Kings ‘not even in ballpark’ as Adams eyes huge Asian contract

SYDNEY Kings CEO Chris Pongrass says reigning NBL MVP Jaylen Adams is most likely Asia bound on a deal “five to six times higher” than the Kings can offer.

It was always going to be difficult for the Kings to retain Adams given his standout NBL season.

The former Milwaukee Buck dominated on his way to collecting the MVP and a championship with Sydney.

Adams’ stellar season has attracted significant overseas interest, and Pongrass said the Kings didn’t have the cash to compete.

“What has been challenging is the way the international basketball scene has responded,” Pongrass told Fox Sports News.

“So, Japan, China and Europe, in terms of their spends and it’s largely unlikely that we see Jaylen back again next season.

“Purely because of his value and how it has skyrocketed, not the fact that we wouldn’t pay as much as we could. But it’s to the extent where he is making five or six times what we could even consider offering, so it wasn’t even in our ballpark.

“You never know what could happen. Some players arrive at a club and the situation isn’t right for them, so the door isn’t closed, but it’s highly unlikely.”

In other news, the Brisbane Bullets have signed rising Australia big man Gorjok Gak on a one-year deal.

The 211cm centre played college basketball at the University of Florida, and most recently California Baptist University, where he averaged 13.5ppg and 10.3rpg.

The 25-year-old was named in the Second Team All WAC (Western Athletic Conference), AllDefensive Team and All-Newcomer Team in his senior season.

Bullets general manager of basketball Sam Mackinnon said: “At 6 foot 11, Gorjok has size, length and athleticism, and we believe he has the potential to be an elite defender.”