Off-Season Update 1.0

The NBL21 season saw South East Melbourne Phoenix take a significant leap forward as a franchise, making their first NBL Finals appearance after finishing eighth in their inaugural season.

Despite a wild year of player availability and COVID-19 impacts in Victoria, the tight-knit Phoenix squad fell just short of a maiden Grand Final.

The club’s early off-season activity reflects the success of the group, with a handful of stars re-committing to the team for the NBL22 season and beyond.

Ryan Broekhoff, Kyle Adnam and Izayah Le’afa all rejected the lure of opportunities elsewhere to remain in South East Melbourne on two-year deals and have another crack at the NBL title.

Star forward Mitch Creek also locked himself in for next season, triggering the player option on his contract.

(Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell will bring the core of his squad into his third year at the helm)

Continuity and familiarity within a team can be key ingredients to achieving on-court success, and a formula the Phoenix are taking into their third NBL season.

Co-captain Kyle Adnam says the Semi-Final heartbreak will drive the group heading into next season.

“This year definitely hurt,” he said. “While it was an incredible season from an incredible group of guys to make the playoffs in our second year as a club, deep down we’re hungry.

“Within our group, I don’t think anyone thought it was this overly amazing achievement, we all felt like we fell a touch short.

“We’re fired up and my number one goal next season is bringing home a championship to the South East.

“You get a little taste of finals and potentially being half a game away from a Grand Final series shows how close we are as a club, so I think we’re more motivated than ever.”

In other player movement news, big man Yanni Wetzell has decided to return home to New Zealand to play for the Breakers on a three-year deal.

His departure will be offset by the return of Dane Pineau, who missed almost the entire NBL21 season through injury.

Pineau was a Best Defensive Player and Most Improved Player candidate in the Phoenix’s first year and will be a huge boost to the team’s prospects.

Izayah Le’afa, who became a key part of the backcourt rotation in the second half of the season, is itching for another crack at the NBL title with his Phoenix teammates.

“I just want to run it back with the group of guys we had and keep around all the guys as much as possible,” he said.

“It was a huge year for us even though it was tough at times. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted but I just want to run it back and see what we can do next year.”

Versatile Kiwi Reuben Te Rangi has been representing the Knox Raiders in the NBL1 in recent weeks following his stellar 22-point performance in Semi-Final Game Three against Melbourne United.

The 26-year-old is averaging 12 points, six rebounds and three assists across his five games for the Raiders.

Players currently locked in for the Phoenix next season include Mitch Creek, Ryan Broekhoff, Cam Gliddon, Kyle Adnam, Dane Pineau, Reuben Te Rangi and Izayah Le’afa.

NBL22 memberships are now on sale and can be purchased HERE.

Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (12/07/2021)