The action returned after a quiet period in NBL signings with four additions made this week. The South East Melbourne Phoenix bring in two players, the Brisbane Bullets secure an unexpected local and the Adelaide 36ers continue with their plans for an almost all-guard line-up.

We also saw the retirement of Mitchell McCarron who was released by the New Zealand Breakers two weeks ago; a loss of a veteran guard due to injury susceptibility.

1. Gorjok Gak to South East Melbourne Phoenix
2. Jacob Holt to Brisbane Bullets
3. Matt Kenyon to Adelaide 36ers
4. DJ Mitchell to South East Melbourne Phoenix
5. Team overviews
6. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Gorjok Gak to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Centre
From: Tasmania JackJumpers
2024–25 statistics: 4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, .3 assists, .2 blocks, .5 steals, 56.1% field goal, 55.6% three-point, 44.4% free throw

The South East Melbourne Phoenix find their local reserve centre by bringing back Gorjok Gak who last played for them during the 2023–24 season. He had departed to spend one season with the Tasmania JackJumpers where he continued his back-up role that he has now occupied for his entire four-year professional career. Gak is a no-frills traditional big man who should be decent with a continuation of his expectations.

Jacob Holt to Brisbane Bullets

Position: Forward
From: Sacramento State Hornets (College basketball – NCAA Division I)
2024–25 statistics: 16.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .8 blocks, .6 steals, 50.4% field goal, 34.8% three-point, 71.8% free throw

Josh Bannan: welcome back to the Brisbane Bullets. The Bullets had lost their local starting forward and hilariously find the Josh Bannanest player available to replace him in Jacob Holt out of Sacramento State. There are some differences: Bannan was a stronger rebounder/passer and Holt is a more prolific three-point shooter but their statistical outputs during their final collegiate year are incredibly similar (16.3p, 6.9r and 1.1a on 50.4/34.8/71.8 splits for Holt and 15.0p, 7.6r and 3.6a on 49.9/40.4/77.0 splits for Bannan). Holt was born and raised in Canada and played his college basketball at Santa Clara and Sacramento State in the United States; he holds Australian citizenship due to his mother which allows him to play as a local. It is a great find for the Bullets after Holt had a breakthrough season in his senior year and he could be expected to slot straight into the recently vacated starting power forward role for the Bullets.

Matt Kenyon to Adelaide 36ers

Position: Guard
From: South East Melbourne Phoenix
2024–25 statistics: 1.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, .4 assists, .2 blocks, .8 steals, 37.5% field goal, 44.4% three-point, 50.0% free throw

The addition of Kenyon to the Adelaide 36ers is a particularly baffling one as he is now the sixth true guard on a team that is still also looking to include an import point guard. Kenyon is known as a defensive specialist and that was essentially all that he was used for during his last season at the South East Melbourne Phoenix when he saw his role and minutes plummet. His signing has been suggested as some type of replacement for the departure of premier perimeter defender Sunday Dech. Regardless, expect Kenyon to have a limited role this season purely because he will be sitting behind multiple other players in the same position as him.

DJ Mitchell to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Forward
From: Manchester Basketball (United Kingdom – Super League Basketball)
2024–25 statistics: 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, .8 blocks, 1.0 steals, 43.8% field goal, 35.8% three-point, 81.6% free throw

The South East Melbourne Phoenix bring DJ Mitchell back to Australia after he spent last season in the United Kingdom with Manchester Basketball. He previously played for the Brisbane Bullets from 2022 to 2024 where he showed a promising debut season in 2022–23 season and then missed most of the following season due to injury. At his worst, he is a reliable reserve and will be a solid addition to the Phoenix who will likely be looking for two starting import forwards.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / DP: Development Player

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Michael Harris, Matt Kenyon, Keanu Rasmussen, Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac White
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
Needs: Import point guard, two import forwards, general stability

Brisbane Bullets
G: James Batemon (I), Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton
F: Jacob Holt, Casey Prather (I), Tohi Smith-Milner
C: Tyrell Harrison
DP: G Tristan Devers, G Kye Savage
Needs: Import guard/forward, local back-up center

Cairns Taipans
G: Kyle Adnam, Kody Stattman
F: Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Sam Waardenburg
Needs: Everything but also: import guard, import forward, import center, local guard, local center

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, Lee Hyunjung
F: Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida, Lachlan Olbrich, Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling
DP: G Kobe McDowell-White, G Luca Yates
Needs: Return of G Trey Kell III (I), Gary Clark/Darius Days-type import forward, retaining Justin Tatum

Melbourne United
G: Dash Daniels, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Tom Wilson
F: Kyle Bowen, Fabijan Krslovic
Needs: Import center, back-up shooting guard, local center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Taylor Britt, Izayah Le’afa
F: Sean Bairstow, Max Darling, Carlin Davison, Karim López, Reuben Te Rangi
C: Tacko Fall (I), Robert Loe, Sam Mennenga
DP: G Kaia Isaac, G Alex McNaught
Needs: Import point guard, import shooting guard

Perth Wildcats
G: Sunday Dech, Elijah Pepper, Dontae Russo-Nance
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Lat Mayen, David Okwera, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
DP: F Thomas Gerovich, F Cameron Huefner
Needs: Bryce Cotton clone / import point guard, local point guard, local center

