Three signings take place: the Brisbane Bullets go all out for a leading European guard, the Tasmania JackJumpers recruit a proven import commodity, and the Cairns Taipans bring in some local depth.

1. Sunday Dech to Cairns Taipans
2. Dakota Mathias to Tasmania JackJumpers
3. Arnas Velička to Brisbane Bullets
4. Team overviews
5. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Sunday Dech to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
From: Perth Wildcats
2025–26 statistics: 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, .6 assists, .1 blocks, .3 steals, 36.8% field goal, 76.9% free throw
Announcement link

Sunday Dech joins the Cairns Taipans on a two-year deal after his premature departure from the Perth Wildcats two months ago. It was a season to forget for Dech with career-lows across the board which spoiled what was supposed to have been a hometown reunion at the team where it all started. He now attempts a reunion again which will hopefully usher different results; this time, it is with head coach Adam Forde (his first coach at the state level with the East Perth Eagles) and teammate Jack McVeigh (who played together on the Adelaide 36ers in 2020–21). Dech is always one of the standout local defenders in the league and hopefully the new environment with familiar faces (as opposed to the opposite in Perth last season) will bring a return-to-form. He will likely be a strong reserve player and bring in some much needed defensive presence on the Taipans.

Dakota Mathias to Tasmania JackJumpers

Position: Guard
From: Brisbane Bullets
2025–26 statistics: 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, .0 blocks, .1 steals, 39.8% field goal, 90.9% free throw
Announcement link

Among the seemingly endless rotation of imports that the Brisbane Bullets brought in last season is the Tasmania JackJumpers’ new signing in Dakota Mathias on a one-year deal. He only appeared in 8 games with the Bullets last season when he too was afflicted by injury but it was enough to show his scoring acumen which is apparently what the JackJumpers desire. I did think it was an interesting addition considering that they already signed fellow shooting guard David Johnson which likely suggests that Mathias will be coming in as a reserve or to form a three-guard starting line-up. Will the math add up to Mathias? We will see!

Arnas Velička to Brisbane Bullets

Position: Guard
From: Neptūnas Klaipėda (Lithuania – Lietuvos krepšinio lyga)
2025–26 statistics: 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, .2 blocks, 1.5 steals, 44.6% field goal, 65.4% free throw
Announcement link

The value of adding Will Weaver as a head coach emerges with the Brisbane Bullets signing Arnas Velička on a one-year deal. Any addition of a European from a European league is a rare occasion (never forget the tragedy of Vrenz Bleijenbergh) but Velička decides to depart his native Lithuania for his first ever stint outside of the continent. Velička is coming off an MVP season in the Lithuanian league where he also led the EuroCup in assists. At 6’5″, he possesses great height for a point guard and will easily enter as one of the most exciting new additions to the league. It is very rare for someone with a background like him and as a player like him to be here. Great signing.

Team overviews

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

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Ben Cotton, Matt Kenyon, 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, Arnas Velička (I)
F: Jacob Holt, Lat Mayen, Harry Rouhliadeff
C: Tyrell Harrison
Needs: Import forwards, letting Will Weaver shape the team

Cairns Taipans
G: Shaun Bruce, Sunday Dech, Luke Paul, Reyne Smith
F: Kyrin Galloway, Jack McVeigh
Needs: Everything… again

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, Kobe McDowell-White, Johny Narkle
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, 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), Dakota Mathias (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

• David Okwera (F, Perth Wildcats) – 33 games, 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 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
• Owen Foxwell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 28 games, 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 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
• 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
• 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
• 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