Adnam Elevated to Phoenix Co-Captain

South East Melbourne Phoenix fan favourite Kyle Adnam’s meteoric rise has been rewarded with an elevation to co-captaincy for the NBL21 season.

Adnam joins returning leaders Mitch Creek and Adam Gibson - who co-captained the team in their inaugural season last year – in a new triple header captaincy group.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a stellar pre-season, having remained in Melbourne training with the team since the conclusion of the 2019/20 season.

Heading into his eighth NBL season, Adnam is hoping to take another step and cement himself as a high-impact player in an expanded role.

(Adnam has enjoyed a strong pre-season)

He says receiving the news earlier in the week from the coaching staff was an incredible moment in his career.

“I was pretty excited. In my first year in the NBL I played with Gibbo (Adam Gibson) and Creeky (Mitch Creek), and obviously they’re both really good leaders in their own ways. It's just amazing to be up there with them,” Adnam said.

“I was just proud that it kind of shows the work that I've put in that area of leadership and trying to help others. I'm super stoked and can't wait to help the club grow alongside some pretty good leaders.

“If you asked me five-or-ten years ago if I was going to captain an NBL team, I would have been pinching myself so it's definitely a goal and I’ll just continue trying to tick off as many of those as I can.

"It’s just a massive honour in somewhere I grew up playing basketball and hopefully I can inspire a few kids like myself growing up in this area to do the same.”

The hometown hero has used the extended break to put on muscle and enhance his touch to match it with the best guards in the league.

(Being a leader on the team was always a goal of Adnam's) 

Phoenix Head Coach Simon Mitchell says Adnam’s faultless off-season and passion for the group made him an obvious co-captain choice.

“I think he's forced us into making a decision on it, purely on the basis of him doing the work at a really high level and dragging guys up to his level,” Mitchell said.

“He exhibits all the leadership qualities that we want this team to have and I feel like he'll thrive under the responsibility. I think his sheer force of will has forced us to acknowledge it and no one's deserved the captaincy role more.”

Adnam averaged nine points and over two assists in 16 minutes per game off the bench last season and if his career trajectory is anything to go by, those numbers should increase once again in NBL21.

A few months out from the delayed season start, Adnam says he’s in the best physical shape he’s ever been.

“I'm feeling really good, it's definitely the fittest I've ever been personally,” Adnam said.

“I’m definitely in a great spot right now and I just hope to hope to continue that. We’ve got another ten weeks of pre-season, so I'm going to try and drag every inch out of myself as I can and hopefully come in best prepared as I can for NBL21.”

SEE OUR NBL21 MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

Phoenix Media (05/11/2020)