NBL news 2024: Jason Cadee on how Adelaide struggles impacted and how he and the 36ers have turned it around

With his coach sacked and among a trio of veterans benched, an honest Jason Cadee has reflected on the toll Adelaide’s mid-season turmoil took on himself and his family.

Adelaide guard Jason Cadee admits he struggled mentally with his banishment from the 36ers’ rotation during the mid-season turmoil that engulfed the club — and that took a toll on his family.

The NBL veteran, 32, is one of the most-respected leaders in the league, coveted for his calm presence in the locker room and is helping guide the next generation as a mentor to boom 17-year-old Queensland prospect Roman Siulepa.

But the Sixers, in the wake of coach CJ Bruton’s December sacking, decided to sit Cadee, along with fellow veterans Mitch McCarron and Sunday Dech, in an attempt to turn their season around.

It was the first time in his 380-game career the Sydney-born playmaker was a healthy scratchy, recording a pair of dreaded ‘DNP-CD’ (did not play – coach’s decision).

“Yeah it was a struggle. I’m not going to stand here and lie. I’ve never had to go through that,” an honest Cadee, who was recruited to the club by Bruton, said.

Jason Cadee has played a role in Adelaide’s season turnaround. Picture: Getty Images

“There was a lot of different things going on at that time throughout the club and for me it was a tough period but it never took away from how I was here on the floor (at training) or how I was to my teammates.

“I was going home and I probably wasn’t in a great place and so it probably put a bit more on (my family) than I normally do.

“I’m normally pretty good at keeping jobs separate from home life but I think that period probably took a bit more on my family.

“It was something I got to learn from.”

The Sixers learned from it, too.

Interim coach Scott Ninnis, after Cadee watched losses against Cairns and Melbourne United from the pine, integrated the former NBL Sixth Man of the Year back into his rotation, often using him as a second-half starter to provide composure on the ball during a period where the Sixers had struggled this season.

Cadee has had an impact in the Sixers’ turnaround. Picture: Getty Images

It’s worked. In the 11 games since he was recalled, Cadee’s only turned the ball over seven times as one of just five Sixers with a positive plus-minus (+12 in his time on the floor). Adelaide is 7-4 in that stretch and sit just one game and percentage behind the sixth-placed Brisbane Bullets, who they visit on Friday with their season on the line.

“I knew that I wasn’t the cause of the problem that was going on and I knew that I could help once my name was called upon to come back in and I feel like I’ve done that,” he said.

Buoyed by a hot streak that has left them a slim chance of an unlikely playoff berth, Cadee admits the playing group spoke about their precarious position after Sunday’s loss to Tasmania, given a loss to the Bullets would slam the door shut.

“We now fall into that bracket (of teams playing for their season). We are also very mindful that, throughout this whole process (where) we have turned things around we’ve (had) a big focus on the next game,” he said.

“Worry about what we can control and for us, right now, that’s Brisbane (on Friday night).”