Rucker: Off-Season Moves Set to Benefit Veteran Sobey
15 Jul
1
min read


The Phoenix have been one of the busiest players in the free agency period and are nearing a full-roster ahead of the pre-season, with just one import spot to fill.
Sobey, who came to the Heartland after a successful five-year stint at the Brisbane Bullets, is looking for his first championship and Rucker believes the way that South East Melbourne’s roster is shaping could be most helpful to the 34-year-old.
“The way the roster has shaped, Nathan Sobey is the one that’s in a great situation to excel,” Rucker told NBL’s The Marketplace.
“(Import guard and Phoenix recruit) Derrick Walton Jr is a stabiliser, and who is that going to impact the most in this lineup and perhaps in the competition? That’s one man, Nathan Sobey.”
Sobey and Walton Jr look likely to form a significant part of Mike Kelly’s starting lineup, with Jordan Hunter, Joe Wieskamp and Phoenix foundation player Mitch Creek looming as the most probable fellow starters.
Rucker had high praise for 2021 All-NBL First Team recipient Sobey who last reached a championship series in 2018 with the Adelaide 36ers.
“He’s one of the most talented and athletic players in the competition, when that guy gets cooking, there’s very few players that can reach the heights he can.”
Pre-season will commence on August 1 to start the beginning of an exciting new season for the Phoenix.

28 Dec
DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix head to Hobart after nine-day break

26 Dec
Phoenix sign Ian Clark for remainder of NBL26

26 Dec
Club Statement: Hunter Maldonado

23 Dec
Phoenix partner with Westfield Knox for holiday basketball camps

22 Dec
HART Sport and Phoenix Extend Partnership

20 Dec
Josh King & Angus Glover Press Conference vs Brisbane Bullets (Round 13, NBL26)

20 Dec
STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Phoenix compound Bullets woes with huge win

19 Dec
DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix celebrate Christmas in a Spectacular against Brisbane

18 Dec
Josh King & John Brown III Press Conference vs Perth Wildcats (Round 13, NBL26)

18 Dec
STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Phoenix prevail in Wild West thriller

18 Dec
Gorjok Gak departs Phoenix

18 Dec
The Phoenix Files with Wes Iwundu

17 Dec
DREWITT’S BULBS MATCH PREVIEW: Phoenix head West to take on Perth

16 Dec
William Adams CAT partners with the Phoenix for the Christmas Spectacular

13 Dec
Josh King & Nathan Sobey Press Conference vs New Zealand Breakers (Round 12, NBL26)

13 Dec
STANLEY MATCH REPORT: Sobey's 36 lifts Phoenix over Breakers
Support your team with the latest gear
Grab your latest team releases before they're gone.

Get the latest Team Updates
Breaking news & special offers. Direct to your inbox.

