The 2021-22 NBL season tips off this weekend and the quality and depth of rosters is at an all-time high. Between coaches and players, more and more guys are coming to Australia having some NBA experience, proving that the NBL is certainly no cupcake league.
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Want to get familiar with players that have some experience in the world's best league? Well, we have you covered here.
Melbourne United
Matthew Dellavedova - Milwaukee Bucks/Cleveland Cavaliers
Matthew Dellavedova, affectionately known as Delly, was the big marquee signing for the NBL this past off-season. Signing for three years, Delly returns back to Australia a freshly minted Bronze medal-winning Olympian, and a veteran of eight NBA seasons, including a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Although injury, and complications from a concussion. slowed him down towards the end of his time in America, Delly says he's healthy entering this NBL season.
"The body is feeling great. That's the main thing, I feel like I just need to put a good chunk of time together training but also games," Dellavedova said.
"Playing a lot of minutes and having the ball in my hands, making decisions and things like that. I'm going to have a great opportunity to do that with United."
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
Zhou Qi - Houston Rockets
The 46th pick overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Qi played 19 games with the Houston Rockets over two seasons before being waived in 2018.
Mitch Creek - Brooklyn Nets/Minnesota Timberwolves
Creek achieved his dream of playing in the NBA via the long path. After a dispute with his former NBL club, the Adelaide 36ers, was cleared up, Creek joined the Long Island Nets in the G-League before being promoted up to the Brooklyn Nets for a couple of 10-day contracts. He was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves on a 10-day contract on March 30, 2019, and appeared in one game for the Wolves, scoring six points. Creek may one day get back to the NBA, but for now he's content knowing he already made it.
"I had a lot of people say, 'you're not good enough' and still to this day, but at the end of the day, I trusted myself and I can go home with my head held high and my hands in my pockets whistling away going 'it's a pretty f--ing sweet ride.'"
Creek helped the Phoenix reach the playoffs in just their second season in the league.
Ryan Broekhoff - Dallas Mavericks
Just like teammate Mitch Creek, 'Rowdy' took the long road to the NBA. Undrafted in 2013, Broekhoff plied his trade in Europe until the Dallas Mavericks came calling in 2018. He made his NBA debut on October 17 that year, recording three points in four minutes, in a 121-100 loss against the Phoenix Suns. Broekhoff was waived on 11 February 2020. He was signed by Philadelphia in June of that year but did not play a game before being waived.
Ryan Broekhoff caught FIRE late for the @SEMelbPhoenix, hitting four three-pointers down the stretch to lead the Phoenix to victory in the #NBLBlitz finale 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YpCtzoBZD2
— The NBL (@NBL) November 28, 2021
Sydney Kings
R.J. Hunter - Boston Celtics/Chicago Bulls/Houston Rockets
Hunter was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He bounced between the NBA and the G League for a number of seasons before heading to Europe. He has 45 total NBA appearances to his name for three NBA teams.
Jarrell Martin - Memphis Grizzlies/Orlando Magic
Martin was selected 25th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, however, injuries delayed his start to the season. Martin did, however, score a career-high 16 points in the Grizzlies' 116–96 loss to the Boston Celtics on March 9. On July 23, 2018, Martin and cash considerations were traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey, who also now plays in the NBL for the Illawarra Hawks.
MORE: Spotlighting five NBL players who could make the NBA
Illawarra Hawks
Justinian Jessup - selected 51st (2020) by Golden State (never played)
Jessup was drafted 51st overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 draft. In 129 games with Boise State, he averaged 12.3 points per game. He signed a Next Stars contract with Illawarra in August 2020.
Tyler Harvey - selected 51st (2015) by Orlando (never played)
Harvey was selected by the Orlando MAgic 51st overall in the 2015 NBA draft. He played in the G-League with the Magic's affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks, before playing in Europe for a couple of seasons. He had one more stint in the G-League with the Memphis Hustle in 2018-19.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes - Memphis Grizzlies
Rathan-Mayes went undrafted in 2017 but signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018. He made his debut the same day, finishing with eight points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals in 25 minutes.
Cairns Taipans
Nate Jawai 41st pick 2008 draft by Indiana - Toronto Raptors/Minnesota Timberwolves
Jawai, aka 'Outback Shaq', had his draft right traded by Indiana to Toronto. He played 45 NBA games for the Raptors and Timberwolves.
The 35-year-old won an NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats in 2016.
Scott Machado - Houston Rockets/Los Angeles Lakers
Machado went undrafted in 2012 but impressed the Rockets during Summer League, eventually signing with them. He played six games with Houston before being waived, and ultimately four more with the Lakers in 2018-19.
New Zealand Breakers
Peyton Siva - Detroit Pistons
Siva was a second-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 2013 (56th overall). He went back-and-forth between the Pistons and their G-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and was waived by Detroit following the 2014 Summer League. He played 24 games for the Pistons.
Adelaide 36ers
Isaac Humphries - Atlanta Hawks
The Sydney big man went undrafted in 2017 after two years with Kentucky in college. He returned to the NBL - winning Rookie of the Year honors with his hometown Kings before earning himself a G-League deal with the Erie Bayhawks. On 1 April 2019, the Atlanta Hawks announced they had signed Humphries for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. He played five games in the NBA with the Hawks, averaging 3.0 points per game.
Cameron Bairstow - Chicago Bulls
Bairstow was taken with the 49th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by Chicago and played two seasons with the Bulls, appearing in 36 games, starting three of them. He scored a career-high eight points in 10 minutes as a starter in a 102–89 loss to the Orlando Magic.
He returned to the NBL following his time in the NBA.
Perth Wildcats
Bryce Cotton - Utah Jazz/Phoenix Suns/Memphis Grizzlies
Arguably the greatest import of all time in the NBL, Cotton has also had stints in the NBA with the Utah Jazz (15 games), Phoenix Suns (three games) and the Memphis Grizzlies (three games). He averaged 5.3 points per game while a member of the Jazz.
Vic Law - Orlando Magic
Law went undrafted in 2019 but eventually played eight games for the Orlando Magic, including one playoff game.
Tasmania JackJumpers
Josh Maggette - Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic
Undrafted in 2012, Maggette was the Atlanta Hawks' first-ever two-way player in 2017. He split time between the Hawks and their G-League affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks, averaging 3.0 assists per game in his rookie season. He would wind up playing 26 NBA games between Atlanta and Orlando.
Will Magnay - New Orleans Pelicans
The Aussie big man went undrafted in 2018, but earned himself a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans in December 2020. He only played one game for the Pelicans, going scoreless in three minutes.