Things were happening in Melbourne over the past week. The signing limbo of a major import met its conclusion with his move to rival Melbourne United. Meanwhile, the South East Melbourne Phoenix secure their first import and return their Next Star from last season.

The Brisbane Bullets also announced the departure of their import guard, James Batemon. His time in Australia was equivalent to the flash of lightning; he played in 16 games including what was a then-historic 51-point performance against the Perth Wildcats. Batemon had been listed on the Bullets roster for the upcoming season but he has been lured away by Força Lleida of the Spanish Liga ACB where he had been spending his offseason.

1. Milton Doyle to Melbourne United
2. Malique Lewis returns to South East Melbourne Phoenix
3. Omari Moore to South East Melbourne Phoenix
4. Team overviews
5. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Milton Doyle to Melbourne United

Position: Guard
From: Tasmania JackJumpers
2024–25 statistics: 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, .3 blocks, 1.2 steals, 36.6% field goal, 32.5% three-point, 80.6% free throw

A major dismantling of the Tasmania JackJumpers’ core continues to take place with the departure of Milton Doyle to Melbourne United after three seasons. Doyle arrived in Tasmania for the 2022–23 season and earned All-NBL first team honours as the team’s leading player. He settled into a co-starring role alongside Jack McVeigh for the 2023–24 season – both players being named to the All-NBL second team – as the JackJumpers won the championship in dramatic fashion over Melbourne United. An insipid season for the team in general in 2024–25 due to injuries and McVeigh’s departure saw the JackJumpers miss the finals for the first time in their brief existence; it also saw an NBL career-low for Doyle with the least points per game of his JackJumpers career and a sub-40 field goal percentage. The JackJumpers had wanted to retain Doyle but he saw a better opportunity across the Bass Strait and joins the team he defeated to win the title only two seasons ago. With his collected presence on the court, Doyle has established himself as one of the most clutch players in the league and will now form an exciting tandem with Chris Goulding. It will remain to be seen if United run Doyle as part of a three-guard line-up continuation (alongside Goulding and Shea Ili in place of Matthew Dellavedova) or use him in the reserve role that was dutifully filled by Ian Clark for two seasons.

Malique Lewis returns to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Forward
2024–25 statistics: 6.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, .4 blocks, .4 steals, 42.6% field goal, 29.4% three-point, 68.6% free throw

After testing the NBA draft process, Malique Lewis withdraws and elects to try for a second season with the South East Melbourne Phoenix. His withdrawal after the 2023 NBA draft was how he ended up with the Phoenix in the first place. It was a decent showing for the 20-year-old as the team’s reserve forward this past season but there is still more to be developed and he makes the sensible choice to return. Expect to see an increased role for Lewis this coming season

Omari Moore to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Guard
From: Darüşşafaka (Türkiye – Basketbol Süper Ligi)
2024–25 statistics: 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, .7 blocks, 1.3 steals, 47.4% field goal, 32.8% three-point, 63.5% free throw

The South East Melbourne Phoenix utilise the international connections of their head coach Josh King to recruit a player with whom he is familiar: Omari Moore who last played for Darüşşafaka of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi. King was the head coach of Moore and Darüşşafaka for two games to start the 2024–25 season; he then departed to take over as head coach of the Phoenix. Moore is the type of player who should excel in the NBL: he can play as a shooting guard but be a primary playmaker and is also a defensive presence. His height at 6’6″ and utilisation as a point guard will be fascinating; the NBL is notorious for its reliance on typically undersized point guards. His recruitment at the request of King should be a firm representation of the belief placed in him.

Team overviews

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

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Bryce Cotton (I), Michael Harris, Matt Kenyon, Keanu Rasmussen, Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac White
F: Montrezl Harrell (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
Needs: Import forward, general stability

Brisbane Bullets
G: 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, import 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 (NS), Milton Doyle (I), Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Tom Wilson
F: Kyle Bowen, Finn Delany, Fabijan Krslovic
Needs: Import center, 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, Omari Moore (I), Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Malique Lewis (NS), DJ Mitchell
C: Gorjok Gak, Jordan Hunter
DP: G Daniel Foster
Needs: 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
Needs: A return to 48-minute games so the quality of players receive enough minutes, emergence of Spurgin

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Ben Ayre, David Johnson (I), Nicholas Stoddart, Sean Macdonald
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Anthony Drmic, Nick Marshall, Kobe Williamson
C: Will Magnay
DP: G Brody Nunn, F Archie Woodhill
Needs: Import point guard / 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
• 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
• Klairus Amir (F, Sydney Kings) – 0 games, .0 points, .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
• 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
• James Batemon (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 16 games, 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 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