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SIMILAR to a great relationship about to go sour, Adam Gibson walked from the Adelaide 36ers at the perfect time to avoid any bitter taste.

His decision to join the newly-returned Brisbane Bullets as one of their inaugural new faces today – in conjunction with United free agent Daniel Kickert – is a tremendous boost for the program which should have several other big Aussie announcements shortly.

Gibbo was and will remain something of a hero in Adelaide, and rightly so.

He came to the struggling club when Gold Coast Blaze folded and experienced a career rarity when that incarnation of the 36ers finished dead last.

Reunited with his Brisbane Bullets championship-winning coach Joey Wright the following year, Gibson helped turn around the Sixers within one season taking them from last into a Grand Final Series and one win from his third title.

He did it under duress too.

Gibson snapped the plantar fasciia of his left foot in a match against Perth Wildcats 12 days ahead of the GFS, two-to-six weeks usually the most optimistic diagnosis for that type of injury.

But after spending 24 hours on crutches, then slowly walking again, the Sixers’ inspirational leader worked his way back on a supervised rehabilitation by team doctor Darren Ng, strength and conditioning coach Ben Brugman and physiotherapist Andrew Webber.

His leadership was superb in the 2-1 Semi Final win over Melbourne Tigers, especially with the team’s only import, Gary Ervin, suspended from the deciding Game 3 for an attempted knee-to-the-groin against Chris Goulding in Game 2.

Early into 2014-15 and now playing alongside Jamar Wilson, Gibbo produced a career-best game and one of the most extraordinary individual performances seen at Titanium Security Arena – a throwback to some of Brett Maher’s mighty solo shows – when he delivered 34 points at 69 per cent, with nine assists, six rebounds and six steals to push Adelaide to a 93-86 win over New Zealand Breakers.

An ankle injury for the Boomers against New Zealand’s Tall Blacks in the Oceania Series last year haunted him throughout the 2015-16 NBL season, well before he threw that fateful inbounds pass against the Crocs in Townsville which gave the home team their greatest comeback victory.

Sadly, it was a rough year for Gibbo.

The love affair with Adelaide was drawing to a close and maybe it was Wright, who coached Gibson to a championship in the tenacious guard’s rookie NBL season, who saw it first.

PARTING AS FRIENDS: Adam Gibson and Joey Wright have worked their last campaign together.

Friends on and off the court – Gibson also played for Wright throughout his tenure as Gold Coast coach – it was time to part company and still be friends.

“Gibbo’s heard my voice for a long time and I think he needed the chance to play for someone different to get the best out of himself,” Wright said, admitting he greatly would miss the 36ers’ stoic leader.

Yes, the move to Brisbane has been mooted here since the Bullets were confirmed mid-season to be returning in 2016-17, and only strengthened when Gibson’s former teammate on that club’s 2007 champion, CJ Bruton, was appointed assistant coach and operations manager.

But Gibson himself left no doubt about how he felt about his time in Adelaide with this sincere posting on social media.

“Before the next chapter starts I wanna take this opportunity to thank everyone that's helped and stuck by me over my 4 years with the proud @adelaide36ers club. Obviously the club are choosing to go in a different direction, as am I, but I feel like I'm leaving the club in a better position than when I joined it. From last place in my first year, to within 40minutes of being Champions the year after, and a lot of ups and downs in between, I know I gave everything I had, and did whatever I could to try help my team win games. In this business there are going to be highs and for sure lows, and this year personally was well below my best but I know I'll be back bigger and better and I want to really thank the loyal fans/supporters/sponsors/friends who stuck by me no matter what. I wish I could get in touch with you all and personally thank you but this is the best I can do and I really appreciate you all. I wish my team mates nothing but the best, I know there are some bright careers to blossom in the near future.

“I can't wait for a new beginning and as weird as it's going to feel, I look forward to coming back to play in front of the @adelaide36ers crowd which is one of the best in the @nbl”

It’s rare you can stay friends with a former love, but in Gibson’s case, he will return to Adelaide as a genuinely appreciated servant of the club, sure to receive the type of reception the fans reserved for other great stalwarts when they visited in opposition teams, men such as David Stiff and Rob Rose.

He is in good company.

Elsewhere, the Kings have retained star guard Jason Cadee and Illawarra has signed AJ Ogilvy to a new three-year deal.

Kirk Penney is the latest name being linked to the Bullets, most likely due to his past relationship with new Brisbane head coach, Andrej Lemanis, with whom he won the NZ Breakers first NBL championship.