August has arrived and it is now only later this month that the NBL preseason action begins. With the excitement that comes with the scouting of talent at the NBA Summer League now long gone, those teams that still require major portions of their roster are urged to get things happening. A busy week it ended up being with seven new signings announced. The Illawarra Hawks sign a three-time NBA champion import and a new development player; the Brisbane Bullets recruit a new import poised to have a major season alongside a reigning NBA champion returning home; the Perth Wildcats re-sign one of their young promising players who had his collegiate dreams dashed; the New Zealand Breakers add their second import; and the Adelaide 36ers find their second development player as the brother of their first.

In an unfortunate loss, the Hawks part ways with their South Korean Lee Hyunjung after two seasons. He becomes the second Hawks player from the championship squad to depart the team and play in Japan after Trey Kell made the same decision. Lee was an excellent complimentary piece for the Hawks and averaged 7.6 points per game in his reserve guard role.

1. Jackson Ball to Illawarra Hawks
2. Izaiah Brockington to New Zealand Breakers
3. Alex Ducas to Brisbane Bullets
4. Javon Freeman-Liberty to Brisbane Bullets
5. Ben Henshall returns to Perth Wildcats
6. Magok Manyang to Adelaide 36ers
7. JaVale McGee to Illawarra Hawks
8. Team overviews
9. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Jackson Ball to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Guard
From: Hawke’s Bay Hawks (New Zealand – National Basketball League)
2025 statistics: 19.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, .8 blocks, 1.3 steals, 48.9% field goal, 34.3% three-point, 83.6% free throw

The reigning NBL champions add an exciting prospect in the form of New Zealand guard Jackson Ball as a development player. The 17-year-old recently put together a breakthrough season during his second year with the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL); he tripled his playing time from 11.6 to 33.7 minutes per game but almost sextupled his scoring from 3.4 to 19.9 points per game to earn the NZNBL Most Improved Player of the Year award. The Illawarra Hawks saw a star shining across the Tasman Sea and have brought him over so he can remain a Hawk. This is a major talent in the making and he could potentially be the second Ball to find their launching pad at the Hawks. It might be his only season with the club as he has already committed to play collegiately in the United States for the Wisconsin Badgers commencing in 2026.

Izaiah Brockington to New Zealand Breakers

Position: Guard
From: Vancouver Bandits (Canada – Canadian Elite Basketball League)
2025 statistics: 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, .1 blocks, 1.0 steals, 39.2% field goal, 27.3% three-point, 75.0% free throw

The New Zealand Breakers secure their second import in guard Izaiah Brockington. He would likely be the first person to say that his most recent stint with the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League was not the best representation of his abilities; Brockington has spent the past two years in the NBA G League where he averaged 13.8 points on 46.4/38.1/76.6 splits. He has been someone on the cusp of NBA attention during that time too; he had a brief call-up to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024 after playing for their developmental team Birmingham Squadron. Brockington is already being billed by the Breakers as a complimentary piece to their team leader Parker Jackson-Cartwright and his decent all-around game should suggest as much.

Alex Ducas to Brisbane Bullets

Position: Guard
From: Oklahoma City Thunder (United States – National Basketball Association)
2024–25 statistics: 1.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, .2 assists, .0 blocks, .2 steals, 40.0% field goal, 47.6% three-point, 100.0% free throw

The Brisbane Bullets continue their recruitment of champions after signing former NBL champion Jaylen Adams two weeks ago; this time, it is in reigning NBA champion Alex Ducas who is freshly removed from a stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ducas would have to be one of the leading Australian talents who has not yet played in the NBL so the Bullets bringing him home is a great accomplishment. He only received brief playing time with the Thunder yet appeared in 21 games across the season; he scored his NBA career-high with 9 points in less than 5 minutes during a game against the Brooklyn Nets. In addition, Ducas is a legitimate shooter proven by his average of 40.6% on made three-point shots at 4.6 attempts per game across his five-year collegiate career at Saint Mary’s. He has not ever particularly been given high offensive leeway during his adult career so there could be much more of Ducas to be revealed.

Javon Freeman-Liberty to Brisbane Bullets

Position: Guard
From: Windy City Bulls (United States – NBA G League)
2024–25 statistics: 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, .4 blocks, .5 steals, 41.3% field goal, 35.6% three-point, 61.8% free throw

The Brisbane Bullets have put together an impressive collection of additions since making their decision of head coach; it continues with the signing of import guard Javon Freeman-Liberty. He has spent his three-year professional career primarily in the NBA G League and spent the end of the 2023–24 season with the Toronto Raptors in the NBA after being called-up. This is a great signing of another player on the cusp of making the NBA. Freeman-Liberty is easily one of the most offensively talented players to join the NBL this season and he will be a free man to score the basketball at liberty.

