Outspoken Adelaide sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic admits he can be “pissed” if interim 36ers coach Scott Ninnis is not locked away for the everlasting position on a minimal two-year deal.
While the Sixers’ slim NBL play-in hopes ended with Friday night time’s 102-84 loss at Brisbane, the actual fact they have been even within the dialog spoke volumes of their kind turnaround, engineered by Ninnis.
After CJ Bruton was sacked as coach in December with the 36ers reeling in final place at 4-9, Ninnis has since led them to a serviceable 7-7 report.
Legendary six-time NBL championship-winning coach and Boomers boss Brian Goorjian has been persistently linked to the Adelaide job however Vasiljevic is vehemently backing the incumbent Ninnis, who has expressed his want to stay in cost subsequent season.
“I know I keep harping on it but Scott deserves it,” Vasiljevic stated.
“You watch where we were at the FIBA break when CJ was fired.
“Each week, we bought higher and higher and have been beginning to get revered.
“I think Scotty’s done a fantastic job and deserves more than one year – it takes at least two years to build an established organisation to move forward.
“For positive, Scotty does deserve it and I’d be pissed if he isn’t the coach for 2 years and onwards.”
Vasiljevic, who last month inked a three-year contract extension, wants centre Isaac Humphries and import combo guard Trey Kell to follow his lead and commit to Adelaide long-term.
The trio have flourished across the season’s back half since Ninnis assumed the reins.
Vasiljevic also issued an SOS for two-time NBL Best Defensive Player Antonius Cleveland, who has been plying his trade in Israel after being crowned the Sixers’ club MVP in 2022-23.
“I’d even begin a GoFundMe to maintain each of them (Humphries and Kell) round,” Vasiljevic stated.
“You’ve bought to maintain that core group collectively
“If we can keep Scotty, keep the coaching staff, then we’ve got myself, Isaac and Trey, then you can build.
“I’m placing it on the market – Cleveland, I need him round too.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
