Crosscourt column: Cairns coach Adam Forde, Aron Baynes involved in alleged ‘physical clash’
The Cairns Taipans say they welcome the NBL’s investigation into a tunnel blowup between coach Adam Forde and Brisbane player Aron Baynes.
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CAIRNS WELCOME INTEGRITY UNIT REVIEW
Cairns has welcomed the NBL’s investigation into Saturday night’s tunnel blowup, amid Brisbane accusing Taipans coach Adam Forde of igniting the physical altercation with Bullets star Aron Baynes.
It comes as Bullets senior Basketball Advisor Stu Lash strongly expressed his displeasure in Forde’s alleged role in the unsavoury incident.
Lash didn’t hold back when he suggested the Cairns coach was unprofessional” and deserves “multiple NBL game suspensions” for allegedly approaching Baynes in the tunnel at halftime, sparking a physical altercation and damage to a wall.
Lash’s strong opinion prompted Cairns to release a statement on Tuesday, throwing its support behind Forde and forward Lat Mayen following the ugly incident during the round 2 clash against Brisbane at Nissan Arena.
“The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans are currently working with the National Basketball League and its investigation into incidents stemming from the Brisbane Bullets game on Saturday, and as such, will make no comments at this stage.
“The club fully supports Adam Forde and Lat Mayen.
“The club looks forward to the Integrity Unit’s review of the evidence.”
It’s understood the NBL’s Game Review Panel (GRP) will meet on Thursday to hand down its ruling on the ugly incident, including any sanctions.
NBL MOVES ON BAYNES INVESTIGATION
Audio and CCTV footage could blow up an ugly NBL incident allegedly involving Brisbane Bullets star Aron Baynes and Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde.
CODE Sports can reveal league officials have obtained hot microphone audio of Forde’s conversation with Baynes, which ended in an alleged physical altercation and damage to a wall.
It comes as Bullets senior Basketball Advisor Stu Lash strongly expressed his displeasure in Forde’s alleged role in the altercation.
It’s understood the Taipans mentor was waiting for Baynes in the tunnel at halftime before the pair engaged in words, prompting a physical clash.
“Adam Forde’s behaviour during halftime of our game was unprofessional and unbecoming of a head coach in the NBL,” Lash said in a statement provided to ESPN.
“For him to stand and wait outside our locker room with the direct intent to engage in confrontation with Aron deserves multiple NBL game suspensions, in my opinion. There is a pattern of behaviour with coach Forde that needs to be dealt with accordingly. If this was a player engaging in confrontation with a coach, that player would have consequences and the same should hold true for a coach.”
All coaches wear live microphones during the broadcast and audio of Forde’s confrontation with Baynes has been captured.
There is also security footage of the incident, but the league requires approval from all parties involved to gain access.
The commentary team provided their thoughts on the series of incidents which saw Baynes and Mayen exit the game early. pic.twitter.com/QBPA4jVpkH
— NBL (@NBL) October 7, 2023
Brisbane released a statement on Monday to throw their support behind Baynes as the former Boomers star prepares to front NBL over the ugly incident against Cairns.
“The club is currently investigating the alleged incident and we have been liaising closely and cooperatively with the NBL’s Integrity Unit,” Brisbane Bullets CEO Malcolm Watts said.
“While Aron’s reaction on court, and by his own admission, was not representative of the culture and standards the Brisbane Bullets look to uphold, as a club we are fully committed to provide support to Aron at this difficult time.”
The NBL has issued “please explain” letters to Baynes and Mayen following the pair’s role in an ugly incident during Cairns’ win over Brisbane on Saturday night.
Tempers flared before halftime when Mayen’s elbow contacted Baynes’ throat, sparking frustrations to boil over.
Baynes had to be restrained by multiple teammates after being slapped with a technical foul following a torrid argument with referees.
He had to be dragged from the court by multiple teammates and he earned another technical foul on the Bullets bench as his verbal spray at the referees continued.
Baynes and Mayen were seen exchanging words going into the tunnel at halftime.
Code Sports understands Taipans coach Adam Forde and Baynes had words in the tunnel before the ex-Boomers big man pushed Forde into a wall.
The NBL is also investigating the alleged altercation between Forde and Baynes.
The earlier on-court incident resulted in both Baynes and Mayen being ejected from the game before the second half started.
Baynes and Mayen have 24 hours to respond before the league’s Game Review Panel (GRP) has another 24 hours to issue a charge.
The NBL is still gathering evidence on Forde to determine whether it wants to pursue anything further on the Cairns coach.
NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS HELP NBL ATTRACT RECORD EYEBALLS
The NBL’s new crop of Next Stars and potential draft prospects are putting on a show, and it’s attracting unprecedented NBA eyeballs on the Australian league not seen since Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball graced our shores.
American interest in the NBL has skyrocketed on the back of a record eight Next Stars, headed by potential No. 1 pick – Perth Wildcats big man Alex Sarr.
The Frenchman has starred for the Wildcats, averaging 12 points on 71 per cent shooting from the field and four rebounds in his three games thus far.
Sarr was sensational in Perth’s win over Adelaide on Friday, dropping 16 points and adding six rebounds and two blocks.
He also came up big down the stretch with consecutive three-pointers within a minute to help the Wildcats overcome a brave 36ers outfit.
Sarr’s standout performances are helping him surge up the NBA draft boards, with some mocks suggesting he’ll be a top-five pick in next year’s draft.
The 18-year-old isn’t alone when it comes to Next Stars proving their worth on the professional stage.