Ben Henshall returns to Perth Wildcats

Position: Forward
2024–25 statistics: 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, .3 blocks, 1.0 steals, 42.2% field goal, 36.1% three-point, 87.5% free throw

It was unfortunately an offseason of what was not for Ben Henshall. He was one of the four Australian NBL players to declare their name for the 2025 NBA draft but ended up being the only one to withdraw; the remaining three all saw their names called in the second round. Henshall instead decided to pursue his back-up option by embarking on a collegiate basketball career; his eligibility was not upheld and he was denied entry. He now resorts to the back-up of his back-up option: returning to the Perth Wildcats for a third season. It was a woeful series of events for the 21-year-old who put together a 2024–25 season that was not too far from of his drafted contemporaries. Henshall now comes back to a place of familiarity with his hometown team and seemingly intends to stay here for a little while before trying another jump for the stars; he has signed a two-year contract.

Magok Manyang to Adelaide 36ers

Position: Forward
From: Central District Lions (NBL1 Central)
2025 statistics: 12.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, .9 blocks, .3 steals, 47.9% field goal, 75.0% free throw

This is a great story enacted by the Adelaide 36ers. They sign local Magok Manyang as their second development player to join his brother, fellow development player Deng, on the team. Manyang has returned from a four-year collegiate career in the United States where he played for two junior colleges during his first two years and then moved to Mid-America Christian University of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for his final two years. Manyang has spent multiple offseasons with the Central District Lions of NBL1 Central with appearances in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. The elder Manyang will serve as a familiar face on the team for his younger brother and aid in his development. Will the Manyangs become the Antetokounmpos of the Adelaide 36ers? We will see how Deng develops but this is a touching addition regardless.

JaVale McGee to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Centre
From: Vaqueros de Bayamón (Puerto Rico – Baloncesto Superior Nacional)
2025 statistics: 18.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 blocks, 1.2 steals, 56.2% field goal, 16.0% three-point, 78.6% free throw

The Illawarra Hawks losing their starting centre Sam Froling for the entire upcoming season due to injury has changed their tried and tested game plan. For the last two seasons, the Hawks have partnered Froling with an import power forward to much success: Gary Clark during the 2023–24 season walked so Darius Days of the 2024–25 season could run with the Hawks to the NBL championship. Sure enough, it has been five seasons since the Hawks last utilised an import centre in Josh Boone as Froling has held down the centre position so well. The Hawks now get the opportunity to sign an import centre and go relatively all out by getting JaVale McGee. The three-time NBA champion played 16 seasons in the NBA and his 909 games make him the second-most experienced NBA player to join the NBL after Al Harrington. McGee’s NBA career ended in 2024 and he has spent the 2025 season in Puerto Rico where he demonstrated that there is still much ability left in the tank of the 7’0″ 37-year-old. It would be remiss to not mention the primary cause of notoriety for McGee – the primary target of Shaquille O’Neal’s Shaqtin’ a Fool segment throughout his early career – but he developed into a consummate teammate who even earned a spot on the United States Olympic basketball team for their gold medal in 2020. McGee will be coming here with no pressure other than to do what he loves for any extra time he can get and his personality plus playing ability will make him both a popular presence and a remedy for the absence of Froling.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / NS: Next Star / NRP: Nominated Replacement Player / 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, F Magok Manyang
Needs: General stability

Brisbane Bullets
G: Jaylen Adams (I), Alex Ducas, Javon Freeman-Liberty (I), Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton
F: Jacob Holt, Casey Prather (I), Tohi Smith-Milner
C: Tyrell Harrison
DP: F Jensen Bradtke, G Tristan Devers
Needs: 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
F: Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida, Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling, JaVale McGee (I)
NRP: C Harry Froling
DP: G Jackson Ball, G Kobe McDowell-White, G Luca Yates
Needs: 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, Malith Machar
DP: G Campbell Blogg, F Tom Koppens
Needs: Import center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Taylor Britt, Izaiah Brockington (I), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa
F: Sean Bairstow, Max Darling, Carlin Davison, Karim López (NS), Reuben Te Rangi
C: Robert Loe, Sam Mennenga
DP: G Kaia Isaac, G Alex McNaught
Needs: Import forward

Perth Wildcats
G: Sunday Dech, Elijah Pepper, Dontae Russo-Nance
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Ben Henshall, Noa Kouakou-Heugue (NS), Lat Mayen, David Okwera, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
C: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
DP: F Thomas Gerovich, F Cameron Huefner
Needs: Bryce Cotton clone / import point guard

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Owen Foxwell, Angus Glover, Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Vrenz Bleijenbergh (I), Malique Lewis (NS), DJ Mitchell
C: Gorjok Gak, Jordan Hunter
DP: G Daniel Foster
Needs: Import guard, import small 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
• 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
• 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
• Tacko Fall (C, New Zealand Breakers) – 18 games, 11.4 points, 6.6 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