Figured out the solution out for this one,
{ "command": { "text":"hello world", "click":helloWorld } }
The click method should not be in quotes, kendo ui it applies the call operator "()" to the string and it fails at runtime.
It also works for a function as part of a view model, however it does not intrinsically call the view model function even after a kendo bind
{ "command": { "text":"hello world", "click":viewModel.helloWorld } }