Goorjian reveals 'no way' Turner could have played

Lamonte Turner's Sydney Kings career is over before it started.

The Kings voided Turner's contract after the club said he failed a physical, including two sessions with head coach Brian Goorjian, after arriving in Sydney.

"I met him, worked him out twice, ticked all the boxes but there was no way he could walk into this thing physically," Goorjian said.

"So it's just back in doubling down on what we do ... and more."

Turner told Code Sports Basketball's Matt Logue on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 that he was still trying to get acclimated.

“I got off the plane last Saturday and I’ve been able to get a few workouts in with the coaches,” Turner told Logue.

"I just need to get game fit because it has been a while since I’ve played.

"It’s also taking a bit of time to get used to being in this part of the world compared to Europe, but I’m getting there."‍

Read the full interview with Turner at Code Sports Basketball

Logue also reported Turner hadn't played since April because he broke his thumb in Serbia.

Goorjian stressed Turner wasn't a major piece but more insurance down the stretch of NBL25 to take some ball handling and playmaking pressure off MVP-calibre point guard Jaylen Adams.

"We had a void and an opportunity to go and add a direction to our team," Goorjian added.

"We've got one point guard and we've got a back-up, but really, you always have three so we've played a style of play that is different and if we were going to bring more structure to it and give some rest. Let's say we're fortunate, we're in a championship series and it's five games having that other body for Jaylen and to add that wrinkle to us would have been helpful.

"So we earmarked a guy to do that and unfortunately (it didn't work out)."

Kings CEO Chris Pongrass said: "It's pretty simple to be honest, we brought him him, we go through the rigour of a medical and conditioning sessions and he didn't pass it. It's as simple as that.

"The process of bringing someone, we needed a hired gun because there's less than a month left in the regular season, you want someone who can come in, play games, contribute and we weren't able to get that done. It's pretty simple, we don't want have someone that's just there and can't be utilised."

When challenged on how the Kings didn't know Turner wasn't ready to go, Pongrass added: "I wouldn't say it's necessarily missed, there's only so much you can know about someone coming in, in terms of a conditioning and medical standpoint, you rely on a lot of things.

"Of course, there are some things in our processes that we are going to go back on but in this case, again, they come in and are not able to contribute."

Pongrass said the playing group responded with resilience.

"It's not an ideal situation," he said.

"We expected someone to come in and be a nice connecting piece, but the group took it really well. They're really happy, they've been around each other for a couple of months now. Luckily for us, a lot of our guys are contributing, Shaun Bruce has been vital in the last two days, the way Jaylen's playing, I actually don't mind that we roll with the group we have.

"It's not like we were bringing in someone that was going to play 35 minutes and filling a huge gap.

"Ideally it would have work but it hasn't, so we just roll with our guys, and I'm really comfortable with our group."

Turner was expected to play against Melbourne United on Thursday, January 9, 2024 (Game Centre).

The Kings announced his signing on January 5. He was a nominated replacement player following the season-ending shoulder injury to wing Jaylin Galloway and to take load of point guard Jaylen Adams. Sydney will not make another signing for the remainder of NBL25.

"Everything about this opportunity with the Kings was appealing to me," Turner said after he was announced.

"I've seen and heard nothing but great things about the league and the Kings organisation and the players there.

"I've always been someone who wants to compete against the best and I believe Sydney is a great spot to do that."

The Kings are third on the ladder on points differential at 13-9, the same as Melbourne United.

The now 27-year-old guard spent time at both Sparkman High School and the IMG Academy before playing his college hoops at the University of Tennessee, which saw him win the 2018 SEC Sixth Man of the Year.

Since then, Turner has played abroad at Polan's Arka Gdynia, Finland's Kataja BC and Serbia's Košarkaški klub FMP

"I believe I can bring an extra spark and new energy to the group, which I hope my teammates can feed off," the 6'2 guard said.

"We've already got a strong roster in place and I believe I can be a good complimentary piece to that while helping put others in a position to succeed thanks to my pass-first nature.

"Having spoken to Goorj [Brian Goorjian] and the other coaches a lot, we all feel I can bring a settling presence on the court at the ball-handling position, allowing other creators to play off the ball and make opposition defences deal with another look.

"I feel I have the style of play that can blend nicely into the Kings' group and help us finish the season strongly."

Head Coach Brian Goorjian was excited about the new addition to the lineup.

"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," the six-time NBL championships-winning coach said.

"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 locker-room 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."

Unfortunately, that optimism won't come to fruition. Turner and the Kings are no more.

— Republished with permission of NBL.com.au