As correctly researched, concluded and predicted in my previous article, Skylar Mays joins the South East Melbourne Phoenix as their new import point guard. He has spent the last two seasons playing in Europe after four seasons playing in the NBA system. Mays last played for KK Budućnost in Montenegro.

In what has been revealed as both impressive transparency and accuracy from head coach Josh King in his reveal of the Phoenix’s plans, all of his criteria proved to be true. Mays is listed at 6’3″ guard and has played as both a point guard and shooting guard. He averaged 4.3 points per game during his 105 appearances in the NBA from 2020 to 2024 with the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers. Mays has also played high-level European basketball; it was his stint in Türkiye with Fenerbahçe which aligned with King’s stint there that made him one of my main contenders for the role. However, Mays had a challenging time during his adjustment to European basketball with his Fenerbahçe stint cut short during the 2024–25 season after he averaged 3.7 points per game in EuroLeague competition. He went back to Europe for his last stint with Budućnost where he averaged an improved 9.8 points per game in EuroCup competition.

Mays is a reliable perimeter threat with a solid three-point shot. He also is a reliable on-ball defender and utilises his height which will make him stand above the majority of other point guards in the league. Mays’ assist numbers have fluctuated throughout his career (3.2 per game as a senior at LSU to 8.3 during a six-game stint with the Trail Blazers in 2023) but he will be expected to run the offence during his Phoenix tenure. Great signing… as foreseen!