Controversial signing Glen Rice Jr's career at the New Zealand Breakers may already be over, after just two games.
The NBL ordered the Breakers to stand Rice Jr down from their latest NBL game in Perth, after the American was arrested over an alleged assault with intent to injure.
The Auckland basketball club's owner Matt Walsh was still clutching to straws of hope when interviewed by Radio Sport, but gave a clear inference that Rice Jr may not step on court for the team again.
READ MORE:
• New Zealand Breakers ordered to stand down Glen Rice Jr after arrest
• New Zealand Breakers star Glen Rice Jr arrested after incident
• Mike Fitchett explains decision to quit the New Zealand Breakers before start of ANBL season
• Breakers guard RJ Hampton says sticking up for himself led to ejection
"I'll still do my best to help Glen whether it involves playing for the Breakers or not…help Glen get his life back on track," Walsh said.
"He's got a court appearance on Wednesday, we'll help him with that and it's very much a wait and see. We don't have much more information than the news reported.
"Either way we will try to do our best to help Glen (whether) he plays for the Breakers again or not."
The incident occurred at an Auckland bar on Thursday. Rice Jr has a chequered past but Walsh believed his own experiences and New Zealand's way of life could help turn things around.
"We have the infrastructure and the people…this country is such an amazing place. How do you mess this up?" he told the Radio Sport Breakfast.
"I'll be honest, maybe it was self-indulgence or me being naïve… I thought we were the perfect place to help him and playing for a coach he knows well.
"My focus now is doing what is best for the Breakers and getting Glen whatever help we can.
"These are the things you never want to deal with as an organisation. But this is life and sport. We'll get through it and get out the other side stronger."
The Breakers, who have a 2-7 record, have not only had a rough start on the court.
Walsh was suspended for a game and fined this year after an argument with NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger.
When asked if he was comfortable if the club had a new "bad-boy" image, Walsh said: "That's certainly not the intent.
"If that's the narrative people want to create, that's fine.
"This is just one of those things. This is the course our season has taken."