Sydney Kings move on fast from match-day axing of import Lamonte Turner after failed fitness test

A failed fitness test by an import the Sydney Kings hoped could bolster their flailing season resulted in a match-day axing hours before a loss to their arch rivals.

Everyone expected Lamonte Turner to turn out for his first appearance as a Sydney King on Thursday evening.

But by midday, less than eight hours before tip-off, it was confirmed the Kings would be without their third import after failing a club physical.

Whether he would’ve made a difference in Sydney’s heartbreaking two-point loss to Melbourne United is nothing more than a matter of opinion now.

The decision means the Kings will have to rely on the roster at hand to try to overcome the likes of Illawarra and Melbourne to claim their sixth championship.

When asked if the news had any impact on the playing group, Kings coach Brian Goorjian’s response was straight to the point.

“Zero,” he said after his 850th NBL game.

🤔🤔🤔 .. back to work

— LAMONTE’ TURNER (@LTurn1) January 9, 2025

“It was a bonus plan. I think it was laid out pretty well to them (the rest of the team) that this little piece hopefully (would contribute).

“But you guys are our group. Nothing changes.

“They never met. They never crossed paths. We moved on it quickly so it wouldn’t affect the group.

“But I know those guys weren’t sitting around waiting for boy wonder to take us to the promised land. That wasn’t what it was about.

“It had zero effect as far as I’m concerned on that.”

Guards Shaun Bruce and Izayah Le’Afa played 24 and 26 minutes respectively and were key components of a second half comeback that whittled away a 20-point deficit before levelling the scores with just seconds to play.

Victorious Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman said the team studied the import, expecting him to play limited minutes.

“We did enough film. I don’t think we overdid it on him,” he said.

“It’s always a tricky one if you haven’t practised too many times and they’ve been playing well.

“It was more around, maybe they just throw him out there for a little bit, but I didn’t expect that he would play significant minutes.

“It wasn’t going to be what Brisbane did in bringing in their guy and starting him. I didn’t think that was going to happen because they’ve been playing really good basketball.

“I don’t really understand what happened with that whole thing. We didn’t need to guard him today.”

Originally published as Sydney Kings move on fast from match-day axing of import Lamonte Turner after failed fitness test