Cairns’ Swedish Next Star forward Bobi Klintman has been equally impressive, averaging 14 points and 7.3 rebounds to start the season.
Klintman is coming off a sensation weekend in which he starred in two big wins for Cairns.
He dropped a breakout double double (15 points and 11 rebounds) in Thursday’s win over South East Melbourne while adding two steals and three blocks.
Klintman backed it up against Brisbane on Saturday night, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and one block.
The 20-year-old Swedish sensation is being tipped as a potential lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft.
Klintman receive the perfect chance to enhance his prospects with pre-season clashes against the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors in America this week.
The Taipans take on the Wizards on Wednesday from 10am (AEDT) before playing the Raptors next Monday from 9am (AEDT).
NBA scouts are expected to flood to both games to get a close-up look at Klintman ahead of this year’s draft.
In Sydney, rising Australian forward Alex Toohey is also attracting attention with eye-catching displays.
Toohey has averaged 11 points and seven rebounds thus far as one of the Kings’ best performing players.
The 19-year-old from Canberra was particularly impressive in Friday’s loss to Tasmania, dropping 14 points and adding nine rebounds.
Sydney’s star guard Jaylen Adams has been hugely impressed with Toohey, declaring he has the ability to reach the NBA.
“Alex is another guy that ticks all the boxes as a potential draft pick and NBA player,” said Adams, who has played 44 NBA games for Milwaukee and Atlanta.
“It’s now about the continued development and now with DJ Hogg out, he is getting the chance to play in an expanded role and showcase what he can do.”
The seven games broadcast from Thursday to Sunday achieved more than 40 per cent year-on-year increase in average audience on ESPN, via KAYO and Foxtel.
On top of setting a new viewership benchmark, the League also smashed its round 1 attendance record with almost 51,000 fans pouring through the gates.
NEXT STARS POWER RANKINGS:
1: Alex Sarr (Perth Wildcats) – 12pts on 71 per cent shooting from the field and 4.3 rebounds
2: Bobi Klintman (Cairns Taipans) – 14pts on 48 per cent from the field and 7.3 rebounds
3: Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) – 11pts on 41 per cent shooting from the field and seven rebounds
4: Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) – 7.5 points on 50 per cent shooting from the field and 12 rebounds
5: Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets) – 2pts and 1 rebound, but has played only eight minutes in three games. Not Draft eligible until 2025
6: Trentyn Flowers (Adelaide 36ers) – 2.3pts on 22 per cent shooting from the field and 3.7 rebounds
7: AJ Johnson (Illawarra Hawks) – has only received 16 seconds of court time
8: Mantas Rubstavicius (New Zealand Breakers) – Yet to play due to a groin injury
DISLIKES
SYDNEY’S FREE-THROW STRUGGLES
The Sydney Kings are the benchmark following consecutive NBL championships, but their struggles from the free-throw line continue.
This was on show during the Kings’ loss to Tasmania on Friday night, with the men from the Harbour City shooting a lowly 55 per cent from the line (11-20).
Sydney also had a 13 turnovers in the 80-72 defeat.
There is no doubting Sydney possesses the talent to claim a rare three-peat, but the Kings can’t afford for their poor shooting from the line to continue.
This is especially the case after the likes of Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats have reloaded their rosters with more talent.
The Kings were second-last in free-throw shooting last season (71 per cent).
PHOENIX HOPEFUL FOR COOK RETURN
The South East Melbourne Phoenix, and the entire NBL for that matter, are hoping Tyler Cook can quickly recover from an eye injury suffered over the weekend.
Cook, already an injury replacement for star import Alan Williams, was left writhing in agony after he copped a stray finger to the eye from Taipans big man Sam Waardenburg with three minutes left in the second term of Thursday’s loss to the Taipans in Cairns.
The former NBA forward has been diagnosed with an eye abrasion, but Phoenix officials remain optimistic he’ll play against the JackJumpers on Saturday.
Cook has roughly four weeks left at South East Melbourne until Williams returns from his knee injury.
LIKES
SOBEY ON A MISSION
Boomers Olympic bronze medallist Nathan Sobey missed out on Australia’s World Cup squad and he’s playing like he has a point to prove to start NBL24.
Sobey looks like he is a man on a mission – and it’s paying off for the Bullets.
The veteran guard was magnificent in Brisbane’s upset win over the Breakers in New Zealand on Friday, dropping a game-high 24 points and adding eight rebounds.
Sobey backed up this performance in Saturday night’s close loss to Cairns, finishing with another game-high 31 points.
Bullets coach Justin Schueller couldn’t be happier with Sobey’s offence, but says his defence has been equally impressive.
“We’ve been able to put him (Sobey) into positions to have success,” Schueller said.
“He is also giving us commitment on the defensive end. He had a couple of breakdowns that he’ll be frustrated with, but overall we’re getting more there too.”
HAWKS BREAK HOME DROUGHT
Illawarra has copped it from all quarters in recent times, including this columnist, but hats off to the Hawks for hanging tough.
The men from Wollongong rallied to record a hard-fought 113-106 win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday night.
It was Illawarra’s first home court win since December last year after eight unsuccessful attempts, as US import Justin Robinson delivered an imposing 26-point performance in a promising sign of things to come for the Hawks faithful.
Robinson was forced to look on as the Hawks slumped to the bottom of the table in his first campaign, after he tore his meniscus in the season opener and missed every game.
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Originally published as Crosscourt column: Cairns coach Adam Forde, Aron Baynes involved in alleged ‘physical clash’
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