Adelaide coach CJ Bruton has accused Sydney of not looking after Dejan Vasiljevic, as the war of words between the 36ers and Kings over the sharpshooting guard escalated.
Vasiljevic, a two-time championship winner with Sydney, had originally been released from his Kings contract to chase his NBA dream.
But when the Washington Wizards waived him just before pre-season training camp, the 26-year-old decided to return to the NBL - signing with the Sixers on Tuesday, which didn't please Sydney's powerbrokers.
"We originally amended the contract in good faith and completed our roster with the understanding that 'DJ' (Vasiljevic) would play internationally this season," Kings chief executive Chris Pongrass said.
"We are disappointed with how this has been handled and another NBL team's role in this process."
Australian basketball legend and Kings co-owner Andrew Bogut chimed in on X where he posted, in part, that Sydney had granted Vasiljevic a release "after he told us he wanted to 'chase his NBA dream', not his NBL dream with another club".
Vasiljevic, fronting the press as a 36er for the first time on Wednesday, fired back at the Kings, saying "they made me look like a villain, they made Adelaide look like the villain".
But on Thursday night, Bruton called for Sydney to "move on".
"I've only got my perspective - you (Kings) had the chance to have him, you chose not to have him," he said.
"He's moved on. Move on.
"If you wanted to do something more, look after the kid.
"Talk to him, championship ceremony or whatever ... but that's on them (Sydney).
"That's not on us or me."
Vasiljevic scored 17 points in his Adelaide debut on Thursday, including 11 in a productive first quarter, but he couldn't prevent the bottom-placed Sixers from suffering a 102-85 loss to South East Melbourne Phoenix.
"I thought his energy was good," Bruton said of his prized recruit.
"With more time to settle in, the better he'll become."
