The Adelaide 36ers 2023/24 NBL season has gotten off to a horror start, after they were forced to fire their latest import signing after just two pre-season games, according to ESPN.
The 36ers lost by 26 points to the New Zealand Breakers, and 32 points to the Perth Wildcats, causing Adelaide to hit the panic button before the regular season even begins.
In the firing line was import Jamaal Franklin, who underwhelmed throughout his Blitz, averaging 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 rebounds per game.
After just two NBL Blitz games, the Adelaide 36ers are planning to release import Jamaal Franklin. The team is already in the process of looking for a new import
— NBL News (@NBL_News) September 20, 2023
via (Olgun Uluc)#NBL24 pic.twitter.com/sJS9Rznrcw
Signing with the 36ers in late July, Franklin came to the NBL after a year in the Philippines which prematurely ended when he was sacked before his team's playoff run, allegedly due to disciplinary issues.
Speaking at the time of his signing, 36ers CEO Nick Barbato acknowledged Franklin's previous issues but was confident in his team's ability to integrate the American, a belief which has since proved to be unfounded.
"[Assistant coach Craig Simpson] obviously coached him in China and has been in contact with him, and CJ had him at a Summer League, so it’s not an unknown quantity for us," Barbato told Code Sports.
"To have a long career in China, you have to be of a certain character and have a certain discipline about you.
"I think there’s always two sides to the story. You’re looking at one isolated incident but if you look at the body of work for his career, it’s been fine."
MORE: Who is Rocco Zikarsky? Seven-foot-three rookie set to make NBL debut for Brisbane Bullets
With this signing clearly not panning out, pressure is now on for Adelaide to regroup - and find another import.
The team has one more Blitz game remaining, before opening their regular season against Brisbane on Friday, September 29.
Adelaide 36ers repeated import issues
For Adelaide 36ers fans, this must feel like import Groundhog Day, with their widely reported import struggles from the 2022/23 season now bleeding into what was meant to be a fresh start.
In November of last year, the 36ers were forced to part ways with highly-touted import Craig Randall II, due to reported attitude issues within the team.
Randall II gained notoriety when he spearheaded the 36ers historic win over the Phoenix Suns, draining nine three-pointers en route to 35 points, but despite his scoring prowess, he would not see out the season, due to repeated clashes with teammates and coach C.J. Bruton.
Interestingly, the 36ers were also allegedly told not to sign Randall II due to previous issues, but proceeded to anyway, a decision which would come back to haunt them.
While Adelaide learned from their previous mistakes and cut ties with Franklin early on, they have a lot of work to do if they wish to return some stability to a franchise that desperately needs it.
