Week 2 of the NBL27 free agency goes by and there are only three signings to be made: two re-signings and one movement. Amusingly, two involved are rough archetypes of each other as prominent shooters but at different stages of their careers. The older version goes to the New Zealand Breakers on a one-year contract for an attempt at some type of career redemption while the younger version re-signs with the Perth Wildcats to further solidify his presence in their roster. The third is a rising star who has cemented his place as a vital player in the league.

1. Makuach Maluach re-signs with Sydney Kings
2. Elijah Pepper re-signs with Perth Wildcats
3. Dejan Vasiljevic to New Zealand Breakers
4. Team overviews
5. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Makuach Maluach re-signs with Sydney Kings

Position: Guard
2025–26 statistics: 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, .8 assists, .1 blocks, .5 steals, 48.0% field goal, 79.5% free throw
Announcement link

I had complained when Maluach re-signed with the Kings last year because I thought that he would not have the space to showcase all of his abilities on such a deep roster. Fortunately, the sky cleared and Maluach burst through with a career-best season that saw him finally emerge as a rotation player. He did this through stepping up when others went down (he started the season with 3.5 minutes of action in a loss against the Cairns Taipans) and ended up retaining that responsibility throughout the season because he was so vital in the Kings’ success. With the Kings losing Bul Kuol and seemingly set to also release Kouat Noi, Maluach’s role with the Kings will continue to grow. In retrospect, that decision to stay was the right move after all and that one season of development will help him continue to flourish. He also possesses one of the best names in the league (Repetition but with one letter changed? That too in alphabetical order! Beautiful naming.)

Elijah Pepper re-signs with Perth Wildcats

Position: Guard
2025–26 statistics: 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, .2 blocks, 1.1 steals, 39.6% field goal, 88.1% free throw
Announcement link

Elijah Pepper returns to the Perth Wildcats on a two-year contract. It was a season of improvement and increased responsibility for the sophomore professional who saw higher numbers in all statistical categories other than his field goal percentage. Pepper has shown that he is still capable of more both through his excellent collegiate career at UC Davis and also in his infamous NBL1 offseason stints. He excelled in a sixth man role but he has the ability to enter the starting line-up with his efficiency. A great retention to make.

Dejan Vasiljevic to New Zealand Breakers

Position: Guard
From: Adelaide 36ers
2025–26 statistics: 10.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, .0 blocks, .4 steals, 36.5% field goal, 95.1% free throw
Announcement link

Life comes at you fast and it might have come a little quicker for Dejan Vasiljevic. Finding himself unsatisfied with his new role as a reserve with the Adelaide 36ers, Vasiljevic spent time during last season offering his services to other teams in an attempt to gauge interest and has found his new home in New Zealand with the Breakers. Vasiljevic and the 36ers opted out of the final year of his contract to make the move happen. Vasiljevic joins the Breakers on a one-year contract which will essentially be a proving period for him. He is coming off a season littered with career-lows in everything except his free throw percentage (a remarkable 95.1%) as he personally battled with finding that his star role with the 36ers had unknowingly lapsed. Vasiljevic is still one of the best shooters in the league and he enters a Breakers team which desperately could have utilised such a skillset last season. It will be a fascinating watch to see how he handles the new surroundings; and whether the Breakers designate him as a starter or a reserve.

Team overviews

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

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Ben Cotton, Bul Kuol, Isaac White
F: Zylan Cheatham (I), Nick Rakocevic (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
Needs: Import defensive-minded forward, local guard depth, veteran presence

Brisbane Bullets
G: Tristan Devers, Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton
F: Jacob Holt
C: Tyrell Harrison
Needs: Import point guard, import forwards, letting Will Weaver shape the team

Cairns Taipans
G: Reyne Smith
F: Jack McVeigh
Needs: Everything… again

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, Kobe McDowell-White
F: Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida, Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling
Needs: Return of a Gary Clark-esque power forward import, import scoring wing

