Basketball news: Anthony Drmic opens up on leaving Adelaide for Brisbane, then returning to the 36ers

After four years in Adelaide, Anthony Drmic was forced to find a new home. A move north to Brisbane followed but he says he never really wanted to leave the 36ers.

Anthony Drmic says he never wanted to leave Adelaide.

But that’s the thing about professional sport — and especially the NBL. The cutthroat player merry-go-round means, sometimes, you don’t get a choice.

That was the 30-year-old’s reality at the end of 2020 when, after four years in the City of Churches, the 36ers went in a different direction and he was forced to find a new basketball home.

That ended up being a move north to the Brisbane Bullets, where he spent the past two seasons.

But the versatile Melbourne-born wing sees Adelaide as his basketball home and, this off-season, jumped at the chance to return to his old stomping ground.

“I never wanted to leave Adelaide,” Drmic told News Corp.

“But big change was happening at the time with (coach) Joey (Wright) leaving and then they brought in a new general manager (of basketball, Jeff Van Groningen) who wanted to go in a different direction

“But that’s professional sports, it happens all the time.

“The chance to come back showed itself, so I took that opportunity.”

Anthony Drmic, from Adelaide to Brisbane and back again.

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EX-TEAM’S WOE

It’s a good thing he did. As he gears up for his first clash with his former team since his return to Adelaide, the Bullets are in turmoil.

A 4-10 start to the season has Brisbane sitting one rung from the bottom of the NBL ladder, only above the struggling Illawarra.

The Bullets started the season with James Duncan at the helm, sacked him and installed general manager of basketball Sam Mackinnon as coach, who led them for four games, before stepping back from the role. Assistant Greg Vanderjagt is now at the helm — for the time being — amid the search for a new permanent mentor.

A front office power struggle between Mackinnon and chief executive Peter McLennan, along with an ownership based entirely overseas has further complicated matters for Brisbane.

“I think Vandy’s (Vanderjagt) going to do a good job of refocusing them and just worrying about the basketball,” he said.

“All of that stuff off the court isn’t really something they need to be focusing on anyway. it’ll work itself out.”

“Both teams are in need of a win so you’ll see some desperation out there.”

Anthony Drmic goes hard against the Wildcats. Picture: Getty Images

STRUGGLES OF THEIR OWN

It’s not like the 6-8 Sixers are flying and they’ve had their own problems with import Craig Randall sacked after he failed to fit in with the team’s culture.

But that move opened up an opportunity for Drmic to step up into the starting line-up and, save for a sore back which kept him out of two recent games, he has made the most of it.

In seven games since Randall’s departure, Drmic has averaged almost 12 points and fell one short of a career high when he handed out six assists in a win over Melbourne United.

“I grabbed my opportunity with two hands and I was doing pretty well until I was injured and then missed those two games,” he said.

“It hurt me and even the team a little, so hopefully I can get back into some good form, stay injury free and we can get this thing rolling.”

Drmic, Robert Franks and the Sixers are still figuring things out. Picture: Getty Images

REINFORCEMENTS WANTED

The Sixers are still searching for an import to replace Randall, five weeks after the club sacked him.

Drmic doesn’t know when it will happen, but is aware his team needs it.

“I don’t know when that’s going to come but I’m pretty certain it will come,” he said.

“Depending on a few things, obviously (coach) CJ’s (Bruton) got to make that decision but potentially we need a point guard.

“I think we’ve got a lot of bigs, so potentially a combo guard who can come in and back up Macca (point guard Mitch McCarron) and alleviate some of the pressure he’s had to deal with, while also sliding to the two and maybe he can play a bit of the three.”

#DADLYF

It’s been nine months since Drmic, wife Jenna and dogs Owen and Lily added a new addition to the family — bouncing baby Levi.

Drmic, who met Jenna while playing college ball in the US at Boise State, says parenthood is “full on” but it’s changed him for the better.

“The missus has been an absolute champion taking on a lot of the brunt during the season,” he said.

“Life’s a little bit more hectic but just being able to have that experience with her and everything that brings, it’s been fantastic.”

***Adelaide 36ers v Brisbane Bullets

Saturday, December 17, 7.30pm ACDT, @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Watch on Kayo and ESPN

NBL Covid threat still looms as blockbuster abandoned

The threat of Covid wreaking havoc on the NBL’s finals schedule remains real after the league was forced to postpone its first game of the season.

In a flashback to the Covid issues of last season that affected every club, Friday evening’s clash between New Zealand and Perth was abandoned as coronavirus spread through the Breakers’ squad.

News Corp understands up to seven Breakers have contracted the virus, while three others, including French Next Star Rayan Rupert, are injured. It’s left the club unable to meet the league’s minimum requirement of eight available players, hence the decision to reschedule the clash.

Under the league’s Covid policy, which apply to both regular season and finals games, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. The first step is to postpone, second, reschedule and third and last resort, cancellation.

Friday evening’s clash between Perth and New Zealand has been postponed. Picture: Getty Images

It means a situation similar to the 2020 grand final, where Covid uncertainty forced the premature end of the Sydney-Perth series, however unlikely, still looms.

The Wildcats were up 2-1 before Sydney made the decision not to participate in the remainder of the series.

The league then made the controversial call to award Perth the title, infuriating the Kings.

After spending the best part of two seasons playing their games in Australia due to the pandemic, the Breakers have surged up the NBL ladder, currently in second place.

While Australia has relaxed its Covid restrictions, New Zealand still requires those who test positive to isolate for seven days.

Barring a huge form slump, it’s left the NBL open to a potentially difficult task, should a similar situation arise with the Breakers during the finals, where logistics around playing dates, venue-availability and results of other games and series’ take on added significance.

But an NBL spokesperson viewed the postponement of the Breakers-Wildcats clash as a “minor setback”.

“The Covid policy and rules remain in place for this season,” said.

“We will continue to work closely with clubs and all stakeholders when these situations occur.

“The league has enjoyed 74 uninterrupted games so far this season and views this particular situation as a minor setback.”

The Kings were angered by the league’s decision to award the 2020 title to Perth. Picture: AAP

Breakers general manager Simon Edwards, on Thursday, said players were an hour away from leaving for the airport to fly to Perth when the decision was made.

It comes as two Covid-positive Melbourne Stars players competed in cricket’s Big Bash season opener with Sydney Thunder.

Cricket has the luxury of a larger field and is a non-contact sport.

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman, on Wednesday, said he hoped the virus reached a point where it was similar to a cold.

“I’m probably not comfortable (with) players from opposition or our team playing with Covid at this time,” Vickerman said.

“In time, when it gets to the point of ‘hey, it’s just a cold’, and you’re not going to pass it on to anyone — if we get to that point — I’ll be comfortable.”

Brisbane is scheduled to host the Breakers next. That clash is scheduled for Wednesday but the league is closely monitoring the unfolding situation.

Originally published as Basketball news: Anthony Drmic opens up on leaving Adelaide for Brisbane, then returning to the 36ers