Why NBL clubs have sacked six international players so far, with more to come
Less than a month into NBL26, six internationals have parted ways with their clubs and there could well be more to come. The NBL’s imports are under pressure – find out why here.
The life of an NBL import has always been a ruthless existence – but never like this.
Less than a month into NBL26, six internationals have parted ways with their clubs and CODE Sports understands there could well be more to come, with several other import players under the pump in the early going.
Half the league – South East Melbourne (twice), Adelaide, Brisbane, Illawarra and Cairns – have made changes on the import front, for any number of reasons including but not limited to performance, fit and/or behaviour.
And there are a number of imports right across the country who are yet to fulfil personal, club – or external – expectations.
Former league MVP Derek Rucker said the focus for clubs, now, was less about pure numbers and more on how an import fitted in with their team, both on and off the court.
“It’s not that this person can’t play or that person’s no good, because we clearly saw with Javon Freeman-Liberty (in Brisbane) someone who is exceptionally talented and a high level offensive scorer – but something was amiss with the fit,” Rucker, now a respected NBL media figure, said.
“With the parity in the league and, with only 10 teams, the volatility from a team’s chemistry perspective is significant.
“One player can really disrupt the locker room, whether that’s through attitude or just the way they fit on the court.”
With Freeman-Liberty out and Brisbane – in the doldrums at 1-4 as outside pressure on new coach Stu Lash mounts – hunting a replacement, Jaylen Adams form is another concern.
The star point guard hasn’t come close to the form that made him a league MVP and champion in Sydney.
Multiple sources told CODE Sports the Bullets were aware Adams had a reputation as an elite talent who did not always hit the level of professionalism expected of an import.
A source said Adams, in Sydney, would be excused for late arrivals absences from team meetings, trainings and other club functions thanks to his elite level of play.
But, in Brisbane, the 29-year-old is leading the entire NBL in turnovers at 4.4 per game, while shooting just 37 per cent from the field and a woeful 13 per cent from deep – just two makes from 15 attempts in five games. The 32 minutes per game would be a career high across his four seasons in the league, while the 14.4 points would comfortably be a career low.
South East Melbourne’s Hunter Maldonado is a tall and versatile guard who plays defence and can facilitate. But, with the Phoenix’s heavy reliance on Nathan Sobey as their only real pure scorer, they need more offensive firepower.
The American is not a noted bucket-getter and, therefore, the on-court fit could force the club’s hand – for a third time this year.
The 26-year-old played just 14 minutes in Sunday’s escape in New Zealand for 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting to take his three-game numbers to 8 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds – on just 25 per cent shooting.
Mason Jones was already on a hiding to nothing as Perth’s replacement for the legendary Bryce Cotton.
Arriving as the reigning NBA G League finals MVP off a season where he averaged 24 points and 8 assists and shot the three ball at nearly 42 per cent on a ridiculous 9 attempts per game, big things are expected of the 27-year-old.
But, in a horror start to his NBL career, through four games, the American has produced just 9.5 points and 2.8 assists, managed only 5 three-point makes on 22 attempts – 22 per cent – and he’s been benched for the coach’s son, who is a development player with a total of three professional games.
Admiral Schofield arrived in Cairns as the hulking, intimidatory-type coach Adam Forde loves but, instead of getting in the paint and making his presence felt, the former NBA man has spent his time on the perimeter. Through five games prior to Sunday afternoon’s clash with Melbourne United, Schofield’s taken more threes (39) than twos (31), hitting at a just-passable 33 per cent. For context, the Taipans have one of the best three-point shooters in the country in Jack McVeigh, who has only taken 15 shots from deep this season.
New Zealand’s Izaiah Brockington was the talk of the NBL, winning the Blitz MVP and prompting former Illawarra Hawk Damon Lowery to declare he would average 25 points per game in NBL26.
But, in order to do that in the Aussie league, you have to be able to shoot, and that skill appears a glaring deficiency in the ultra-athletic American’s game – he’s managed just 11.5 points on 17.6 per cent from deep and teams are sagging off in order to limit his ability to get to the basket and the free throw line. He had just 5 points in a six-point loss to South East Melbourne Sunday.
