Yo… we are talking about the new season being one month away. I remember the close of the 2025–26 season like it was yesterday. Now, rosters are almost fully formed, dreams are taking shape, and there is an idea of what can be possible for all. The signings are still not completely done. The Cairns Taipans make a long-awaited major signing, the Brisbane Bullets add a development player, and the Illawarra Hawks sign two development players and the most awarded injury replacement player in the league.

1. Jaylin Galloway to Cairns Taipans
2. Fletcher MacDonald to Illawarra Hawks
3. Brodie McGregor to Illawarra Hawks
4. Billy McRae to Brisbane Bullets
5. Lamar Patterson to Illawarra Hawks
6. Team overviews
7. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Jaylin Galloway to Cairns Taipans

Position: Forward
From: Sydney Kings
2025–26 statistics: 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .7 blocks, 1.2 steals, 41.8% field goal, 69.5% free throw
Announcement link

In a move that had been rumoured for months, Jaylin Galloway departs the Sydney Kings to sign with the Cairns Taipans on a one-year deal. After spending six seasons with the Kings and winning three championships, Galloway heads back to his home state to partner with his brother, Kyrin. Last season was a return-to-form for Galloway after he missed most of 2024–25 with a shoulder injury. He is always someone who has had the potential to breakout and his move to Taipans where he will be a focal point of their offence indicates this may finally be the year. It is hard to believe that Galloway is only 23 as well and still has so much room to develop further.

Fletcher MacDonald to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Forward
From: Chaminade (United States – NCAA Division II)
2025–26 statistics: 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, .9 assists, .7 blocks, .6 steals, 57.9% field goal, 56.1% free throw
Announcement link

The Illawarra Hawks sign Fletcher MacDonald as a development player. He spent the last four years in the United States where he played at Lubbock Christian and Chaminade. Not only is MacDonald a Wollongong local, there is a family connection: his father, Dene, played nine seasons for the Hawks.

Brodie McGregor to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Guard
From: Gold Coast Rollers (NBL1 North)
2026 statistics: 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, .6 blocks, .6 steals
Announcement link

Brodie McGregor joins the Illawarra Hawks on a two-year contract as a development player. He is the second Hawks development player with a basketball hereditary: his father, Scott, was the NBL Rookie of the Year in 1996 and played for 14 seasons.

Billy McRae to Brisbane Bullets

Position: Guard
From: Warwick Senators (NBL1 West)
2026 statistics: 11.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, .1 blocks, .4 steals, 51.4% field goal, 72.2% free throw
Announcement link

The Brisbane Bullets scouting department goes across the country to recruit Billy McRae as a development player. He has spent two seasons playing in the NBL1 West with a career-best outing this year with the Warwick Senators.

Lamar Patterson to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Forward
From: Brisbane Bullets
2025–26 statistics: 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, .3 blocks, 1.2 steals, 48.1% field goal, 50.0% free throw
Announcement link

Lamar Patterson joins the Illawarra Hawks as an injury replacement player for the season. It was a remarkable comeback for Patterson last season when he joined the Brisbane Bullets as a replacement player after a three-year exodus. Unfortunately, his tenure was to be short-lived as he was one of the many Bullets casualties and appeared in only 9 games before he was ruled out for the season. Patterson showed that he can still produce at a high level when required. There could not be any replacement player with better credentials than Patterson and it is a great holdover until he hopefully attains his Australian citizenship and can be considered a local after eight years of playing in the country.

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, G Billy McRae

Cairns Taipans
G: Jaylon Brown (I), Walter Brown, Shaun Bruce, Sunday Dech, Luke Paul, Reyne Smith
F: Jonah Bolden, Jaylin Galloway, 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, 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
IRP: F Lamar Patterson (I)
DP: F Amarco Doyle, F Fletcher MacDonald, G Brodie McGregor

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 (I), 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
• 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