Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

In saying that Paul Smith is a giant man-baby.

What was the fall out from him suing the Sydney Flames?

Petty petty behaviour from the Kings... 100% to be expected from that organisation...

Impossible to even take sides on this when it is effectively Smith vs Heal

Did Heal sue Smith or the Kings organisation?

Embarrasin from smith

But wants to take shots at wildcats as a organisation

I think Heal wins in the biggest dickhead department.

Smith is the epitome of a bloke who would have no friends if it weren't for $$$, the definition of insufferable plonker

Smith has turned the kings into back to back champions, what he is or is perceived is irrelevant. He and his fellow shareholders, Luke Longley, Andrew Bogut plus a wealthy Australian businesswoman make the decisions but here everyone is going at smith. The good old tall Poppy syndrome, I'm certain every club would like to have an owner as good as that quartet.
Heal upset the apple cart by only coaching one player, his daughter, every one had to work around her, Smith likes winners, Longley, Bogut, Heal as a player was a winner and as most around agree was a shit coach.
I’d say they all made the decision and in the end it’s theirs.

Shane's friends are now few and far between after the Brett Brown saga.

Outstanding decision.

Heal deserves to be cancelled.

Don't know anyone that’s ever said a nice thing about him. Little upstart arse.... was the first description
I ever heard of him back when he first started playing NBL.

Say what you like about Heal but this is wrong.

Tend to agree this is a bit like the Knicks kicking Oakley out of MSG

Some things have horrific optics. Heal should be measured by his time as a player/ coach for the Kings and what he achieved in that time. Short of being jailed for an offence, this isn't right.

Hate his guts but that was a different time. Should remain up Imo.

The fan base is pretty split on it from what I've seen/heard online and at games. Personally I get removing it and it's also not really something I career much about either way - it doesn't erase the history, and a lot of things have gone on at the club since the days of Heal in a Kings jersey too.

This is going to be controversial but I never understood the jersey retirement in the first place.

Heal only played five seasons for the Kings, coming and going between stints abroad when it suited him, in four mediocre underachieving Brett Brown seasons. (Don't comment if you don't remember how turgid the period between the end of Wrublewski's reign and throughout Macquarie et al's ownership stint was for the club.)

Goorjian turned the franchise around with Heal bolting after the first season because he had to actually train hard under him. The former then proceeds to win another two championships in more convincing fashion via addition by subtraction.

Is that "Legends Wall" even the retired jerseys? I thought they were two separate things, with the Wall honoring a) players whose contributions didn't rise to the level of jersey retirement but which nonetheless deserved recognition and b) non-players.

Spot on PW. His jersey was up there because him & Smith were besties & now they're not

Is that "Legends Wall" even the retired jerseys? I thought they were two separate things, with the Wall honoring a) players whose contributions didn't rise to the level of jersey retirement but which nonetheless deserved recognition and b) non-players.

Spot on PW. His jersey was up there because him & Smith were besties & now they're not

Just to clear this up - the 'Wall of Legends' is the Kings' Hall of Fame and their highest honour for individuals who have made a significant contribution to the club. Paul Smith established a Kings 'Ring of Honour' a couple of years back that is a level below that, voted on by the fans after a judging panel provides a shortlist - Ben Knight and Brad Rosen are the first two members.

There were originally 4 numbers retired in the mid 90s (then unretired by Mike Wrublewski, long story), and the club then (as PW correctly points out) retired Heal's number 23 in 2004. The new ownership group that brought the Kings back in 2010 decided that they would no longer retire numbers (on Ian Robilliard's insistence), so the 'Wall of Legends' was born and Heal's 23 was unretired (Trey Gilder had a 23 blood jersey in one game which caused a bit of a ruckus but it was irrelevant as the number was no longer retired).

And PW's comments on Heal and his suitability for the Wall of Legends have significant merit - particularly given some of the other stuff that has gone on with Heal on and off the court over a long period of time.

Really it is ridiculous that it took Paul Smith falling out with him over the bullying allegations for him to be cancelled.

With all the controversies that have followed him:
- racism (that he bullied the complainant into retracting)
- all the coaching controversies (bullying, knifing his head coaches, the player coach debacle etc.)
- all his off field financial things (see Brett Brown)
- I am sure there are more I am forgetting

On top of being an all round shit bloke, should have happened way before now.

Heal and Rucker still being officially involved in NBL media is so distasteful.

Rucker has been very good in commentary.

Don't forget the SEQ Stars debacle/allegations or the common assault charges for throwing a water bottle out his car window at a pedestrian over a spat who had right of way on a footpath.

https://www.hoops.com.au/forum/47644-shane-heal-charged-with-common-assault/

Also don't forget the much worse water bottle incident - the one involving Tonny Jensen during Boomers camp.