This post was a week late but here it is regardless: a look back at the signings of the week before last. The New Zealand Breakers were the most prolific by adding their third import and signing three development players. The Perth Wildcats return a familiar face from the last decade, the Cairns Taipans add two former JackJumpers, the Sydney Kings find their Leaupepe replacement, and the South East Melbourne Phoenix go bien for their final signing.

1. Charles Bediako to New Zealand Breakers
2. Angus Brandt to Perth Wildcats
3. Walter Brown to Cairns Taipans
4. Andrew Carr to Sydney Kings
5. Tukaha Cooper re-signs with New Zealand Breakers
6. Kazlo Evans to New Zealand Breakers
7. Yannis Morin to South East Melbourne Phoenix
8. Brody Nunn to Cairns Taipans
9. Kael Robinson to New Zealand Breakers
10. Team overviews
11. Remaining free agents
    1. Locals
    2. Imports

Charles Bediako to New Zealand Breakers

Position: Centre
From: Alabama (United States – NCAA Division I)
2025–26 statistics: 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, .2 assists, 1.4 blocks, .8 steals, 77.3% field goal, 69.6% free throw
Announcement link

The New Zealand Breakers seem to love adding centres who have a little bit of notoriety attached to their name. They signed one of the tallest people in the world, Tacko Fall, two seasons ago for what was essentially a sideshow that was widely attributed to derailing their season. Now, they add the figurehead of the American college basketball eligibility scandal from last season in Charles Bediako. He rose to infamy when he filed a lawsuit so that he could return to play college basketball for Alabama three years after he had declared for the NBA draft and embarked on a professional career. Bediako was briefly eligible after being given a temporary restraining order and he became perhaps the first player in college basketball history to debut after having multiple years of professional experience in the United States. Controversy aside (none of it was mentioned in the Breakers signing announcement anyway), Bediako is a defensive presence who has already played for the Breakers’ head coach, Gordon Herbert, through their connection on the Canadian national team. He has primarily played as a role player during his professional career (primarily in the NBA G League with a brief stint in Canada) so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to a larger role; he is the only true centre on the Breakers roster.

Angus Brandt to Perth Wildcats

Position: Centre
From: Veltex Shizuoka (Japan – B.League)
2025–26 statistics: 11.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, .6 blocks, .6 steals, 56.4% field goal, 63.6% free throw
Announcement link

Seven years after he was last seen playing in Australia, Angus Brandt makes a return to the team that he departed by signing with the Perth Wildcats on a one-year deal. He departed after winning an NBL championship in 2019 as their reserve centre to embark on an international career that started in Italy and finished with six seasons in Japan. Brandt ultimately experienced the prime of his career in Japan with averages never seen during his years in Australia. He comes back as a veteran presence – aged 37 when the season starts – but supplies some much needed height for the Wildcats.

Walter Brown to Cairns Taipans

Position: Forward
From: UNLV (United States – NCAA Division I)
2025–26 statistics: 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .4 blocks, .5 steals, 43.7% field goal, 57.1% free throw
Announcement link

Walter Brown returns to the league after a college basketball exodus by signing with the Cairns Taipans on a one-year deal. He was last seen in the NBL as a member of the Tasmania JackJumpers where he spent three seasons as a development player. Brown left in 2025 to play his final season of collegiate eligibility for UNLV and was utilised as their sixth man. Brown has shown during his offseason stints in his native New Zealand NBL that he can do it all on the court as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker; he never really had the chance to show that with the JackJumpers.

Andrew Carr to Sydney Kings

Position: Forward
From: Rip City Remix (United States – NBA G League)
2025–26 statistics: 10.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .7 blocks, .8 steals, 51.2% field goal, 74.5% free throw

The Sydney Kings seem to not have anyone available to write their signing announcements on their website. Torrey Craig never received any mention of his re-signing. Now, neither does Andrew Carr who is added as the Nominated Replacement Player (NRP) for the injured Keli Leaupepe. The Kings were only going to have two imports on their roster for the season which meant that their NRP could have been anyone in the world which is hugely beneficial. The addition also fills what was a discernible gap on the Kings roster in big men. Carr will be entering his second professional season and his first overseas. Low pressure, decent reward type of signing which again bolsters the Kings’ depth.

