Gee to leave Bullets as he battles personal issues

BRISBANE is set to release underperforming US import Alonzo Gee as early as this weekend with the former NBA player experiencing personal issues.

Gee, who started 213 games in a 417-game NBA career, did not fly to Sydney with the team on Friday ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Illawarra in Wollongong.

Gee has been frustrated with his output in his first four games for Brisbane with his numbers in a steady decline.

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In the season-opening win against New Zealand, Gee had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists and he had eight points and 10 rebounds two nights later in the 18-point loss to Cairns.

He had just six points and three rebounds in the 15-point loss to Perth last weekend and produced four points and four rebounds in the 100-96 win over Perth at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Thursday night.

The 31-year-old played for six NBA clubs — Washington, San Antonio, Cleveland, Denver, Portland and New Orleans — with his athleticism his biggest weapon.

Alonzo Gee is set to be released by the Bullets. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images

He was unable to produce the same explosiveness in his time with the Bullets and struggled to create his own shots.

Brisbane were already casting their eye over fringe NBA players to fill their third import vacancy by the end of next week.

The Bullets hoped to have a third American in place by Thursday’s home game against Adelaide but the return clash with the 36ers in the South Australian capital next Sunday is the more realistic time frame.

That search will continue regardless of what happens with Gee.

With NBA clubs recently finalising their rosters, a host of players have flooded the open market with the second tier G-League in the US and European clubs in a race for signatures.

The Bullets were looking very closely at former Washington and Phoenix forward Danuel House who was just cut by Golden State while sharpshooting forward Jarrell Eddie — who has played for the Wizards, Suns, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls — was also on their radar.

Both have opted to stay in the US but the Bullets brains trust is continuing to pore over potential targets.

Danuel House has been cut by the Warriors.Source:AP

The club is looking for a small forward to provide some scoring punch with Gee and fellow import Stephen Holt proving to be too hit and miss.

Against Perth last weekend, Holt, Gee and temporary import Nnanna Egwu combined for a total of nine points.

Egwu was only brought in as cover until centre Matt Hodgson recovered from a calf strain and has left Australia to take up a pre-existing contract in Asia.

Holt was good against the Wildcats with a 10-point haul in Brisbane’s 100-96 win but Gee was far too quiet.

Rival clubs are getting much more from their hired guns and Brisbane need their imports to fire to be competitive.

The Bullets will take on Illawarra in Wollongong on Saturday night after the hard-fought win over Perth took them to a 2-2 record.

Meanwhile, highly rated Bullets assistant coach Mick Downer will leave the club at the end of the season to take up a coaching position in New Zealand.

Originally published as Gee to leave Bullets as he battles personal issues

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