Two months in and rosters slowly take shape. This week saw the Cairns Taipans make their first official signing announcements with a veteran homecoming and a star in the making. The Perth Wildcats continue their tradition of signing coaches’ sons and the Sydney Kings find another talented guard from American college basketball to try rebuild their depth.

1. Shaun Bruce to Cairns Taipans
2. Blake Nielsen to Perth Wildcats
3. Luke Paul to Cairns Taipans
4. Jayden Stone to Sydney Kings
5. Team overviews
6. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Shaun Bruce to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
From: Sydney Kings
2025–26 statistics: 2.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, .1 blocks, .1 steals, 38.3% field goal, 85.7% free throw
Announcement link

Shaun Bruce goes back to where it all started by signing with the Cairns Taipans on a two-year contract 14 years after he made his NBL debut with the team as a development player. He returns after spending half of those years with the Sydney Kings where he won three NBL championships as their reliable reserve point guard. The Taipans had only two other players on their roster at the time of Bruce’s announcement so bringing in a veteran presence who has an existing connection to the team is a good signing. Bruce is now 35 so it might be the last stint of his career.

Blake Nielsen to Perth Wildcats

Position: Forward
From: St. Edward’s (United States – NCAA Division II)
2025–26 statistics: 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, .3 blocks, .6 steals, 44.6% field goal, 86.0% free throw
Announcement link

The Perth Wildcats found some real talent last season by signing the son of their head coach who joined as a development player and ended up being one of the breakout locals of the season. They seemingly aim to repeat some of the same by signing Blake Nielsen, the son of former assistant coach Matt Nielsen, as a development player. Nielsen is returning from five years in the United States where he played for St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas; his dad has been an assistant for the local NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs, during that same time. Make no mistake though: Nielsen is a 6’7″ forward who possesses rare playmaking ability for his size as well as a solid scoring ability.

Luke Paul to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
Announcement link

Luke Paul, the heir apparent to Australian basketball supremacy, begins his professional career by signing with the Cairns Taipans as a Next Star. The 6’6″ guard has been the number-one prospect in Australian basketball after he led the U16 national team to a gold medal at the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup. Paul was desired by numerous teams but chose to commit to the Taipans after they made what he considered was the best pitch. With only three other players on the roster, it was presumably that Paul had the opportunity to run the whole show if desired; he has shown the ability to do so. Paul will be an exciting player to watch and will go on to great things.

Jayden Stone to Sydney Kings

Position: Guard
From: Missouri (United States – NCAA Division I)
2025–26 statistics: 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .2 blocks, .9 steals, 48.7% field goal, 81.6% free throw
Announcement link

The Sydney Kings do it again with signing major local talent after impressive collegiate careers by getting Jayden Stone on a one-year contract for his first professional stint. Stone has played five seasons of college basketball across six years for Grand Canyon, Detroit Mercy and Missouri. He had his most impressive numbers during his second year at Detroit Mercy in 2023–24 with 20.8 points per game but demonstrated that all of his efficiency remained when his role changed with a transfer to Missouri for his final season. Stone is another solid signing for the Kings and he will likely receive some major playing time during his rookie season.

Team overviews

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

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

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

Cairns Taipans
G: Shaun Bruce, Luke Paul, 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, Joe Ingles, Fabijan Krslovic, Malith Machar, Sam Waardenburg
DP: Christian D’Angelo
Needs: Import point guard, import center, local center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa, Dejan Vasiljevic
F: Carlin Davison, Sam Mennenga, Kouat Noi, 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), Alex Higgins-Titsha, Elijah Pepper, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
C: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
DP: F Cameron Huefner, F Blake Nielsen
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, Tanner Krebs, Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Hunter Goodrick
C: Jordan Hunter
DP: G Patrick Ryan
Needs: Running it back, retaining John Brown, local back-up center

Sydney Kings
G: Kendric Davis (I), Matthew Dellavedova, Makuach Maluach, Tyler Robertson, Jayden Stone
F: Xavier Cooks, Jaylin Galloway, Keli Leaupepe
C: Jason Spurgin
Needs: return of Torrey Craig

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Taran Armstrong, Ben Ayre, David Johnson (I)
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Nick Marshall
C: Ben Gold, Will Magnay
DP: F Archie Woodhill
Needs: Retaining Bryce Hamilton

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

• 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
• 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
• Tohi Smith-Milner (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Jack Purchase (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, .2 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
• Tom Wilson (G, Melbourne United) – 25 games, 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .6 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Kobe Williamson (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 7 games, .0 points, .7 rebounds, .0 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
• Sean Macdonald (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 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

• 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
• 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