Veteran point guard Steve Blake has likely played his last game in the Australian league, according to Fox Sports.
The 36-year-old, who played for the Pistons last season, signed with the Sydney Kings in October after he was unable to get a training camp invitation from any NBA team. Blake was granted an indefinite leave of absence this week to return to the United States to be with a sick family member, and his coach, Andrew Gaze, doesn’t expect him to return.
“The high probability is he won’t be back,” Gaze told EON Sports Radio. “We’re hopeful that he may be, but I think it’s going to be a difficult one.”
Blake was used as a reserve by the Kings and averaged fewer than 6.0 PPG in nine games. However, managing director Jeff Van Groningen insisted that his departure had nothing to do with his performance on the court.
Blake spent 13 years in the NBA, playing for eight franchises. During an interview last month with the Blazers Edge fan site, he acknowledged that a return to the NBA was unlikely, but said he would be interested if he got an opportunity.