Wes Iwundu has signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix as their third import. The 30-year-old forward last played for Promitheas Patras in Greece. He takes the place on the Phoenix’s roster left vacant by the departure of Vrenz Bleijenbergh last month.

Now. I called it. The Phoenix were the only team this season who did not have a single player on their roster who had once played in the NBA. It is true that every team in the league went out of their way to recruit talent that had once reached the peak destination of the sport … except for one. Again; this is not to knock non-NBA level talent but Phoenix were easily outclassed in the level of their import recruitment. Iwundu is now the fifth import recruited by the Phoenix but the first who has NBA experience. Someone with that background is who they needed.

Iwundu was selected by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft after a collegiate career at Kansas State. He played for the Magic from 2017 to 2020 where he was a rotational player and occasional starter. Iwundu split the 2020–21 season with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans but had a reduction in role. His last stint in the league was with the Atlanta Hawks in 2021–22 which brought an end to his 226-game NBA career. Iwundu spent the following three seasons in the NBA G League in 2022–23, Germany in 2023–24 and Greece in 2024–25.

Iwundu is the most ideal combination for the Phoenix: combining their need for high-level talent and desire for players with European experience. He also fits their identity with his defensive mindset. Although he was a sub-30% three-point shooter in the NBA, Iwundu has recorded three-point percentages in the mid-30s during his European stints and will ideally means that he can be utilised as a 3-and-D specialist. His partnership with John Brown means that the Phoenix will boast one of the strongest defensive frontcourts in the league. Iwundu has never been a huge scorer — even going back to his collegiate career — so that is one facet that the Phoenix must feel is already covered by their existing roster formation.

This is a great signing for the Phoenix. Iwundu’s presence now means that every team in the league boasts a former NBA player. I look forward to seeing that defensive partnership with Brown.