Melbourne United
G: Dash Daniels, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili
F: Kyle Bowen, Fabijan Krslovic, Sam Waardenburg
DP: Christian D’Angelo
Needs: Import point guard, import small forward, import center, local center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa, Dejan Vasiljevic
F: Sam Mennenga, Reuben Te Rangi
Needs: Moving away from the exclusively New Zealand player search, return of G Izaiah Brockington (I), import center, local everything

Perth Wildcats
G: Ben Henshall, Jaron Rillie
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Elijah Pepper, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
C: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
DP: F Cameron Huefner
Needs: Finding the right import combo guard, more Jaron Rillie, local back-up center

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Ellis Biggar, Daniel Foster, Owen Foxwell, Angus Glover, Nathan Sobey
C: Jordan Hunter
DP: G Patrick Ryan
Needs: Running it back, retaining John Brown, local back-up center

Sydney Kings
G: Matthew Dellavedova, Makuach Maluach, Tyler Robertson
F: Xavier Cooks, Jaylin Galloway, Keli Leaupepe, Kouat Noi
C: Jason Spurgin
Needs: Retaining Kendric “My Time” Davis, return of Torrey Craig

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Ben Ayre, Sean Macdonald
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Nick Marshall, Kobe Williamson
DP: F Archie Woodhill
Needs: Retaining Bryce Hamilton, moving on from Will Magnay, injury-free Sean Macdonald

Remaining free agents

Players who were contracted during the 2025–26 season. Statistics are from last season. Strikethrough names mean player has signed signed elsewhere.

Locals

• Tanner Krebs (F, Melbourne United) – 33 games, 8.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Kyrin Galloway (F, Cairns Taipans) – 33 games, 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, .7 assists
• David Okwera (F, Perth Wildcats) – 33 games, 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Carlin Davison (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 33 games, 5.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists
• Matt Kenyon (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 33 games, 2.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, .5 assists
• Finn Delany (F, Melbourne United) – 31 games, 10.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists
• Alex Ducas (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 30 games, 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Robert Loe (C, New Zealand Breakers) – 29 games, 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• DJ Mitchell (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 29 games, 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, .8 assists
• Hunter Goodrick (C, Sydney Kings) – 29 games, 2.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, .6 assists
• Tohi Smith-Milner (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Lat Mayen (F, Perth Wildcats) – 28 games, 2.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jack Purchase (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, .2 assists
• Shaun Bruce (G, Sydney Kings) – 27 games, 2.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Biwali Bayles (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 27 games, 2.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Lachlan Barker (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 4.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Sunday Dech (G, Perth Wildcats) – 26 games, 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, .6 assists
• Akech Aliir (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 25 games, 4.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Tom Wilson (G, Melbourne United) – 25 games, 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .6 assists
• Will Magnay (C, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 24 games, 10.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Dontae Russo-Nance (G, Perth Wildcats) – 24 games, 2.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Kody Stattmann (G, Cairns Taipans) – 23 games, 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Sean Bairstow (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 23 games, 1.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, .7 assists
• Mojave King (G, Cairns Taipans) – 22 games, 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Tom Koppens (F, Melbourne United) – 22 games, 1.9 points, .8 rebounds, .3 assits
• Malith Machar (G, Melbourne United) – 22 games, 1.5 points, .5 rebounds, .1 assists
• Max Darling (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 21 games, 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, .4 assists
• Nicholas Stoddart (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 21 games, 2.0 points, .8 rebounds, .9 assists
• Taylor Britt (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 19 games, 1.4 points, .8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Kyle Adnam (G, Cairns Taipans) – 18 games, 2.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Johny Narkle (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 18 games, 2.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, .4 assists
• Tai Webster (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 16 games, 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists
• Mawot Mag (G, Cairns Taipans) – 16 games, 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, .5 assists
• Callum Dalton (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 16 games, 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, .7 assists
• Michael Harris (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 15 games, .7 points, .5 rebounds, .2 assists
• Anthony Drmic (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 14 games, 5.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, .7 assists
• Harry Froling (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 14 games, 3.4 points, .9 rebounds, .6 assists
• Jensen Bradtke (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 13 games, .7 points, .8 rebounds, .1 assists
• Luca Yates (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 13 games, .5 points, .5 rebounds, .1 assists
• Lueth Awan (G, Sydney Kings) – 12 games, 1.6 points, .4 rebounds, .2 assists
• Keanu Rasmussen (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 12 games, .6 points, .5 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jackson Ball (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 11 games, 1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, .5 assists
• Jacob Richards (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 11 games, .8 points, .9 rebounds, .0 assists
• Lloyd McVeigh (G, Cairns Taipans) – 10 games, 1.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, .1 assists
• Alex Higgins-Titsha (F, Cairns Taipans) – 9 games, 6.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Gorjok Gak (C, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 9 games, 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, .2 assists
• Campbell Blogg (G, Melbourne United) – 9 games, .9 points, .1 rebounds, .1 assists
• Jonah Bolden (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 8 games, 4.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, .5 assists
• Jack Andrew (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 8 games, 2.0 points, .6 rebounds, .3 assists
• Goc Malual (F, Sydney Kings) – 8 games, 1.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Brody Nunn (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 8 games, .9 points, .4 rebounds, .9 assists
• Jonah Antonio (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 6 games, .8 points, .3 rebounds, .0 assists
• Thomas Gerovich (F, Perth Wildcats) – 4 games, .0 points, .5 rebounds, .3 assists
• Luke Rosendale (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 3 games, .3 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Jed Richardson (F, Cairns Taipans) – 3 games, .0 points, .7 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tukaha Cooper (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 2 games, 3.5 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Liam Judd (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 2 games, 1.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Blake Jones (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 2 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Alex McNaught (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 2 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Austin Foxwell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 1 game, 2 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Lachlan Dent (G, Sydney Kings) – 1 game, .0 points, 3.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Ryley Haywood (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 1 game, .0 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tad Dufelmeier (G, Cairns Taipans) – 1 game, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Deng Manyang (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 1 game, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Che Brogan (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Kian Dennis (G, Cairns Taipans) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Magok Manyang (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Henry Sewell (G, Melbourne United) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Nicholas Tata (C, Melbourne United) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists

