The Illawarra Hawks have split with NBL championship-winning import Darius Days just one game into the new season.
It comes after the American centre had just seven minutes game time, accumulating three rebounds and four fouls, in the season-opening 95-81 loss to the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.
"Both the Hawks and Days agreed that parting ways at this time is in the best interests of all involved, allowing the club to progress with its roster strategy for the season and enabling Days to pursue new opportunities," the Hawks said in a statement.
"The club acknowledges his efforts and thanks him for the role he played within the playing group and broader Hawks community".
The Hawks had touted Days' return when it was announced in July and said the club looked forward to welcoming him "home to Wollongong".
Days was integral to the Hawks' roster that brought the championship to the Illawarra in the 2024-25 season.
The 198cm centre averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds that season and stood out as a tall who could work the ball both inside and out of the three-point line.
Meanwhile, the NBL has given its verdict on the controversy after a referee failed to call a three-point foul in the dying seconds of the Cairns Taipans and Tasmania JackJumpers clash.
Taipan's Keanu Pinder fouled JackJumpers' Dakota Mathias when he shot a three with eight seconds left on the game clock, head referee Scott Butler confirmed.
"A foul should have been called, which would have awarded Mathias three free throws," Butler said in a statement.
"As no call was made on the floor, the play could not be revised.
We don't shy away from acknowledging when we get it wrong."
The Taipans defeated the JackJumpers 93-87.
