The start of the NBL preseason is now only a couple of days away and teams are nearing their completion. A special occasion happened during this week: the day of the snakes. The patient Cairns Taipans made one single announcement for the five signings that now complete their primary roster. Melbourne United also complete their roster with the big man they desired while the South East Melbourne Phoenix sign their final import. The Brisbane Bullets return their nominated replacement player for a second season. Only three teams now still require players: two for the Illawarra Hawks and one each for the Perth Wildcats and South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The New Zealand Breakers additionally lose one of their development players in Kaia Isaac who decides to embark on a collegiate career with Tarleton State. He had appeared in eight games during the 2024–25 season and averaged 2.6 points per game.

1. John Brown to South East Melbourne Phoenix
2. Callum Dalton returns to Brisbane Bullets
3. Jesse Edwards to Melbourne United
4. Ashton Hagans to Cairns Taipans
5. Marcus Lee to Cairns Taipans
6. Mawot Mag to Cairns Taipans
7. Admiral Schofield to Cairns Taipans
8. Reyne Smith to Cairns Taipans
9. Team overviews
10. Remaining free agents
    1. Locals
    2. Imports

John Brown to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Forward
From: Crvena zvezda (Serbia – ABA League)
2024–25 statistics: 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, .7 assists, .1 blocks, .8 steals, 44.8% field goal, 0.0% three-point, 64.7% free throw

The South East Melbourne Phoenix find their third and final import with the addition of forward John Brown. There was always the question of which type of forward would the Phoenix decide on for this position and they decide to go with a defensive specialist instead of an offensive piece. His addition to the Phoenix over a point guard as well implies a possibility that I have now long been savouring: the 6’10” Belgian forward Vrenz Bleijenbergh will likely be the primary playmaker as a prototype never seen in the league before. Brown’s statistics from last season with Crvena zvezda may seem modest; he received an increase in playing time during the postseason where he averaged 7.6 points and 4 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game. Brown is a name familiar to the NBL system as he unsuccessfully attempted to join the Perth Wildcats late in the 2021–22 season.

Callum Dalton returns to Brisbane Bullets

Position: Forward
2024–25 statistics: 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, .0 assists, .0 blocks, .0 steals, 50.0% field goal, 0.0% three-point, 100.0% field goal

The Brisbane Bullets completed their roster last week but they find a way to still return one of their players from last season. Callum Dalton was on the Bullets’ roster as the nominated replacement player for an injured Tyrell Harrison and made four appearances. It was his second proper stint with the Bullets who he first debuted for as a development player during the 2020–21 season. Dalton is returned as the nominated replacement player for this season; the announcement made by the Bullets bizarrely does not mention the fact that he is being brought back nor that he has had a meaningful connection with the club across five years.

Jesse Edwards to Melbourne United

Position: Centre
From: Minnesota Timberwolves (United States – National Basketball Association)
2024–25 statistics: .0 points, .0 rebounds, .5 assists, .0 blocks, .0 steals, 0.0% field goal, 0.0% three-point, 0.0% free throw

The largest hole remaining in the construction of the Melbourne United roster was also its tallest: they needed a centre. They fill this gap with 7’0″ Dutchman Jesse Edwards who spent last season on a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. Of course, his two brief Timberwolves appearances provide an unfair overview of his ability; he spent most of the season with their NBA G League affiliate Iowa Wolves with averages of 11.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. Edwards will be the sole centre on United’s roster this season so he will have an important role to cover on his own.

Ashton Hagans to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
From: Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China – Chinese Basketball Association)
2024–25 statistics: 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, .3 blocks, 2.0 steals, 43.1% field goal, 27.1% three-point, 59.0% free throw

The Cairns Taipans get their floor general with import guard Ashton Hagans who spent last season with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China. He spent the previous four seasons in the NBA and NBA G League system and most notably made 19 appearances with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023–24. Players who come the Chinese Basketball Association are often notorious for arriving with inflated scoring numbers so it was a surprise to see the restraint of Hagans who operated primarily as a playmaker and defensive piece. Hagans has never been a big scorer throughout both his amateur and professional careers; he will comfortably hold that point guard role for the offensive firepower the Taipans have surrounded him with this season.

