2023-24 NBL Season + Off-season news

[Gozu]

Why do they need to look for reasons?

They pay him out they can do what they like.

That's just it they've offered Ninnis another role within the organisation supposedly to head up their 36ers Academy or something knowing he likely won't accept it and will walk out on his contract.

[DOC]

Why do they need to look for reasons?

They pay him out they can do what they like.

They can’t really come out and say they found someone better!
Now piss off Scotty.

They’ll keep him/offer him a role I suspect to ease the burden of the cost

That though is exactly what they have done.

He won’t stay.

[RB]

No they didn’t, not sure they should either.

Just saw a report on the ABC News:

Reporter: Club management said not enough improvement had been made in the off-season, and standards weren't being met.

Matt Weston: The detail that lays underneath that and how you want to prepare a team, I'm not seeing that...

Reporter: Ninnis apparently failed to learn from Wells' extensive coaching background.

Weston: He was a good resource to bring in to help, and I just don't think that's been activated the way I'd like it to be.

[Gozu]

REALLY? You were shocked? Really? Have you spent any time looking at the Adelaide 36ers NBL club over the past 6-7 years? The only shock about the Sixers sacking newly-appointed coach Scott Ninnis today is the fact they never even gave him a chance. All he achieved was rescuing the club last season, giving long-suffering fans hope.

That hope was dashed today when he was sacked, less than six months after he was jubilantly appointed after salvaging another lost season as interim 36ers coach following the dismissal of CJ Bruton.

That was a CJ Bruton who replaced sacked Connor Henry, who replaced Joey Wright who could not get out of the place fast enough despite taking Adelaide to two championship series.

Just watch five minutes of the announcement in February of Ninnis' two-year appointment at this link to see how much has suddenly changed. It is beyond ridiculous.

Club talking heads Nic Barbato and Matt Weston today fronted the media suggesting Ninnis didn't meet certain "standards", then refused to elaborate, making the process look contrived, to say the least.

Again, have a squiz at the first few minutes of the press conference announcing Ninnis' appointment, then find today's "revelations" for a comparison.

Chalk and cheese.

If you conclude there were forces at play who did not want Ninnis in the role, it would not surprise anyone.

First, his preferred assistant option of Graham Kubank was dismissed, which should have set off alarm bells right away.

Brendan Joyce was the club's first choice to be his lead assistant but when that was exposed pubicly, the plan was quietly abandoned.

Next, Weston was on the hustings, talking about recruitment. Red flags flying everywhere if the coach's input into recruiting was so secondary a consideration.

At that point, those close to Ninnis already were cautioning him that to continue under the circumstances was perilous but, loving the club as he does, he decided to plough on through.

Big mistake - huge.

Next, Mike Wells - he has an American accent right? So he must be good - was brought in as assistant. Again, most people who follow these machinations closely noted the writing was on the wall.

Projecting today that the decision to axe Ninnis now rather than risk another poor start was in some way a noble or expedient gesture is beyond laughable.

The club must love paying people who no longer work for them. Fairly sure Ninnis won't be accepting some community engagement gig. What a backhanded offer after blathering on about the standard that wasn't met.

Players who signed long-term contracts must now be wondering what the future holds. (I know at least one who now has his agent looking for a deal in Europe.)

Fans must be wondering if they ever again will see any glory days.

Well, that's what is being promised. Let's see how it pans out.

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/scottshot/

[amber_fluid]

Boti Nagy makes some good points but is part of the boys club mentality.
We need fresh eyes and ears at the club.

The decision has been made so let’s support the 36ers this year and see where they take us.

I’m on board!

[mighty_tiger_79]

Brett Maher quit his role in community program

[LaughingKookaburra]

What the hell is Boti Nagy talking about with the departure of Joey Wright and that he “couldn’t get out of the joint fast enough?” He absolutely torched the club and its players on the way out. He was lucky he didn’t face further sanctions and Nagy is insinuating that he was the victim. After reading that I’d be holding fire on the rest of the info.

[dedja]

Well, they’re either going to look idiots or geniuses at the end of the upcoming season.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Well, they’re either going to look idiots or geniuses at the end of the upcoming season.

Idiots I bet, however rose coloured glasses to say the least from Boti.

[Gozu]

What the hell is Boti Nagy talking about with the departure of Joey Wright and that he “couldn’t get out of the joint fast enough?” He absolutely torched the club and its players on the way out. He was lucky he didn’t face further sanctions and Nagy is insinuating that he was the victim. After reading that I’d be holding fire on the rest of the info.

I know Joey was absolutely pissed about what the Sixers owner did to Mitch Creek in 2018, the owner taking Creek to the Supreme Court to try and void his NBA contract. Then the following season Sobey told the club he wanted to play PG that season because he had designs on making the Boomers roster at the WC. He was also in the last year of his contract so had the club over a barrel. Joey knew he wasn't up to it given he had never played PG before so we had to blow an import spot on a back up PG, Adris Deleon to help cover for Sobey. Allegedly a big blow up between Joey and Sobey happened at practice during that season that resulted in Sobey sporting a black eye. At the end of that season he left signed with Brisbane and Andrej Lemanis who was both Boomers and Brisbane coach picked him for the Boomers WC team.

