The Brisbane Bullets are facing significant scrutiny after a former NBL champion publicly criticized rookie head coach Stu Lash, claiming he is “not a coach” but rather a “spectator.” The comments from NBL legend Mark Worthington followed a narrow 83-82 loss to the Cairns Taipans on Friday, during which broadcast footage showed both assistant coaches actively managing timeouts while Lash appeared to take a step back.
Worthington, a former player for the Melbourne Tigers with over 300 NBL appearances and a championship title, voiced his concerns on social media. He remarked, “Red flags at the Bullets with Stu Lash. Gifted by his mate and Co-owner Jason Levien. This team deserves better. He’s not a coach. Vandy (Greg Vanderjagt) & DMac (Darryl McDonald) are babysitting.”
The Bullets suffered another setback on Sunday, falling 87-80 to the Adelaide 36ers. Following this loss, Worthington reiterated his stance, labeling Lash a spectator rather than an effective leader.
In response to the mounting criticism, the Bullets issued a statement on Monday, emphasizing that “Stu Lash won’t be commenting on Mark Worthington’s tweets. Right now, his main focus is entirely on the playing group and our next game.”
This season, Lash has faced scrutiny for various decisions that have drawn the attention of fans and commentators alike. During a timeout against the Taipans, Lash instructed his players to “pass the ball more,” a suggestion that some perceived as lacking strategic depth. Commentator Peter Hooley expressed doubts about a timeout called late in the game, questioning, “I maybe would’ve kept that timeout. It is only a four-point game; plenty of time left.”
Additionally, NBL great Andrew Gaze raised concerns about Lash’s substitution patterns in the loss to the 36ers, particularly regarding Tyrell Harrison. Gaze stated, “The game is on the line here and they decide to give him a spell.”
The Bullets currently hold a 1-2 record at the start of the NBL 2025-26 season. Their early struggles are compounded by injuries to key players, including Sam McDaniel (knee), Mitch Norton (knee), and star import Javon Freeman-Liberty (ankle). The team now faces a daunting upcoming schedule, with matches against Tasmania, Illawarra, Perth, and Melbourne.
As the Bullets navigate these challenges, the focus will be on whether Lash can regain the confidence of both his players and critics alike, particularly as they seek to improve their standing in the league.
