The signing action continued this week with Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings each signing an import while the Adelaide 36ers secured their first development player.

United also announced that Ian Clark would not be returning for a third season. The 2024 Best Sixth Man, he dutifully served as a back-up guard during the two seasons that he spent with United but the team has decided to look elsewhere for their import guards. Clark has spent four seasons with three teams in Australia so it will be interesting to see if he decides to stay again.

1. Deng Manyang to Adelaide 36ers
2. Tim Soares to Sydney Kings
3. Tyson Walker to Melbourne United
4. Team overviews
5. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Deng Manyang to Adelaide 36ers

Position: Forward
From: Central Districts Lions (NBL1 Central)
2025 statistics: 11.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, .5 assists, .6 blocks, .8 steals, 67.1% field goal, 76.0% free throw

The Adelaide 36ers secure their first development player in local prospect Deng Manyang who is presently playing in the NBL1 Central for the Central Districts Lions. He attended the 36ers development player camp in May and emerged as a standout contender with his athleticism and versatility. At only 17-years-old, Manyang has a bright future ahead of him and the 36ers have an impressive record of first noticing talent; current 36ers players Michael Harris and Keanu Rasmussen received their starts as development players in addition to others around the league.

Tim Soares to Sydney Kings

Position: Center
From: Koshigaya Alphas (Japan – B.League)
2024–25 statistics: 13.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, .8 blocks, .9 steals, 50.9% field goal, 38.3% three-point, 80.1% free throw

It had seemed to me since the signing of Makuach Maluach during the last week of April that the Sydney Kings had their roster completed. Sure enough, even the NBL’s roster tracker had suggested as much. Their one major gap, however, was not so much a hole but instead a gaping vacuum. Former development player Jason Spurgin was the only player above 6’8″ and was expected to have a true spurgining on the court as the one centre on the roster. Instead, he has been relegated to the position of development player again and it opened the doors for the Kings to make the signing they always needed: a centre. They made a good choice too by bringing back a player who knows their system well in Tim Soares who played for them during the 2022–23 season and won a championship. Soares has been on a two-year Japanese exodus where his numbers were relatively similar to his Kings stint. This is someone who can be brought in, know his role, have no hassles and provide all that is needed from a team’s sole big man.

Tyson Walker to Melbourne United

Position: Guard
From: Texas Legends (NBA G League)
2024–25 statistics: 14.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, .3 blocks, 1.1 steals, 39.6% field goal, 34.5% three-point, 73.8% free throw

Melbourne United go in an unexpected direction for their second import: point guard Tyson Walker. United already have point guard Shea Ili and shooting guard Chris Goulding from last season; incoming combo guard Milton Doyle could have been expected to take over the role vacated by point guard Matthew Dellavedova. Those are three starter-level guards already so it is now definite that one of them or Walker will be used in a reserve role (as I had hypothesised with the Doyle signing in June). It also crowds the space for Next Star point guard Dash Daniels who will be looking to establish some sort of consistent role with all of the expectations being placed on him. Walker as himself is a solid signing; his stint with the Texas Legends in the NBA G League demonstrated his scoring (albeit on low percentages) and playmaking abilities. It will be Walker’s first tenure overseas and only his second season professionally after a five-year collegiate career. Was it the player that United really need though? United now have two full player spots left and will desperately need a high-calibre centre.

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: Zylan Cheatham (I), Montrezl Harrell (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
DP: F Deng Manyang
Needs: 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
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, 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, Tyson Walker (I), Tom Wilson
F: Kyle Bowen, Finn Delany, Fabijan Krslovic
DP: G Campbell Blogg, F Tom Koppens
Needs: Import center, local center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Taylor Britt, Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), 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 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: Tim Soares (I)
DP: C Jason Spurgin
Needs: A return to 48-minute games so the quality of players receive enough minutes

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Ben Ayre, Bryce Hamilton (I), 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: 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
• Lachlan Olbrich (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 29 games, 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 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
• 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
• Kye Savage (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 1.3 points, .0 rebounds, .3 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
• 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