July arrives and the beginning of preseason is now only three months away. The Adelaide 36ers complete their roster by returning their third import while also adding a development player. The Cairns Taipans also bring back a familiar face from a few seasons ago who will be poised for a big year.

Melbourne United also conclude their head coaching search by getting the coach they wanted all along: Jacob Chance. He spent last season in the NBA G League as head coach of the Austin Spurs and was poised to continue his ascent in the NBA there but instead comes back to where it all started for his first head coaching role in Australia. Despite only being aged 32, Chance is highly regarded with a wealth of experience and there arguably could not have been a better signing for United to make.

John Jenkins re-signs with Adelaide 36ers

Position: Guard
2025–26 statistics: 11.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .1 blocks, .6 steals, 44.6% field goal, 50.0% free throw
Announcement link

The Adelaide 36ers become the first team to complete their main roster for the season by returning John Jenkins on a one-year deal. The two championship contenders of last season both made late acquisitions on their way to the postseason: the 36ers went with Jenkins while the Sydney Kings went with Torrey Craig. The 36ers not having a wing player on their roster proved to be the difference as the Sydney Wings… – I mean, Kings went on to decisively have their wings run rampant on the either much smaller or much taller 36ers players. The 36ers made what will probably be one of the most important signings this offseason by snatching Bul Kuol from the Kings but they probably still needed one more 6’6–6’8″ small forwards. It looked like that their was main intention with the rumour of also trying to get Craig but that intention was scattered when Jenkins was re-signed. There was a little apprehension when Jenkins was added last season because he basically was an import version of Dejan Vasiljevic; that duplication is fortunately removed with the departure of Vasiljevic. By all accounts, Jenkins is a valuable addition for his personality as well with much praise by the team for his leadership and experience. It will be interesting to see what he accomplishes with a full season and a clearer role. Jenkins being re-signed also means that the only change to the 36ers’ roster from last season is switching Vasiljevic with Kuol. I cannot recall a time when a team only had one change made to its players. The 36ers are very much intent on doing everything they did last season but with the idealisation of one different result at the end.

Keanu Pinder to Cairns Taipans

Position: Forward
From: Akita Northern Happinets (Japan – B.League)
2025–26 statistics: 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, .7 blocks, 1.7 steals, 41.4% field goal, 67.9% free throw
Announcement link

Keanu Pinder returns to the Cairns Taipans on a one-year deal in a major signing. The getback is twice as significant: he returns to the league after spending last season in Japan and returns to the team where he was a two-time Most Improved Player and one of the one premier forwards in the league three seasons ago. Pinder leaving the Taipans to sign with his hometown Perth Wildcats in 2023 should have been a positive move but he had his best days under Adam Forde in Cairns and will have all of the ability in the world to return-to-form. Pinder’s addition also means that five of the seven rostered Taipans players have previously played for the Adelaide 36ers. Talk about diversity. It is wonderful when players of Pinder’s calibre return home and this is an excellent move.

Deonte Williams to Adelaide 36ers

Position: Guard
From: Georgia Southwestern State (United States – NCAA Division II)
2025–26 statistics: 13.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.5 blocks, 1.7 steals, 48.4% field goal, 54.3% free throw
Announcement link

The Adelaide 36ers sign their first development player in Deonte Williams who has spent the last four years in the United States playing college basketball. He started at South Georgia Tech College at the junior college level where he was chosen as his league’s best defensive player during his sophomore season. Williams then transferred to the NCAA Division I level at Sacramento State for the 2024–25 season but played sparingly in 13 games. He went down to Division II at Georgia Southwestern this last season where he put together a strong season with some particularly notable defensive prowess as he earned another best defensive player award. That defensive focus could turn him into a valuable commodity so it will be exciting to see how his career develops.

Team overviews

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

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Ben Cotton, John Jenkins (I), Matt Kenyon, Bul Kuol, Keanu Rasmussen, Isaac White
F: Zylan Cheatham (I), Nick Rakocevic (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
DP: G Deonte Williams
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, Keanu Pinder
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
• 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