Resume vs. recruitment: How Adelaide's approach won Gleeson over

He's a five-time NBL champion as a coach, but Trevor Gleeson says he didn't feel "wanted" by Melbourne United as he weighed up the vacant positions at the end of last season.

Mike Wells' exit from Adelaide and Dean Vickerman's departure from Melbourne opened up two coaching vacancies, clearing the path for Gleeson's return to Australian basketball.

But according to the 58-year-old, the decision was made easy.

"I felt Adelaide wanted me and I didn't feel like that with Melbourne," Gleeson told CODE Sports. "I had to put a resume in [at Melbourne] and then I had to go and interview whereas Adelaide were on the phone trying to recruit me.

"In the space of 24 hours I got a call from Matt Weston [GM Basketball Operations], then Grant Kelley [owner] and then Bryce [Cotton] called."

Gleeson signed a three-year deal to become the 36ers' next head coach, while United launched a global search that landed them Austin Spurs G League coach and former NBL assistant Jacob Chance.

Both clubs now find themselves among the early Championship favourites.

Weston revealed the courtship with Gleeson took just days, after the club reached out to gauge his interest in returning to the League for the first time since 2021.

A Melbourne spokesman said the veteran coach had accepted their invitation to interview before ultimately signing with Adelaide.

"We continued our interview process, which concluded with the club signing who we believe to be the best candidate for the position in Jacob Chance."

Adelaide and Melbourne face off on Saturday night at John Cain Arena from 7:30pm AEST, live on ESPN, 9Go! and 9Now.

Read the full story here >> Revealed: How Adelaide 36ers swooped on five-time championship coach Trevor Gleeson after Melbourne United blew its shot