Crosscourt: Latest news out of round 14 of the 2023-24 NBL season, including more turmoil in Adelaide
The big personalities in Adelaide are wearing thin, players say the coach’s message isn’t getting through amid a blow-up with a star and Montrezl Harrell has clapped back. Crosscourt looks into why there’s never a dull moment with the Adelaide 36ers.
The fractures in struggling Adelaide’s locker room are being laid bare amid revelations of a heated blow-up between star player and coach, an import’s walk-off and a frustrated big man’s pained post-game interview.
With the Sixers’ season in freefall following a third straight defeat, Crosscourt can reveal stat-stuffing import Kendric Davis and coach Mike Wells were involved in a heated exchange during the FIBA break.
Davis and Wells butted heads in an emotional outburst at training, the pair seen yelling at each other as tensions overflowed.
Wells, in a separate incident in September, was caught on news cameras launching a pair of expletive-laden tirades at his players during a fiery practice session.
Former NBA big man Montrezl Harrell has been a shadow of the player he was prior to the November 17 crowd controversy in Melbourne and, following Saturday’s loss to Perth, he left the floor as veteran guard Jason Cadee addressed the rest of the team in a huddle at centre court.
After the third blowout in a row by 20 or more, big man Isaac Humphries alluded to the disconnect with the playing group, declaring on ABC Sport: “We’re struggling right now … you guys don’t see a lot of stuff that happens behind the scenes.”
👀 Candid Insights!
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Isaac Humphries didn't hold back in his brutally honest assessment of the Adelaide 36ers' current performance! ðŸ€
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“We need to do better … but it’s a collective from what happens during the week and it’s just a hard environment right now.
“Guys coming in and out is always hard.
“No one knows their role and we’re all trying to figure it out in front of your eyes.
“So, the frustration is exactly the same for us as it is for you guys watching.
“We’re just trying to figure this out every day and we’re just not.”
Asked post-game about the mood in the locker room, Wells offered: “I think I will just keep the locker room in house, if that’s okay?”
Humphries comments corroborate what Crosscourt has been told, with 36ers players feeling “out of sorts” as the team struggles to find its identity.
Some believe the team’s big personalities – especially Americans Davis and Harrell – have had a draining impact on their teammates.
Both can be volatile, which isn’t easy in a team environment, with many within the 36ers’ ranks believing they need to be better at controlling their emotions.
It’s understood Harrell, the team’s biggest name, has walked out of multiple training sessions throughout the season.
The Sixers performances have fallen off a cliff since the incident in Melbourne. They were fourth in the NBL at 6-4 before that big loss to United.
Harrell and Davis were suspended for making contact with fans during the fracas, then key men DJ Vasiljevic and Sunday Dech suffered hamstring injuries, and the Sixers have now dropped six of seven and fallen to seventh at 7-11 – two games out of the play-in.
The decision to allow Harrell and Davis to return to America for Thanksgiving as they served their suspensions has been questioned within the club.
Some feel the team would have been better-served if the pair remained in Australia to keep working and building on chemistry.
Harrell, on Sunday morning, clapped back at the NBL and talking head Damon Lowery, labelling the league a “f***ing joke” and attempting to explain why he wasn’t in the huddle with his teammates.
“I stick with my team but I'm a passionate and emotional player as well so I didn’t stay on the court to yell and have my frustration come out on court for y’all to have a story to tell there,” Harrell wrote on Instagram.
“I waited to talk to my brother behind closed doors!
“So if you don’t know me and never had a one-on-one conversation with me like you haven’t @damonlowery8 then don’t make false comments.”
Adelaide has been contacted for comment.
Wells was installed as coach prior to the beginning of the season when the Sixers sacked club legend Scott Ninnis – months after he’d signed a two-year deal.
The Sixers’ struggles have led some outside the organisation to question that decision.
The saying ‘never a dull moment in Adelaide’ continues to ring true as the Sixers fight to end a playoff drought that extends back to 2018.
Their next task Monday night is a road date with third-placed Sydney.
KINGS TAP EX-NBA MAN AS SIGNING DEADLINE APPROACHES
Sydney’s search for a third import has reached as high as former NBA No.9 draft pick Dennis Smith Jr.
The Kings have an open roster spot with the season-ending injury to wing Jaylin Galloway and are actively searching for a third import as a replacement.
Crosscourt has learned the Kings have decided their biggest need is at guard where playmaking options are thin behind former NBL MVP Jaylen Adams.
Smith Jr, a seven-year NBA vet who hasn’t played in the big league since last season in Brooklyn, is among a number of names Sydney’s brains trust has looked at.
But from what Crosscourt is hearing Smith prefers to stay in the US where he has just signed with G League team Wisconsin in a bid to make the leap back to the NBA.
