THE upcoming National Basketball League (NBL) season is just around the corner, with the season opener slated for December. As the NBL Blitz pre-season campaign comes to a close, sides across the league will be finalising preparations for their NBL22 campaigns. With that said, it is time for us to take one final look at each team, and how they are faring heading into the upcoming season. Next under the microscope are Melbourne United, who will be searching for the elusive title of consecutive championships as they back up their near-flawless NBL21 run.
Ins: Ariel Hukporti, Brad Newley, Caleb Agada, Callum Dalton, David Okwera, Dion Prewster, Matthew Dellavedova, William Hickey, Zac Triplett
Captain: Chris Goulding
Coach: Dean Vickerman
Roster:
Ariel Hukporti
Brad Newley
Caleb Agada
Callum Dalton
Chris Goulding
David Okwera
Dion Prewster
Matthew Dellavedova
William Hickey
Zac Triplett
Melbourne United were able to deliver their sixth championship in club history, defeating the Perth Wildcats in the grand final series. However, their roster will look different moving forward, particularly surrounding the loss of star Jock Landale. Landale led the side in points and rebounds, but has since left the team for an opportunity in the NBA. This resulted in United’s front office becoming quite active throughout the offseason. The additions don’t come much bigger than the team acquiring the services of Dellavedova, an Australian basketball icon and NBA champion.
The loss of point guard Mitch McCarron looked to leave a massive hole in the team’s structure, but Melbourne have done a terrific job at covering this by adding one of the country’s most sought after talents. The team will likely carry a different look given the loss of the two players mentioned above, but this opens the opportunity for another to step up and take their name to the next level. Combining this with the coaching talent of Vickerman, United look a strong chance to claim back-to-back titles.
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