
Veteran Roth, while licking his wounds after a last-second 80-77 loss, jumped at the chance to praise his Brisbane counterpart.
"They were really, really good," he said.
"I'm very pro-coach in this league, and Justin's done a fantastic job of righting the ship here, getting things stable, and he's done a hell of a job.
"It's his first year here, but there was a lot to correct, it seemed, from afar and he's built a solid foundation, holding them accountable and they play a nice brand of basketball.
"What they do from here on out I don't really know, but they've built a solid foundation."
Nine of Brisbane's 11 losses have been by less than 10 points, three of those while holding strong leads late in the final quarter.
Sobey powered them to a vital defeat of South East Melbourne with 35 points, then scored 27 as they beat the Kings at Qudos Arena for the first time since 2017.
Wednesday's performance was well-rounded without him, import Chris Smith promoted to start and drilling the game-winning triple with one second to play.
"We've always felt that we were right there," Schueller said.
"What I feel in these last three or four games is a genuine understanding of what it needs to look like possession by possession."
He said mid-season addition Casey Prather, back from a long-term injury, was likely to see more court time against the Hawks after being restricted to eight minutes on Wednesday.
