Bruton says Clark is 'final piece of the puzzle'

New Adelaide 36ers import guard Ian Clark has been hailed as the final piece to the puzzle.

Clark was announced on Tuesday morning, head coach CJ Bruton thrilled with his new signing.

“A new player coming in is the Christmas present I wanted. I’m excited to say that Ian Clark is on his way,” Bruton said on Tuesday.

“His ability to be a great leader, we all know he can score the ball and the way guys can come in seamlessly and impact not only a league, but a club and organisation the way he did not only in Sydney.

“You go back to their struggles before he got there, that tells you the type of person he is.”

Bruton said the club went through a thorough recruitment process over the past month before adding Clark to Adelaide’s NBL23 roster

“From all the people I spoke to, from the NBA to people in Australia has said nothing but great things about him,” Bruton said.

“He is going to help our guys take their game to another level.

“Wanting to win, we all want that, we all want those type of people.

“For our fans, it’s a nice reward, Ian is here to do his job.

“He is well liked in the NBA, he knows a lot of people and a lot of people know him.”

The 190cm combo guard can play both backcourt positions and Bruton says Clark will give his side multiple options.

“Needing a point guard, someone to support Macca (McCarron), but also being able to shoot the ball, be a creator and make plays, I don’t just need a distributor and you need a closer,” Bruton said.

“Clark has shown that time and time again in Sydney in limited time.

“When it came to the big time, he put on the big shoes and rock out.”

Clark will arrive in Adelaide on Thursday and could be making his NBL23 debut as early as Christmas Eve against South East Melbourne Phoenix.

“He will be the final piece to this group, but the way we have been playing over the last couple of games, it’s now going to be hard to juggle minutes and make sure everyone stays on the same page and with the same mindset,” Bruton said.

“Getting him up to speed first and foremost and making sure our staff off the court is working with him to make we have everything available to him.

“I will have to talk to the staff and make sure that is doable, but I’d like to think so, that will take some channels to go through.”