The NBL preseason kicked off this week with the South East Melbourne Phoenix playing a team of representatives from Japan’s B.League. It was as meaningless as it was dismissive with the Phoenix almost doubling the score of the Japanese representatives. It is now one month until the NBL Blitz begins which is the true beginning of preseason action. Teams are now approaching their completion. Melbourne United and the Illawarra Hawks complete their rosters, the Tasmania JackJumpers secure their replacement for Bryce Hamilton, and the Cairns Taipans find their new import point guard as well as re-sign the brother of their star player.

1. Cole Anthony to Melbourne United
2. Jaylon Brown to Cairns Taipans
3. Anthony Dell’Orso to Perth Wildcats
4. Kelan Martin to Illawarra Hawks
5. Lloyd McVeigh re-signs with Cairns Taipans
6. Nicholas Stoddart to Tasmania JackJumpers
7. Team overviews
8. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Cole Anthony to Melbourne United

Position: Guard
From: Milwaukee Bucks (United States – National Basketball Association)
2025–26 statistics: 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, .3 blocks, .6 steals, 42.4% field goal, 61.5% free throw
Announcement link

Well. Melbourne United make what could be one of the most prominent signings in NBL history. Their final piece required was an import point guard and they go all out by adding Cole Anthony. He has spent the last six years in the NBA with five seasons for the Orlando Magic and one season with the Milwaukee Bucks. Anthony joined the Magic as the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft after an acclaimed amateur career and was their starting guard during the 2021–22 season when he averaged 16 points per game. He became a reserve the following season and then saw his role gradually reduce each year until he was signed by the Bucks in 2025. Anthony is coming off the most minimal season of his career with lows including games played, minutes and points yet it is remarkable that he was squeezed out of the NBA. This is a huge signing for someone is only 26, has extensive NBA experience and has no major injury history. United now have what looks like the strongest roster in the league.

Jaylon Brown to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
From: Petkim Spor (Türkiye – Basketbol Süper Ligi)
2025–26 statistics: 6.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .0 blocks, .6 steals, 35.8% field goal, 100.0% free throw
Announcement link

The Cairns Taipans find their new point guard in Jaylon Brown (referred to as “a Jaylon Brown” in their article; as opposed to the other Jaylon Browns out there). He has spent almost the entirety of his 9-year career in Europe primarily in Türkiye but is coming out of a down-year with career-lows. Brown is usually a reliable shooter with a career three-point average just below 40%. He stands at 6’0″ but does not typically play as a playmaking point guard with low assist numbers throughout his career. The Taipans ran with a similar strategy last year with having a shooting guard run their offence and he ended up having a career-best assist average. It does seem unusual that the Taipans have gone for an essential same prototype of player instead of bringing back Andrew Andrews. The Taipans still have two more import slots left so it will be interesting to see who else they get.

Anthony Dell’Orso to Perth Wildcats

Position: Guard
From: Arizona (United States – NCAA Division I)
2025–26 statistics: 8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, .2 blocks, .8 steals, 40.6% field goal, 83.1% free throw
Announcement link

The Perth Wildcats sign Anthony Dell’Orso on a three-year contract. This is someone who has the genuine potential to be the best local player added to the league this season. Dell’Orso is coming out of a collegiate career that finished as a reserve at Arizona but started with two seasons as a starter at Campbell where he averaged 19.5 points per game as a sophomore. He is an excellent scorer especially from three-point range. Great addition to the league.

Kelan Martin to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Forward
From: UCAM Murcia (Spain – Liga ACB)
2025–26 statistics: 9.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, .4 assists, .2 blocks, .6 steals, 50.0% field goal, 81.0% free throw
Announcement link

The Illawarra Hawks end up signing all of their three imports within a one-week period and settle on Kelan Martin for their final roster spot. He has the potential to be one of the major additions this offseason. Martin for three seasons in the NBA but has spent the last three years of his career in Europe in Türkiye and Spain. His game adapted very well to international basketball and he maintained his scoring efficiency with both his field goal and three-point percentages in the 40–50% range. Martin’s presence means that the Hawks will run with a completely different starting line-up strategy this season which will be interesting to see; Martin is 6’5″ so will almost have to be played in the small forward position. He is a wonderful asset for the Hawks to add and completes what was a great signing period for them.