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Owen Foxwell, Angus Glover, Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, DJ Mitchell
C: Gorjok Gak, Jordan Hunter
DP: G Daniel Foster
Needs: Import point guard, import small forward, import power forward

Sydney Kings
G: Shaun Bruce, Kendric Davis (I), Matthew Dellavedova, Tyler Robertson
F: Xavier Cooks, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe, Makuach Maluach, Kouat Noi
C: Jason Spurgin
DP: F Klairus Amir
Needs: A return to 48-minute games so the quality of players receive enough minutes, emergence of Spurgin

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Ben Ayre, Sean Macdonald
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Anthony Drmic, Nick Marshall
C: Will Magnay
DP: G Brody Nunn, F Archie Woodhill
Needs: Import point guard, return of Milton Doyle, back-up center, injury-free Sean Macdonald

Remaining free agents

Players who were contracted during the 2024–25 season. Statistics are from last season.

Locals

• Jack White (F, Melbourne United) – 35 games, 13.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Ben Henshall (F, Perth Wildcats) – 32 games, 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists
• Alex Toohey (F, Sydney Kings) – 30 games, 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Thomas Vodanovich (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 30 games, 2.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, .7 assists
• Keanu Pinder (F, Perth Wildcats) – 29 games, 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Hyrum Harris (F, Perth Wildcats) – 28 games, 2.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Grant Anticevich (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 26 games, 4.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, .7 assists
• Jonah Antonio (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, .8 assists
• Jonah Bolden (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 24 games, 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Akoldah Gak (F, Cairns Taipans) – 21 games, 6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, .9 assists
• Tai Webster (G, Perth Wildcats) – 20 games, 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
• Taran Armstrong (G, Cairns Taipans) – 19 games, 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• Rocco Zikarsky (C, Brisbane Bullets) – 18 games, 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, .3 assists
• Mojave King (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 17 games, 8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Dillon Stith (F, Cairns Taipans) – 14 games, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .1 assists
• Emmett Naar (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 14 games, 1.1 points, .6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Jackson Makoi (G, Cairns Taipans) – 11 games, 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists
• Tom Koppens (F, Melbourne United) – 11 games, .7 points, 1.2 rebounds, .2 assists
• Deng Adel (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 10 games, 4.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, .8 assists
• Nicholas Stoddart (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 10 games, 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, .9 assists
• Lachlan Barker (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 10 games, 2.0 points, .3 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jacob Rigoni (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 10 games, 1.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, .1 assists
• Luke Rosendale (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 10 games, 1.2 points, .3 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jarred Bairstow (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, .1 assists
• Campbell Blogg (G, Melbourne United) – 8 games, 2.1 points, .8 rebounds, .1 assists
• Joel Foxwell (G, Melbourne United) – 8 games, 1.1 points, .3 rebounds, .8 assists
• Walter Brown (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 8 games, .8 points, .5 rebounds, .1 assists
• Zac Triplett (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 8 games, .6 points, .4 rebounds, .3 assists
• Josh Kunen (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 7 games, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .7 assists
• Majok Majok (C, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 5 games, .8 points, .6 rebounds, .0 assists
• Kuany Kuany (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 5 games, .8 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Callum Dalton (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 4 games, 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tad Dufelmeier (G, Cairns Taipans) – 4 games, 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Tai Wynyard (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 4 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Alex Starling (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 4 games, .5 points, 2.3 rebounds, .3 assists
• Patrick D’Arcy (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 3 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .3 assists
• Luke Fennell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 2 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Brad Ballinger (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 1 game, .0 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Fiston Ipassou (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tom Kubank (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Henry Lau (F, Sydney Kings) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Ngor Nai (C, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists

Imports

• Ian Clark (G, Melbourne United) – 36 games, 14.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Matt Hurt (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 34 games, 19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
• Marcus Lee (C, Melbourne United) – 34 games, 6.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, .9 assists
• Joe Wieskamp (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 33 games, 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, .7 assists
• Darius Days (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 33 games, 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, .6 assists
• Trey Kell III (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 32 games, 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists
• Cameron Oliver (F, Sydney Kings) – 30 games, 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Matthew Mooney (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 29 games, 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Milton Doyle (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 29 games, 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists
• Bryce Cotton (G, Perth Wildcats) – 28 games, 28.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• Montrezl Harrell (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 28 games, 20.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Keandre Cook (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Jordon Crawford (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 28 games, 16.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Jaylen Adams (G, Sydney Kings) – 27 games, 18.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists
• Rob Edwards (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists
• Pedro Bradshaw (F, Cairns Taipans) – 24 games, 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Tanner Groves (F, Cairns Taipans) – 22 games, 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Jarell Martin (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 22 games, 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, .5 assists
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 21 games, 18.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists
• Derrick Walton Jr. (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 18 games, 11.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• Craig Sword (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 15 games, 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, .9 assists
• Todd Withers (F, Perth Wildcats) – 14 games, 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, .4 assists
• Ian Hummer (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 12 games, 4.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, .4 assists
• Josh Adams (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists
• Freddie Gillespie (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 9 games, 6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, .6 assists
• Deshon Taylor (G, Cairns Taipans) – 3 games, 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, .3 assists