Tukaha Cooper re-signs with New Zealand Breakers

Position: Guard
2025–26 statistics: 3.5 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists, .0 blocks, .0 steals, 50.0% field goal, 0.0% free throw
Announcement link

Tukaha Cooper returns to the New Zealand Breakers on a second development player contract. He appeared in two games last season which included a 7-point outing against the Cairns Taipans.

Kazlo Evans to New Zealand Breakers

Position: Guard
From: Manawatu Jets (New Zealand – National Basketball League)
2025–26 statistics: 9.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, .2 blocks, 1.1 steals, 40.0% field goal, 70.0% free throw
Announcement link

The New Zealand Breakers sign another local talent in Kazlo Evans on a development player contract. He has spent the last four seasons playing in the New Zealand NBL and has had a breakout year in 2026 with career-highs across his statistical outputs.

Yannis Morin to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Forward
From: Joventut Badalona (Spain – Liga ACB)
2025–26 statistics: 3.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, .0 assists, .0 blocks, .7 steals, 33.3% field goal, 100.0% free throw
Announcement link

I often point out the European influence on players signed by the South East Melbourne Phoenix ever since they appointed Josh King two seasons ago. Their third and final import for the season lives up to every expectation by being very European: Yannis Morin of France. He has had extensive basketball experience across the world with stints throughout Europe but also in Japan and the United States. Morin’s previous stint in Joventut Badalona was only brief with 3 games played; he spent most of last season instead in Japan where he averaged 14.7 points per game. The Phoenix whiffed big on their last European signing (never forget V.B.) but Morin is a considerably safer option and will be expected to lead their defensive presence.

Brody Nunn to Cairns Taipans

Position: Guard
From: Tasmania JackJumpers
2025–26 statistics: .9 points, .4 rebounds, .9 assists, .0 blocks, .1 steals, 13.3% field goal, 75.0% free throw
Announcement link

Brody Nunn joins the Cairns Taipans as a development player on a two-year contract. He spent two seasons with the Tasmania JackJumpers in the same capacity with 12 appearances across two seasons.

Kael Robinson to New Zealand Breakers

Position: Forward
From: Northern Kentucky (United States – NCAA Division I)
2025–26 statistics: 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .5 blocks, .7 steals, 45.3% field goal, 82.0% free throw
Announcement link

The New Zealand Breakers add another local talent in Kael Robinson as a development player. He has spent the last five years in the United States where he spent four seasons playing at the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels before he reached Division I with Northern Kentucky last season. During the offseason, Robinson has been playing for the Franklin Bulls in the New Zealand NBL.

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), Walter Brown, Shaun Bruce, Sunday Dech, Luke Paul, Reyne Smith
F: Jonah Bolden, Kyrin Galloway, Jack McVeigh, Keanu Pinder
DP: G Lloyd McVeigh, G Brody Nunn, 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
C: Charles Bediako (I)
DP: G Tukaha Cooper, G Kazlo Evans, F Kael Robinson
Needs: 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: Angus Brandt, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
NRP: G Jimmy Whitt (I)
DP: F Cameron Huefner, G Tana Kopa, F Blake Nielsen, G Marley Sam
Needs: Finding the right import combo guard, more Jaron Rillie

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Ellis Biggar, Daniel Foster, Angus Glover, Tanner Krebs, Skylar Mays (I), Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Hunter Goodrick, Yannis Morin (I), D’Shawn Schwartz (I)
C: Jordan Hunter
DP: G Patrick Ryan

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

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
• 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
• 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