Breakers teammate Rob Baker has been almost as underwhelming to start the season, leaving star guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright on an island for the Kiwis, who are languishing at the bottom of/in the lower reaches of the NBL table.
Melbourne Tigers great Lanard Copeland reckons he’s never seen so many import changes so early in the season.
He attributes the quick triggers to a combination of a desperation to compete in a league loaded with more depth of talent than ever before – and an unprecedented level of media scrutiny.
“If you lose a game, we’re on your ass, and, if you lose two in a row, we’re really on your ass,” Copeland, who is now a prominent broadcaster, said.
“The scrutiny is so much higher now.
“And then you go back as a coach and go ‘do we have enough?’ ‘Is that enough firepower?’ ‘Is he good enough for this team’?”
“A player might go 2-18 and you go, ‘nah, he’s not our guy’, but it might just be a bad game and sometimes, with all the outside noise, it scares you into a reaction.”
Rucker said the demand on productivity on NBL imports was much higher than it is today – but the scrutiny no less.
“When I played, there was no messing around, you just couldn’t afford to have back to back bad games,” Rucker said.
“One year, I started off blazing hot with Newcastle,” said Rucker, who was averaging 28.2 points and 11.6 assists through the first 13 games of 1994.
“I came down and we played Brian Goorjian’s Magic. They had a great team and I think I only had 8 points (he’s right) and I remember when we landed back in Newcastle the coach at the time Tom Wiseman said ‘If you have 8 again, you’re going home the next day’.”
For the record, Rucker had 33-10-5 in a 19-point win in his next outing and played another 12 seasons in the NBL.
THUMBS UP
KING KENDRIC TRUMPS EX-CLUB, COTTON
Kendric Davis’ return to Adelaide after an acrimonious exit had the potential to explode. It helped that Montrezl Harrell was out the door after the pair’s very public verbal war, but didn’t stop the record-breaking Adelaide Entertainment Centre crowd from booing its former import darling’s every move. Davis and the Kings had the last laugh, though, the guard pouring in 22 points as teammates Bul Kuol, Matthew Dellavedova and Jaylin Galloway made Bryce Cotton’s life hell and the Kings produced their biggest ever road win in Adelaide. 1-nil King Kendric, with a classy post-game interview to top it all off.
HOW DID WE FORGET ABOUT JO?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think many of us forgot what giant South Sudanese-born Melbourne United NBL champion Jo Lual-Acuil Jr was capable of when he popped up as a marquee signing in Perth. But he’s been quick to remind us – and then some – dominating for the Wildcats with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, capping a 30-point, 10-rebound, 2-stock tour de force with a clutch tip in against Cairns this round.
THUMBS DOWN
COULD IT GET ANY WORSE FOR THE BULLETS?
There’s bad and then there’s losing by 27 to a winless bottom-of-the-table team which had just sacked an import. But that’s the reality for the Bullets – who’d, in fairness, released an import of their own – but still laid a horrible egg against embattled reigning NBL champion Illawarra. Brisbane’s start to the game was as bad as it gets – half way through the first quarter, the Bullets had one field goal and were down 22-2 as the Hawks reeled off 16 straight at one point. Game over. The injuries to key personnel haven’t helped, after a fourth straight loss, there early signs are very troubling.
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GOD-LIKE MCGEE HAWKS’ ACHILLES HEEL?
“I don’t think the league deserves him being here” were Illawarra coach Justin Tatum’s comments about 37-year-old former NBA man JaVale McGee after Hawks stunk it up in New Zealand in the first game of the new in-season Ignite Cup. In fairness, the big man has copped his fair share of treatment and is putting up godlike numbers – 22.5 points (on 68 per cent), 10.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.3 blocks, 1.5 steals and 4.7 dunks (made that one up, but there have been lots and it’s fun to watch).
But there’s also an issue the Hawks should be more worried about dealing with. Lumbering McGee’s inability to guard the perimeter or get back in transition has made Illawarra a shooter’s dream. Saturday night’s Bullets embarrassment aside, the NBL’s marksmen have feasted on the open looks they’ve been afforded as the Hawks concede 10.8 threes per game (second worst), allowing opposition teams to shoot 33.1 per cent from deep (second worst) and allowing 16 fast break points (second worst). A big mobile guard to replace JaQuori McLaughlin will be a step in the right direction.
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