Marcus Lee to Cairns Taipans

Position: Centre
From: Melbourne United
2024–25 statistics: 6.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.7 blocks, .5 steals, 59.7% field goal, 0.0% three-point, 55.1% free throw

The Cairns Taipans play it safe by signing Marcus Lee who will be the only centre on their roster. This will be Lee’s fourth consecutive season in the NBL (surely naturalisation will be coming soon!) and he has proven himself as being the ideal teammate who is willing to do anything that is required of him. With much of the other Taipans additions coming over as blank slates of possibility, the certainty of knowing what Lee will be and what he will give is a sound decision. The move reunites him with his former JackJumpers teammate Jack McVeigh who won a championship together in 2024.

Mawot Mag to Cairns Taipans

Position: Forward
From: BYU Cougars (United States – NCAA Division I)
2024–25 statistics: 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, .7 assists, .2 blocks, .7 steals, 48.6% field goal, 39.7% three-point, 75.0% free throw

The Cairns Taipans maintain their ability to spot upcoming talent with the recruitment of Mawot Mag to start his professional career. He has spent the last five years playing college basketball; four seasons with Rutgers and one with BYU. Bul Kuol averaged similar numbers to Mag during his two years at California Baptist and evolved himself into one of the premier defenders in the NBL during his time with the Taipans. Mag will have two years with the Taipans to show what he can develop into.

Admiral Schofield to Cairns Taipans

Position: Forward
From: ASVEL (France – LNB Élite)
2024–25 statistics: 7.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, .7 assists, .3 blocks, .5 steals, 55.6% field goal, 55.0% three-point, 71.4% free throw

The NBA experience on the Taipans with Hagans and McVeigh is expanded with the addition of import forward Admiral Schofield. He had spent five years in the NBA and NBA G League including a three-year stint with the Orlando Magic from 2021 to 2024. Schofield had his first overseas tenure with ASVEL in France last season but only appeared in 6 games in a reserve role before he departed prematurely in November on a mutual decision. He had proven himself to be a rotation forward during his NBA peak so his numbers from last season in limited minutes are not the full scope of his ability. Another great signing for the Taipans.

Reyne Smith to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
From: Louisville Cardinals (United States – NCAA Division I)
2024–25 statistics: 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, .8 assists, .1 blocks, .6 steals, 39.1% field goal, 37.9% three-point, 94.4% free throw

The Taipans bring home the most prominent local talent from this year’s collegiate class in Reyne Smith. If there is a three-point shot to be taken, Smith will be there letting it rain. Only 1.1 of his 10.2 field goal attempts last season at Louisville were not three-point shots. He set an abundance of three-point related records throughout his collegiate career which I detailed here. His points per game fascinatingly stayed consistent throughout his four years in college basketball so it is an indication of his ability being already developed to its relatively full potential; how instantly will that translate to a professional setting? As the premier local guard on Taipans roster, Smith should let his reyne of terror extend over the tropics.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / NS: Next Star / IRP: Injury Replacement Player / 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), Jack Purchase, Tohi Smith-Milner
C: Tyrell Harrison
NRP: Callum Dalton
DP: F Jensen Bradtke, G Tristan Devers

Cairns Taipans
G: Kyle Adnam, Ashton Hagans (I), Reyne Smith, Kody Stattman
F: Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Mawot Mag, Jack McVeigh, Admiral Schofield (I), Sam Waardenburg
C: Marcus Lee (I)

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey
F: Todd Blanchfield, Jonah Bolden, 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 Johny Narkle, G Luca Yates
Needs: Gary Clark/Darius Days-type import forward

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
C: Jesse Edwards (I)
NRP: C Nicolas Tata
DP: G Campbell Blogg, F Tom Koppens

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

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, Hunter Maldonado (I), Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Vrenz Bleijenbergh (I), John Brown (I), Malique Lewis (NS), DJ Mitchell
C: Gorjok Gak, Jordan Hunter
DP: C Ellis Biggar, G Daniel Foster
Needs: Local any position

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
IRP: Tyger Campbell (I)
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. Strikedthrough names mean that player has signed elsewhere for the 2025–26 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
• 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
• Kaia Isaac (G, New Zealand Breakers – 8 games, 2.6 points, .5 rebounds, .8 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
• 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
• 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