NBA coach a witness for Heal in fraud case

Philadelphia 76ers NBA coach Brett Brown is expected to be called to give evidence in a court case involving Australian basketball great Shane Heal who is facing three counts of fraud relating to an alleged $750,000 scam.

Heal, a four-time Olympian who played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, was represented by Darren Mahony in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mr Mahony asked for the mention be adjourned until January 27.

He told the court they were trying to obtain the availability of a witness in the US, understood to be former Australian Olympic coach Brown.

Heal worked as Boomers assistant coach under Brown from 2009 to 2011.

Brown, also a former NBL coach, is in the middle of coaching the 76ers in the NBA where the regular season does not end until mid-April.