Lowery, Rucker question Bruton timing

The Adelaide 36ers have officially parted ways with now former head coach CJ Bruton, and both Damon Lowery and Derek Rucker have questioned the timing of the club’s coaching change.

Club legend and assistant coach Scott Ninnis has been named as interim coach until the end of the season, and he will look to steer the 36ers up the ladder following their 4-9 start to the season.

The change has come in the immediate aftermath of a horrific Round 9 for the side, where a loss to New Zealand preceded a 35-point stomping at the hands of Tasmania, in which the 36ers scored just 59 points.

“I hate the timing of it, coming off the tough road trip we’ve talked about quite a bit, we understand mistakes were made but I feel like you let him get through this holiday period and see if he has the ability to turn it around,” Rucker said on an emergency edition of NBL Now.

“They’re currently at 4-9 and if he turns it around, you’re in a good position and you’ve got a quality person and quality coach still in the mix. Now you’re really rolling the dice and things can get really bad if the new interim coach Scott Ninnis isn’t able to stabilise the troops.”

“As soon as the CEO Nic Barbato said – just two days ago now – CJ has a contract until the end of the season, that’s the kiss of death,” Lowery added.

“ I think it’s just messy right now and it’s starting to turn into a bit of a circus – and that’s disrespectful to circuses.”

Bruton is the second head coach to leave his post in NBL24, following Jacob Jackomas’ departure from the Illawarra Hawks at the end of Round 7.

Lowery gave the Hawks players an almighty spray following the club’s mutual decision to move on from Jackomas as head coach, and he believes Adelaide’s players should be held to account for Bruton departure as well.

“It drives me insane when players sit back and then all of a sudden when a change comes they find this renewed enthusiasm and renewed energy, like where was that,” Lowery said.

“That means you quit on the last guy.

“Players, you guys are getting paid to show up and play, don’t try and be a GM, don’t try and be LeBron James picking the players and picking the coaches. Your job is to go and play.

“Just like I said with the Illawarra Hawks, I’m going to keep the same energy. You should be ashamed; you just got your coach fired.”

Adelaide’s first game under interim coach Scott Ninnis is set for Saturday, December 9 against Cairns.