Returning Bullets star Lamar Patterson to miss opening three games due to injury

If Lamar Patterson can recapture his fitness and form, he can help the Brisbane Bullets win the NBL championship this season.

Brisbane Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis has hailed Lamar Patterson’s return as a potential game-changer for the Bullets, even though the star forward will miss three games with a knee injury.

The Bullets confirmed Patterson’s comeback and the release of American import Orlando Johnson ahead of Saturday’s clash against New Zealand.

With Patterson unavailable, Brisbane has added 26-year-old Sunshine Coast product Jamaal Robateau to the playing roster.

Lamar Patterson is a massive boost to Brisbane’s title hoops. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images

Lemanis is looking forward to working with Patterson again following his failed six-game stint with the Breakers this season.

“We all know what Lamar, at his best, brings to this group, and whilst there will still be an integration process because we are a different team to the one he has played with last season, I’m excited about having him here,” Lemanis said about the former NBL First Team star.

“One advantage of bringing in Lamar is that he understands us and we understand who he is. He’s familiar with our offence, he’s familiar with our defence, who we are as a coaching staff and how we operate as an organisation, so I’m confident that will make his transition into the group a quick and smooth one.

“He’s certainly proven that he helps us succeed as a team. We know he is coming in injured, but we’ve done all our due diligence and, as with every decision or non-decision we make, there is an element of risk involved.

“We’re confident that the risk versus potential reward equation here is in our favour.

“I’m eager to watch it evolve over the next month and excited about where this can take us as a team.”

Bullets GM of basketball Sam Mackinnon is pleased to have Patterson return to the franchise.

“As a club we know what Lamar can do and the value he can add to our current roster,” McKinnon said.

“He understands what we are looking to achieve as a club and we know he enjoys playing under the guidance of Andrej (Lemanis), CJ (Bruton) and Greg (Vanderjagt).

“We look forward to getting him back around our group and working towards a return to the court in the near future.”

The Brisbane Bullets found it difficult to release American import Orlando Johnson. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Meanwhile, Lemanis conceded it was an extremely difficult decision to release Johnson after he played just 15 games with the franchise.

“This is a decision that was not made lightly and is made especially difficult given the quality person Orlando is,” he said.

“I have really enjoyed working with him and appreciate his professional and team-first attitude.

“In order to give our team the best chance of winning a championship, we feel that a change needed to be made in order to bring in someone who better complements the other skill sets we have on the team.

“It is never easy to make a change. You grow relationships and form bonds with players, which is especially true with a person of Orlando’s character, so I’m disappointed that as coach I wasn’t able to find a way to help him succeed in our environment.

“I wish him every success moving forward and hope that he continues to add to his already long and successful career. It was a pleasure getting to work with him.”

Originally published as Returning Bullets star Lamar Patterson to miss opening three games due to injury