But it is an indication of the calibre of player the Kings are looking to bring in to tip the title scales in their favour.
If the Kings choose to sign another player they must do so by January 9. The player would have to be suited up for that day’s clash with Melbourne United in order to meet the seven-game requirement to qualify for the finals.
CHRISTMAS DAY A WINNER BUT ON TOO LATE
The Christmas Day blockbuster between the Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks was a winner, but it’s a shame a key target audience couldn’t watch it because they were in bed.
Crosscourt is all for the NBL being bold as the only Australian sport with games on Christmas Day, but the timing needs to be addressed.
The Kings and Hawks put on a show befitting of a top-of-the-table clash. The close and intense tussle also highlighted how entertaining the NBL product can be when it’s played at its finest.
But the 8.30pm (AEDT) tip-off is too late, especially if you want the nation’s kids to tune in.
Most children are already buggered following a big day of presents and food, so it’s a tough ask to keep them awake.
The 6pm timeslot was already taken with the Tasmania versus New Zealand game, but it begs the question: does there need to be two games?
Why not maximise your audience with one blockbuster at a suitable viewing time that allows everyone to enjoy the game, especially the kids who are the future.
The Sydney v Illawarra NBL clash averaged 19,000 viewers on Network 10, according to Media Spy. That ranked 28th in free-to-air programs for viewers aged 25-54.
HAWKS PLOT TO LOCK IN STAR BIG MAN FROLING
The high-flying Illawarra Hawks plan to table in-form centre Sam Froling a hefty contract in a bid to retain his services on a long-term deal.
Froling – off-contract this season – has been brilliant for the ladder-leading Hawks as the team’s frontcourt figurehead.
The 24-year-old is averaging 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while shooting 55 per cent from the field.
Illawarra general manager of basketball Mat Campbell believes Froling is the perfect piece for the Hawks to build long-term success around alongside the likes of Tyler Harvey and Trey Kell.
“Sam remains a priority resigning as he continues to show growth and consistency after joining the Hawks family in 2019,” Campbell said.
“The opportunity to play and develop rather than go to one of the bigger teams has fast tracked his basketball and leadership development.
“Sam’s form this season is a big reason for our success so far and more of the same will be needed if we are to achieve our ultimate goal of winning a championship.”
On the back of Froling’s efforts, the Hawks are surging as the clear favourites to win the NBL25 championship.
SAVVY BULLETS STRIKE ON EX ANT
Nailing a replacement import with 10 games to go in the season is never an easy task but Brisbane might have struck gold with tough-as-nails former Tasmania JackJumper Josh Adams.
Hit by the news scoring machine James Batemon would miss the remainder of the season with a severe hamstring tear, the Bullets hit the phones in a bid to find someone to fill the void.
With Adams recently finishing up with Maroussi in Greece, the cult figure on Tasmania’s NBL22 grand final team became a top target for the Bullets.
The fiery guard averaged 17.5 points per game for the Jackies that season and buried Melbourne United with a 30-point explosion in game three of the semi finals.
Brisbane coach Justin Schueller was an assistant on that United team and revealed he went back and looked at his review from that fateful game as he delved into Adams’ capabilities.
“The clutchability of him is something that we will look forward to but the culture piece was a big one for us and having connections with the group,” Schueller said.
“We know he will fit in with this group that is supertight and connected.
“He worked out with Rocco (Zikarsky) pre-season, there’s a lot of connectivity there and we’re excited to be as whole as we can be.
“He (Adams) has that experience and he’s elite at getting to the foul line, which is something at times this year we’ve really struggled with.”
The split with Tassie was acrimonious, Adams saying at the time he wanted to return, but JackJumpers’ coach Scott Roth chose to go in a different direction.
After a solid season with Cedevita in Slovenia (14.6ppg in league action, 13.9 in EuroCup) Adams only played nine games in Greece (five for Promitheas, four for Maroussi) this season.
NBA legend Andrew Gaze is a fan of the signing.
“He’s a big-time player and he’s not afraid of big-time moments,” Gaze said on the NBL broadcast.
“He can create his shot. Can be a little bit ball dominant, the ball can stick in his hands a bit, but he is points waiting to happen.”
It was assumed the Bullets would seek more of a play-making guard to replace Batemon, but the team has a broad spread of capable ballhandlers and Adams scoring ability fits with the way the team has leaned into the individual creativity of its squad. The Bullets are second last in assists per game, but have won Casey Prather, Keandre Cook and Batemon have all enjoyed huge scoring explosions,
It seems axed Jackies guard Craig Sword is also keeping a close eye on the happenings in the league, replying to an Instagram post about Adams’ signing with a simple “I’m better”.
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