The Sydney Kings have torn up Lamonte Turner’s contract after the American failed a physical on arrival in Australia.
The Kings had viewed the point guard as the missing piece in their NBL championship puzzle, and a starting back-court partner for fellow import Jaylen Adams.
But the club announced they had cut him only hours before what was supposed to be his NBL debut against Melbourne United on Thursday night.
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The Kings will not go to market for a replacement player to finish the season, Brian Goorjian’s first season back in charge of the team.
“The Sydney Kings have voided the contract of newly signed US import Lamonte Turner after he failed his team physical since arriving in Sydney,” a short club statement read.
A Kings representative said for legal reasons the club was unable to elaborate on the situation when contacted by AAP.
Turner had been on the Kings’ radar for months before officially signing last week and was busy analysing video footage during that time to familiarise himself with the team.
A scout who was not a member of the Kings coaching staff assessed Turner in the USA before the Kings offered him a contract, and had signed off on his ability.
In an interview with AAP earlier this week, Turner said he had not suffered any injuries while in talks with the Kings.
While last weekend, coach Goorjian was also not aware of any problems, singing the praises of his new signing.
“First and foremost, Lamonte is a point guard, a ball-handler, and facilitator who can get people the ball, which puts them in the best position to succeed,” Goorjian said on the Sydney Kings website, on Sunday.
“I have no doubt he will make everyone else on our team better while complimenting their abilities.
“Adding to that, he’s an elite defender, who can pick up the ball full-court, while being tough and willing to do whatever it takes to win.
“Finally, he’s a strong lockerroom guy, who played and captained a top college in Tennessee, which has helped give him an awareness of the situation he is walking into with us.”
Turner has played his entire professional career to date in Europe and was the south-eastern conference sixth man of the year as a sophomore at the University of Tennessee in 2018.
Turner has also played abroad at Polan’s Arka Gdynia, Finland’s Kataja BC and Serbia’s Košarkaški klub FMP.
His abrupt termination leaves Kings guards Izayah Le’Afa and Shaun Bruce to shoulder the load next to Adams on the run to the post-season.
– with AAP