Lloyd McVeigh re-signs with Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
2025–26 statistics: 1.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, .1 assists, .0 blocks, .0 steals, 28.6% field goal, 100.0% free throw
Announcement link

Keep the leader happy. The Cairns Taipans return Lloyd McVeigh, the brother of team captain Jack, as a development player on a one-year deal. He appeared in 10 games last season with limited minutes but scored a career-high 6 points towards the end of the season. McVeigh really can play though and is averaging 23.2 points per game with the South Adelaide Panthers of the NBL1 Central during this offseason.

Nicholas Stoddart to Tasmania JackJumpers

Position: Guard
2025–26 statistics: 2.0 points, .8 rebounds, .9 assists, .1 blocks, .2 steals, 28.9% field goal, 70.0% free throw
Announcement link

The Tasmania JackJumpers bring back Nicholas Stoddart as an injury replacement player for Bryce Hamilton. It will be his third season with the JackJumpers after beginning as a development player during the 2024–25 season. Stoddart was a fully rostered player last season and played in 21 games. He lost his spot on the main roster this season but gets returned as the replacement for Hamilton who will be set to return midseason.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / DP: Development Player / IRP: Injury Replacement Player / NRP: Nominated Replacement 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

Brisbane Bullets
G: Nate Hinton (I), Max Mackinnon, Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton, Arnas Velička (I)
F: Jacob Holt, Lat Mayen, Harry Rouhliadeff, Jaylin Williams (I)
C: Tyrell Harrison
DP: G Rio Bruton, G Joshua Duach

Cairns Taipans
G: Jaylon Brown (I), Shaun Bruce, Sunday Dech, Luke Paul, Reyne Smith
F: Jonah Bolden, Kyrin Galloway, Jack McVeigh, Keanu Pinder
DP: G Lloyd McVeigh, C Luca Yates
Needs: Everything… again

Illawarra Hawks
G: Milton Doyle (I), Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, Johny Narkle
F: Todd Blanchfield, Darius Days (I), Daniel Grida, Kelan Martin (I), Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling
NRP: G Kyle Adnam
DP: F Amarco Doyle

Melbourne United
G: Cole Anthony (I), Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Luke Travers, Tom Wilson
F: Kyle Bowen, Joe Ingles, Fabijan Krslovic, Malith Machar, Josh Oduro (I), Sam Waardenburg
NRP: G Sean Macdonald
DP: F Jensen Bradtke, G Christian D’Angelo, C Harry Neilson

New Zealand Breakers
G: Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa, Dejan Vasiljevic
F: Carlin Davison, Josiah Jordan-James (I), Sam Mennenga, Kouat Noi, Reuben Te Rangi
Needs: Moving away from the exclusively New Zealand player search, import center, local everything

Perth Wildcats
G: Anthony Dell’Orso, Elijah Pepper, Jaron Rillie
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Alex Higgins-Titsha, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
C: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
DP: F Cameron Huefner, G Tana Kopa, F Blake Nielsen, G Marley Sam
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, Skylar Mays (I), Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Hunter Goodrick, D’Shawn Schwartz (I)
C: Jordan Hunter
DP: G Patrick Ryan
Needs: Running it back, 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, Anthony Drmic, Bryce Hamilton (I), David Johnson (I), Dakota Mathias (I)
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Nick Marshall
C: Ben Gold, Will Magnay
IRP: G Nicholas Stoddart
DP: G Ryley Haywood, F Jed Richardson

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
• Ben Henshall (G, Perth Wildcats) – 30 games, 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Alex Ducas (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 30 games, 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Tristan Devers (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 29 games, 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 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
• 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
• Taylor Britt (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 19 games, 1.4 points, .8 rebounds, 1.1 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
• Archie Woodhill (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 15 games, 1.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, .1 assists
• Michael Harris (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 15 games, .7 points, .5 rebounds, .2 assists
• Harry Froling (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 14 games, 3.4 points, .9 rebounds, .6 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
• 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
• 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
• Kobe McDowell-White (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 5 games, 1.0 points, .8 rebounds, .2 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
• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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