Dejan Vasiljevic has accused former membership the Sydney Kings of portray him as a “villain” following his shock return to the NBL with the Adelaide 36ers.
Vasiljevic received two NBL titles with Sydney however in June took up an possibility in his contract that permitted him to go away to discover choices abroad.
The NBA’s Washington Wizards signed him for the Summer League after which to an Exhibit 10 deal that might have become a fully-fledged NBA contract for the upcoming season.
Instead, Wes Unseld Jr’s aspect waived the Australian earlier than pre-season coaching camp started.
The resolution left Vasiljevic eager to return to the NBL reasonably than stay with Washington’s G-League affiliate the Capital City Go-Go.
But a situation of releasing the 26-year-old from his contract within the first place was that the Kings might block any return to an NBL rival this season.
The Kings, who not had a roster spot left for Vasiljevic, have been stunned to listen to of his need to return to the NBL final week.
“We originally amended the contract in good faith and completed our roster with the understanding that DJ would play internationally this season,” mentioned chief government Chris Pongrass.
“We are disappointed with how this has been handled and another NBL team’s role in this process.
“While there is no such thing as a excellent system, this circumstance highlights the inequity NBL golf equipment have when it comes to defending their pursuits versus different leagues on the earth.”
Fronting the press as a Sixer for the first time on Wednesday, Vasiljevic hit back at his former club.
“They made me appear to be a villain,” he mentioned.
“They made Adelaide appear to be the villain, truthfully I’m going to stroll away from it and be the larger man.”
The 26-year-old claimed during the press conference that “there’s extra to it than folks assume”, rejecting claims that he turned his back on the Kings.
“I took my time and needed to make the suitable resolution and Adelaide simply got here on board.”
Vasiljevic said he weighed up his options while overseas and ultimately his return to the NBL came down to wanting to play in a competitive league with an eye to Paris 2024.
“This offers me a larger probability to get seen for the Olympics, in order that’s why I made a decision to return,” he said.
In terms of his Paris goal, Vasiljevic was confident he could make the Boomers’ team.
“I hope so, I feel I’m proper there, I simply have to show myself a bit of bit extra and we’ll simply see what occurs,” he said.
The two-time NBL champion averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game for the Kings last season.
He additionally hopes to fit straight into the Adelaide line-up.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
