Adams’ Kings Return “Highly Unlikely”

Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass has conceded it is “highly unlikely” MVP Jaylen Adams will return.

Adams took the league by storm, winning the MVP and leading Sydney to its first championship since 2005.

The 26-year-old has since attracted strong interest from overseas and Pongrass believes it will be tough for the Kings to retain him.

“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.”

Sydney signed guard Derrick Walton Jr this week, who is seen to be Adams’ replacement.

Adams averaged 20.1 points, 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds with the Kings, and became one of the most electrifying players in the league.

Jarell Martin also won’t be returning to Sydney, after signing a deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv.