Southland Sharks cut import from roster
The Sharks organisation confirmed on Thursday it had released Josh Turner and was working on a replacement import.
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The Southland Sharks have cut one of its three American imports just two games into a 20-game 2024 Sal’s New Zealand Basketball League season.
The Sharks organisation confirmed on Thursday it had released Josh Turner and was working on a replacement import.
It came a day after the Sharks lost 83-70 to the Manawatu Jets at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill on Wednesday night.
That followed the first-up overtime loss to the Otago Nuggets in Dunedin on Saturday.
Turner played just 13 minutes against the Jets on Thursday and contributed just two points with coach Guy Molloy reluctant to use the American with the game on the line.
It appears Molloy had seen enough and advised Sharks officials he wanted to make a change, and it was decided to release 32-year-old Turner.
Turner arrived in Invercargill on March 7. The day after he told The Tribune that he wanted to play a role in helping the progress of younger players in the twilight of his pro career.
“These are my young guys,” he said alluding to fellow Sharks imports LaGerald Vick and Marcale Lotts.
“So, I want to put them in a situation where the game is easy so they can grow. For myself personally, I’ll maybe play another year after this year.
“I’ve been playing [professionally] for about 10 years now; I want to make these young guys comfortable.”
Unfortunately, for all involved, his Southland Sharks stint has been a short one.
The axing of imports is not unusual in the Sal’s New Zealand Basketball League, although the Sharks organisation has genuinely been reluctant to make such a move.
Although Southland did release import Romaro Gill mid-season last year.
The Sharks have said a replacement import for Turner will be made “in due course”.
Southland’s next assignment will be against Hawke’s Bay in Hawke’s Bay on Sunday.