Kai Sotto's NBL team part ways with coach ahead of new season

MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto’s team, Adelaide 36ers, have parted ways with head coach Conner Henry ahead of the Australia National Basketball League (NBL) season opener in November.

Adelaide Thursday announced the decision effective immediately, prompting the squad to find a new chief tactician less than three months before the 2021-2022 Season unfolds on November 18.

“While decisions such as these occur regularly in professional sport and are part of the business, they are never easy. Coming off a challenging season we now pivot to the future and we felt that the fit between Conner and the Club was not aligned as we move to that future,” said 36ers general manager Jeff Van Groningen.

Adelaide paid gratitude to the efforts of Henry, who was in the final year of his contract.

The 36ers finished with a 13-23 record last NBL season.

This coaching change is the latest development in Adelaide camp over the past months after signing Filipino teen tower Sotto last April and departure of star Josh Giddey to the NBA last month.

Sotto has already arrived in Australia earlier this month for the upcoming 36ers training camp before the NBL pre-season in October.

Giddey, meanwhile, has been selected as the sixth overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Draft.