The season after that, Joey's last, he recruited a young import from college Deshon Taylor. During the pre-season Jerome Randle was released by his team in Turkey and the Sixers owner saw fit to cut Taylor and sign Randle for a second stint with us. Joey was furious both at his hand picked import being cut without any say in it and having to coach Randle again after they parted badly in 2017, we finished top in 2017 but flamed out in the semi-finals after the deciding Game 3 loss here in Adelaide Randle's wife threw food at the Hawks bench but missed and hit a girl in the crowd and she was banned from the Powerhouse, presumably that incident soured relations between Joey and Randle. Now the owner was making Joey coach him again at the expense of Taylor.

You could tell in Joey's final season 2019-20 he was not happy and didn't want to be there anymore. The team played poorly another import Eric Griffin was poor defensively and given how bad Daniel Johnson was defensively the two couldn't be played together so Griffin had to come off of the bench. The third import Ramone Moore was giving us SFA in his third year at the club, after he left the Sixers he signed in Romania the following season only lasted about four games before he was cut and never played professionally again.

It wasn't good what Joey said about the imports in that private text group with the coaching staff but it was likely made sarcastically to ram home his disappointment in their performances. But by then it was obvious he didn't want to coach the team anymore but wasn't prepared to quit and walk away from the 2 years remaining on his contract so the owner fired him and kept paying him until 2022. As far as I'm aware Joey still lives here in Adelaide and has been doing private coaching of kids since leaving the Sixers. He said in an interview with Boti a couple of years ago he's never been happier, coaching kids is what he should've always been doing and admitted he stayed in the 36ers job too long.

[Gozu]

Scott Ninnis has released a statement:

It's been a very difficult few days for myself and my family.

I was completely blindsided by Monday's news, just 11 days into pre-season.

The incredible support that I've received from current NBL coaches and players both past and present, as well as 36ers legends, family and friends, club sponsors and the South Australian basketball community has been overwhelming.

I've put my heart and soul into this club for nearly half my life and I'm deeply disappointed and hurt by this outcome.

I walk out with my head held high knowing what I achieved at the end of last season and what I was putting in place for the season ahead.

I'll share more in the future.

I have a 2-year contract with the club which I expect to be honoured.

For now, this matter is in the hands of my legal team.

Scott Ninnis.

https://nbl.com.au/news/scott-ninnis-issues-statement

[Brodlach]

If he wants the club to fulfill the two year contract then they can place him in any role they see fit I guess. So community officer it is.

[dedja]

If he wants the club to fulfill the two year contract then they can place him in any role they see fit I guess. So community officer it is.

Not necessarily, depends on what's in (or not in) his contract.

[amber_fluid]

If he wants the club to fulfill the two year contract then they can place him in any role they see fit I guess. So community officer it is.

Exactly.
He’s been moved aside so he continues in a role the club gives him or he quits and doesn’t get the coin

[Gozu]

The SE Melbourne Phoenix have announced the signing of veteran centre Majok Majok to a one-year deal. Although he didn't play he was a training player with the Tasmania JackJumpers last season.

https://nbl.com.au/news/phoenix-sign-four-club-veteran

Also the NBL have announced NBA legend Carmelo Anthony will be in attendance at HoopsFest for Round 1 of the season in Perth.

https://nbl.com.au/news/carmelo-anthony ... -hoopsfest

Tonight in the first pre-season game the Illawarra Hawks beat the touring Shanghai Sharks from China 101-88 at the Snakepit. Top scorers for the Hawks were Sam Froling with 22 points, Tyler Harvey had 18 points and Lachlan Olbrich added 17 points and for the Sharks Darius Days scored 22 points, Cheng Liu had 17 points and ex-NZ Breaker Terry Li scored 15 points.

[Gozu]

Jacob Wiley has let fly on social media alleging the Sixers were screwing him around with his pay last season:

https://x.com/Tksed_1/status/1824958588416307591

Good things to say about Ninnis and Joey but not CJ.

[DOC]

I know it’s rant.

He did not travel back with the team so can not believe CJ took photos of him on the plane.

[Gozu]

I remember hearing Wiley got on the plane initially but he was in too bad a way to fly so the ambos came and got him off the plane and took him to the hospital.

The CJ taking photos of him thing was probably more to document things in case of any legalities rather than as he implies CJ just did it out of a morbid fascination or something. He was probably pissed that that was his only contact from the coach where as a Joey or Ninnis would've put more of an effort in.

[Jimmy_041]

I think some reasons for the sacking (ie) standards will leak out this week

[Gozu]

In quite a surprise the Tasmania JackJumpers have released new Next Star signing Roman Siulepa. He wanted to join the team after finishing the school year in Queensland and wasn't prepared to move to Tassie until then so the JJ's have cut bait with him.

https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/ ... s-contract