American Glen Rice Jnr is poised for a dramatic comeback to the NZ Breakers line-up for their Australian NBL road game against Cairns Taipans.
Last month, Rice was suspended indefinitely by the Auckland-based club, after he was charged with assault in a city bar at 4:15am. He appeared in the Auckland District Court two weeks ago, pleading not guilty, and is due to appear again on February 10.
But after video evidence emerged of the incident, the Breakers hope his charges will be downgraded and have successfully appealed for NBL administrators to let Rice take the court against the Taipans on Friday.
"After working closely with Basketball Australia's Integrity Unit over the last three weeks, as they concluded their investigation, we have lifted Glen's suspension," says Breakers owner Matt Walsh.
"Glen has done everything we have asked from a club perspective and the team is excited to have him back."
CCTV footage clearly showed Rice was provoked into retaliation, after he was repeatedly poked in the face by a member of the public.
"At least it looks like it's not as it seems in the beginning, as people think, because of his reputation and the titles you find when you google him," Breakers coach Dan Shamir told Newshub earlier this week.
Rice, 28, arrived in New Zealand as an injury replacement for fellow American Scotty Hopson, but brought a record of unruly behaviour that had seen him expelled from teams over his career.
Last year, he was released by the Israeli club team coached by Shamir for punching a teammate in the face.
In two games, he has averaged 22.5 points, showing the ability that saw him drafted 35th by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2013 NBA draft.
His presence on the plane to Cairns suggests he will play, if cleared by Basketball Australia.
Two days after his bar excursion, Rice was ordered to step down from the Breakers' road game against Perth Wildcats.
But despite his suspension, neither Shamir nor Walsh were prepared to disown the talented shooting guard.
"I didn't turn my back on Glen at any given point," insists Shamir.
Both Hopson and star shooter Corey Webster will miss the Taipans encounter, but centre Rob Loe is expected to return, after suffering a skull fracture in October.
