dejan vasiljevic is facing mounting scrutiny after a quiet start to the NBL26 Championship Series, with pundits urging a bold lineup change as the 36ers seek answers in Adelaide. Damon Lowery highlighted Vasiljevic’s output — just 6. 7 points per game and 24 percent shooting through the first three fixtures — on Monday’s episode of NBL Overtime and pressed coach Mike Wells to act. The 36ers enter a must-win environment with commentators warning the club must make a drastic move to keep the series alive.
Dejan Vasiljevic’s form: the numbers and signal
The raw figures in the early series are stark: Vasiljevic, a two-time champion with the Kings, has been held to low scoring across the opening games. In the series opener he managed five points, going 2-from-10 from the field and 1-from-5 from three-point range; across the first three fixtures he is averaging 6. 7 points and shooting 24 percent. Those outputs have prompted direct calls for change from former players and champions who see the margin for error narrowing for the Adelaide side.
Lowery pushes for a ruthless switch
Damon Lowery, NBL champion, laid out a blunt critique on Monday: “[We know DJ is] definitely capable of getting you 15 points, but he’s not, and this is the issue. ” He questioned what Vasiljevic contributes when shots are not falling: “Are you rebounding? No. Are you getting assists? No. Are you getting steals? No. What are you out there doing? You’re doing nothing. ” Lowery urged coach Mike Wells to replace Vasiljevic in the starting lineup with John Jenkins, noting Jenkins is “six of 10 from the three-point line. ” “This ain’t the time to be messing around, man, ” Lowery warned, adding that the club must act because “if you lose, your season’s over. “
Cadee and Rucker add pressure and options
Jason Cadee, former Adelaide 36er, also called for a stronger offensive presence from Vasiljevic ahead of a decisive match, urging the guard to be more aggressive: “DJ really needs to be more aggressive, ” Cadee said, arguing Vasiljevic should seek his shots rather than wait for them. Cadee suggested that sustained aggression could force defensive adjustments and create more scoring opportunities for teammates. Meanwhile, Derek Rucker, 1990 NBL MVP, raised questions about another bench option, saying “Isaac White is on the bench, but it seems like Mike Wells has lost confidence in his defensive abilities” and that he would be inclined to give White a longer look as a defensive spark.
Quick context: The debate centers on how to free up Bryce Cotton, who has been the focal point of opposing defences, and how Adelaide balances patience with proven players against the urgency of the finals. The chorus of voices calling for lineup change highlights a single theme: the 36ers are running out of room for experimentation.
What’s next: Coach Mike Wells must decide whether to act on the calls for change and reshuffle his starting five before the next game, a choice that will determine whether dejan vasiljevic stays in the lineup and how Adelaide pursues the remainder of the Championship Series. Expect a short, high-stakes window for a tactical gamble that could either revive the 36ers’ title hopes or end their campaign.
