ADAM Nener would have been happy with an SBL coaching role at any club, but to return to the Cockburn Cougars makes it extra special and he is happy with the squad he has at his disposal with the defending champions.

Following a 20-year playing career across Australia that included significant time with the Cougars, Nener has spent the past couple of years developing his coaching credentials with two years as an assistant coach under Alan and Steve Black at the Willetton Tigers.

He has also coached Willetton's D-League team and felt it was time to put his hand up to be a head coach when the position back at his former club the Cougars became available after Matt Parsons stepped down following last season's championship.

Nener was subsequently appointed and while it wasn’t all roses being tasked with replacing championship winning stars Marcus Goode, Najee Lane, Julian Pesava and Sheldon McIntyre, he is happy with the squad he has in 2017.

It's easy to see why with Jalen Billups having quite the impact already including leading the Cougars to a win at Willetton over the Tigers last Friday night with 39 points and 15 rebounds to earn SBL Player of the Week honours.

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But the return of Seva Chan, arrival of Lochlan Cummings and retention of Rhett Della and Dan Thomas have been pivotal as Nener looks to defend Cockburn's championship.

"Picking up Jalen was pretty cool and he's a great guy, and he always plays hard. Then getting Seva Chan back to the club was always a priority for us and having Lochy Cummings pretty much fall into our laps was a bonus," Nener said.

"He has been away at college for the last three years and he wanted to come back and play, which is great. They've all fitted in pretty well and now it's just about adjusting. Jalen only got here a week before the first game so he's still adjusting as well, but it's fun and I'm enjoying it."

While the Cougars have just the one import with Billups to start the season with, Nener is confident that he has enough to work with to be successful in 2017.

"This is the group we'll stick with and I think we'll be alright with this group, but we'll see how we go," he said.

"Losing Marcus and Najee from last year is tough, they were quality players in their championship team but I thought they did rely on them a lot as well.

"Having the team adjust again without those two and with the players trying to learn their new teammates will take some time, but I think we'll have a better team now in a lot of ways. We might not go as deep but personnel-wise I think it's going to be a good team."

While Nener did focus on bringing in some new talent to Cockburn with the departures of the likes of Lane, Goode, McIntyre, Pesava and even Travis Hayto and Luke Wilson, he knew it was just as important to retain as many as possible.

Especially Della and Thomas, who could have been excused for retiring following last year's triumph. Nener was desperate for them to play on and they were only too happy to oblige.

"It was definitely important for those guys to play on because we are a very young team. DT and Rhett were one of my main priorities to bring back to lead this team," he said.

"DT had another great game last week and he's had a limited preparation as well. He missed the last six weeks of the pre-season so his first training session was the week before our first game. Just having those guys around the team and talking to the young guys is great and invaluable."

It might be easy to forget as well that the Cougars lost captain Gavin Field in Game 1 of their quarter-final series last year against the Perry Lakes Hawks.

It says a lot that they were still able to beat the Hawks, Geraldton Buccaneers and Joondalup Wolves to claim the championship. Field is back now and while his elbow is still getting back to 100 per cent, his early season form shows he's not far off his best already again.

"He started full training a month before the season started so he had a bit of a limited preparation, but having Gav on your team is just great," Nener said.

"He is a very smart basketballer and knocks down some big shots at crucial times. He is a great leader and a great team guy as well so we're lucky and grateful to have him."

Replacing what Goode provided the Cougars last season was going to be no easy task, but what Billups is showing already in 2017 there is every chance he can, or better it.

He is proving a monster inside at the offensive end and defensively is having a much greater impact and blocking more shots than the box scores might be giving him credit for.

In the SBL he might be a natural five man, but he is working on become a three/four if he wants to go to a higher level.

Nener is more than happy to do whatever he can to help him achieve his goals.

"I don’t think we'll see Jalen in the league again next year. He has aspirations to play higher and I wish him all the best for that. We are here to try and improve him, and try to help him get to anywhere he wants to go. That's the way we see it," he said.

"All college he has played the four/five role and before he came out here he was working on being able to play as a three man at the next level. He will get there, he's certainly quick enough on defence to play that.

"He just has to work on his shot a bit more. He has aspirations to go higher and to keep improving, and we'll help him to do that. If he keeps playing like that, people are going to take notice."

Nener felt he was ready to step into a head coaching role in the SBL but with Parsons appearing settled at the Cougars, he was willing to try his luck elsewhere.

But when the Cockburn job became available, he knew it would be extra special for him.

He couldn’t be happier to be back at the club he played with and with the staff he has around him.

"I played here but to get the opportunity to coach now, I'm having a ball doing it and it's a lot of fun even though it's definitely time consuming. Just to work with the guys is what I'm loving," Nener said.

"I used to play against Grant (Davey) and Scott (Hood) was one of my coaches in under-20s state team so we all have a great relationship with each other and working with those guys is really cool.

"You take it as it comes in terms of coaching roles and I knew I always did want to be a head coach, but it does mean that bit more coming back to coach here.

"Cockburn has always been great to me and they've always welcomed me back with open arms, and it's a great club with a great family environment. That there is one of the main reasons I like being here."