NBL 2023: Star Adelaide 36ers recruit Robert Franks arrives amid fears he could sign overseas

After a fortnight of uncertainty surrounding his future, the Adelaide 36ers are a very relieved club, with gun off-season signing Robert Franks finally arriving in Australia.

The Adelaide 36ers are a relieved club after gun off-season signing Robert Franks arrived in Australia, ending a fortnight of uncertainty surrounding his future. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

Prized Adelaide 36ers off-season signing Robert Franks is finally in the City of Churches – a fortnight after his expected arrival amid serious interest from Russian club, PBC Lokomotiv Kuban.

Franks landed in Australia late on Sunday night and will start training with his new 36ers teammates on Monday.

The former Brisbane Bullet, who averaged 18.19 points, 8.93 rebounds and 1.59 assists in his first NBL season, went missing after signing with Adelaide.

Franks took to social media on Monday to express his excitement about joining a loaded Adelaide roster, featuring Boomer Mitch McCarron, veteran big Daniel Johnson and ex-Illawarra Hawks defensive beast Antonius Cleveland.

“Big things ahead in Adelaide,” Franks tweeted.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Franks was set to arrive at the 36ers in early August, but it didn’t eventuate because of delayed flights at the time.

He then released an Instagram story on an aeroplane bound for Turkey, which sparked more intrigue around his future.

However, it has emerged the ex-Bullet had received a big dollar offer to join PBC Lokomotiv Kuban.

Former Brisbane Bullet Robert Franks is a major signing for the Adelaide 36ers, and they will be relieved he has arrived. Picture: Getty Images.

It’s understood Franks had agreed to a deal with Lokomotiv, but the club withdrew the offer when he couldn’t train or play due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for the Boston Celtics at the NBA Summer League.

The Seattle-born power forward also has a buyout in his Adelaide contract that allows him to explore his options should a superior deal surface.

Franks confirmed he tested the open market, but stressed the lure to join Adelaide was too good to refuse after his initial chats with coach CJ Bruton.

“When CJ called me, he gave me that pitch of me coming in, elevating my game, elevating the players around me and building something special,” Franks told the 36ers.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

“It was more so on the business side of things, an opportunity in Europe came up and it was close to happening.

“But for all good reasons, I am here so that’s in the rear view.

“I’m excited for the upcoming season in Adelaide.”

Franks said the opportunity to play alongside Cleveland – the NBL’s premier defensive player - had a big role to play in his decision to join the 36ers.

“It’s a cherry on top (the Cleveland signing). We have been close friends before this,” he said.

“We just complement each other. He’s a great player, he won defensive player of the year last year so I feel like me and him on both sides of the ball will complement each other all

year long.”

Robert Franks admits he was testing the market, but says the pull from Adelaide was too strong. Picture: Getty Images.

The 36ers wouldn’t stand in Franks’ way if he were able to secure a bigger contract, however the club insists it hasn’t held any discussions with Lokomotiv about the forward’s future or any buy out of his contract.

Adelaide CEO Nic Barbato says Franks’ talks with the Russian club were solely “business” and there are no issues between the club and the ex-Bullet.

“We’re just pleased that Robert is here on the floor with his teammates and ready to go for the new season,” Barbato told News Corp.

“He is pumped and we’re looking forward to the team coming together and Robert is a really important piece of that.”

Thankfully for Adelaide, Franks will commit to the 36ers for the upcoming 2022/2023 NBL season.

He is one of the league’s biggest off-season signings and a major coup for the rebuilding 36ers alongside fellow recruit – reigning Defensive Player of the Year and ex-Illawarra Hawk Antonius Cleveland.