Imports

• Kendric Davis (G, Sydney Kings) – 33 games, 24.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists
• Milton Doyle (G, Melbourne United) – 33 games, 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists
• Tim Soares (C, Sydney Kings) – 33 games, 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• John Brown (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 33 games, 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists
• Tyger Campbell (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 33 games, 10.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists
• Marcus Lee (C, Cairns Taipans) – 33 games, 6.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists
• Izaiah Brockington (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 32 games, 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Tyson Walker (G, Melbourne United) – 32 games, 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists
• Jesse Edwards (C, Melbourne United) – 32 games, 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, .8 assists
• JaVale McGee (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 31 games, 19.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists
• Andrew Andrews (G, Cairns Taipans) – 31 games, 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists
• Karim López (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 30 games, 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists
• Admiral Schofield (F, Cairns Taipans) – 30 games, 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Wes Iwundu (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 28 games, 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Bryce Hamilton (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 27 games, 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists
• Quentin Peterson (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 26 games, 15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists
• Rob Baker (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 25 games, 10.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, .7 assists
• Malique Lewis (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 25 games, 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists
• David Johnson (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 22 games, 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Terry Taylor (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 17 games, 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• David Duke Jr. (G, Perth Wildcats) – 15 games, 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Noa Kouakou-Heugue (F, Perth Wildcats) – 15 games, 1.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, .1 assists
• Ian Clark (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 14 games, 12.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Jaylen Adams (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 13 games, 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists
• Troy Brown Jr. (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 13 games, 4.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Casey Prather (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 12 games, 24.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists
• Hunter Maldonado (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 10 games, 17.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists
• Javon Freeman-Liberty (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists
• John Jenkins (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 9 games, 11.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Lamar Patterson (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists
• Torrey Craig (F, Sydney Kings) – 8 games, 13.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Dakota Mathias (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• TJ Starks (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 7 games, 4.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Mason Jones (G, Perth Wildcats) – 5 games, 11.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists
• JaQuori McLaughlin (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 3 games, 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists