Andrew Bogut: 36ers 'chat about firing head coach'

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Sydney Kings assistant coach and NBA champion Andrew Bogut has made an incendiary claim the Adelaide 36ers met "to chat about firing your Head Coach (Mike Wells), whilst you sit in 1st place" after the league leaders lost by 20 to South East Melbourne on Saturday night.

Bogut wrote on X: "Pretty wild league where the "leaders" of your team meet to chat about firing your Head Coach, whilst you sit in 1st place on the @NBL Ladder, with only a handful of games to go until the playoffs! NBL - #SEEINCREDIBLE"

basketball.com.au has been told meetings between the front office and players were held after Saturday night’s 20-point loss at home to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, which piled on more pressure to the slumping 36ers. The Phoenix are now 20-9 and threatening top spot.

"The adding up of the way they've played in this latest period, they've lost to Sydney, South East Melbourne, almost lost to New Zealand and then Adelaide being Adelaide management have started asking questions," the source said.

"It all came to a head last night when they sat in meetings, there's been different talks, players have been spoken to but essentially the conversation was 'is (head coach) Mike Wells the guy that can get us to finals and win a championship or not."

The source killed any speculation the 36ers would "move anyone on because that would be ridiculous."

basketball.com.au has contacted the 36ers for comment but a source within the 36ers said meetings normally happened before and after games whether the 36ers won or lost.

Adelaide Nine News Reporter Will Croucher "quoted" Bogut's post a little more than an hour later: "I can confirm this is categorically untrue. 36ers have had no crisis talks with Mike Wells, and I’m told he has the full backing of ownership. Understand 36ers management have made an official complaint to Sydney - given Bogut is a minority owner."

Regardless, the 36ers' poor form has been impossible to ignore. They've dropped three of their last five, including blowouts that have left fans and commentators questioning the team's resilience, structure and chemistry.

Head coach Mike Wells on Saturday night stopped short of blaming the schedule for the 36ers ability to string wins together after a dominant mid-season. The 36ers played at home for the first time after going on the road to Perth, Sydney, New Zealand and the Gold Coast.

"I don’t want to sound like I’m making a whole bunch of excuses," he said.

"Our schedule has been a challenge. That’s probably the easiest way to say it without sounding like an excuse, because I don’t want to give one.

"We’ve only been home a little bit and then we’re taking right back off. We have to use every moment and every way to move the group ahead.

"How you conserve your energy but still move the group ahead — whether that’s actual practice, film, individual film — there are a whole bunch of ways to do it.

"We’ll have to tap into every resource we can, in small groups, large groups, playing groups, individuals, combinations, partners.

"There are a whole bunch of different ways to do it. It will be limited in terms of actual physical time on the court, so when we are on the court, we have to be super efficient with what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish."

The 36ers have struggled to find balance, relying on lineups heavy on shooters that falter defensively. As former NBL coach Brendan Joyce posted on X: “Stated before & it’s hurting @Adelaide36ers balance again tonight. They needed to recruit a big wing with a defensive mindset that could still score. If they had got a guy like Torrey Craig they would be an incredible favourite to win it!”

The signing of former NBA player John Jenkins has also drawn questions.

Star recruit and five-time MVP Bryce Cotton is doing his part and playing what some have called “his best season yet” after making a high-profile switch from the Perth Wildcats.

Cotton is leading the NBL in scoring (25 a game) and assists (8 per game) while playing heavy minutes. While these numbers mark a strong, efficient campaign where he's not just scoring but elevating his playmaking, it’s the players around him and the roster build that’s drawing the most criticism.

The 36ers are 6-4 in their last 10 and 2-4 in their last six, the only wins coming against last-placed Brisbane Bullets and seventh-placed New Zealand.

Adelaide has lost twice to South East Melbourne Phoenix, The Kings and JackJumpers. The last time the 36ers won against the top four was on January 2, 2026 – a month ago against a depleted Kings outfit.

Adelaide's preparation for the Phoenix was far from ideal having to answer to the NBL Game Review Panel after the wild melee in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Forward Nick Rakocevic was suspended for the game, Zylan Cheatham fined $775 and assistant coach Kerry Williams also fined $775.

"I thought our guys really tried to do a lot of really good things," Wells said.

"I thought they played hard. We were trying out there. Unfortunately, the offensive rebounds in the first half took their toll. I thought we did some good things with our rotations. There were a couple of times we fouled shooters, but that’s going to happen once in a while against them because they take so many threes and you’re trying to get there to contest.

"But 21 offensive rebounds in a half is probably not going to be the greatest thing for your team, and that took its toll on us.

"You probably saw more of that in the second half, even though they got two. There was definitely a change in the tempo and the pace of the game from the first half to the second."

Former NBL champion and now commentator Damon Lowery came under fire from Cotton, DJ Vasiljevic and Wells when he said in October: "If Adelaide are going to be serious about winning the whole thing, I think they don't have enough offensive firepower.

"When you got to go and beat Melbourne United, and I don't know how anybody is going to do that without full guns blasting, so I think they need someone else."

Cotton responded: "He hasn't done enough as a basketball player for me to respect his opinion. I usually don't listen to anybody but especially not him."

As did Vasiljevic after the 36ers beat Illawarra by two points in November.

"Tell the critics we’re 6–2 and playing good basketball," Vasiljevic declared.

"If you want Bryce to have 40 and we still lose, go for it — I’ll sit in the corner and be a decoy if that’s what helps us win."

South East Melbourne Phoenix owner Romie Chaudhari poured more fuel on the fire on Saturday night just days after the 36ers said the Brisbane Bullets should apologise to them for the melee at the Ignite Cup on the Gold Coast.

"🫡🫡.... There's the "apology" you were asking for @Adelaide36ers. It's gonna be a tight race to the end, 5 teams with very similar records, anything can happen these last few weeks.... Fingers crossed we can keep it rolling 🤞🏾🤞🏾.... Either way, it's gonna be an exciting end to the season!!"

Adelaide 36ers Run Home

• Thursday, 5 February 2026 – Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers
  WIN Entertainment Centre – 7:30pm
• Saturday, 7 February 2026 – Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers
  John Cain Arena – 8:00pm
• Saturday, 14 February 2026 – Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers
  Adelaide Entertainment Centre – 5:00pm
• Friday, 20 February 2026 – Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
  RAC Arena – 6:30pm

Adelaide 36ers – Last 10 Games

1. Adelaide 36ers 77, South East Melbourne Phoenix 97 (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) – Loss
2. Brisbane Bullets 74, Adelaide 36ers 107 (Gold Coast) – Win
3. Sydney Kings 106, Adelaide 36ers 101 (Qudos Bank Arena) – Loss
4. New Zealand Breakers 110, Adelaide 36ers 112 (Spark Arena) – Win
5. Adelaide 36ers 89, South East Melbourne Phoenix 108 (RAC Arena – HoopsFest) – Loss
6. Adelaide 36ers 72, Tasmania Jackjumpers 80 (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) – Loss
7. Brisbane Bullets 86, Adelaide 36ers 97 (Brisbane Entertainment Centre) – Win
8. Adelaide 36ers 85, Sydney Kings 79 (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) – Win
9. Adelaide 36ers 95, Perth Wildcats 84
   (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) – Win
10. Adelaide 36ers 93, Cairns Taipans 73 (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) – Win