REWARD is coming for NBL1 players for their performances throughout the 2025 season, with another trio of players being signed for the 2025/26 NBL fixture, which is set to kick off in the coming months.

The NBL1 is often the perfect way for NBL sides to get a glimpse into some potential players to top up their rosters heading into the next season. It also gives players plenty of motivation to bring their A-game every week, as scouts will be watching.

The first player to be signed was Johny Narkle, who has joined the Illawarra Hawks following a strong campaign in the NBL1 West Men’s competition. Narkle has steadily improved over the past three seasons, and has since become a star player for the Geraldton Buccaneers.

He has an intriguing journey, having gotten involved with the Bucs during the COVID-affected 2020 season, before a brief stint with Aussie Rules in the WAFL before settling back down with Geraldton. Since then, he has flourished into a star, winning a championship, Grand Final MVP and recently the NBL1 West Men’s Youth Player of the Season, as well as an appearance on the All NBL1 West First Team.

It has been a mystery why Narkle has not been on an NBL roster, an issue that was further raised when he dropped a remarkable 53 points for the Bucs earlier this season. Throughout 2025, he posted numbers of 23.2 points, 4.9 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 2.1 steals per game, and now joins the Hawks as a Development Player.

The next player to join Australia’s premier men’s basketball competition was Nicolas Tata, who has been playing for the Nunawading Spectres this season, and has signed with Melbourne United as a Nominated Replacement Player.

Having previously spent time with United as a Training Player, the 208cm big man will now join the team and look to take the next step in his development. Throughout the 2025 season with the Spectres, Tata has averaged 6.4 points, and 5.2 rebounds per game, and will benefit from being around other pro players.

The final player to reach the top level is Melbourne Tigers captain Jack Purchase, who has been tremendous throughout the 2025 NBL1 South Men’s season, and has played a crucial role in his team getting to the preliminary finals.

He joins the Brisbane Bullets for the upcoming fixture, who will be his fourth NBL club after stints at Melbourne United, the Adelaide 36ers and the Perth Wildcats. Purchase is in arguably career-best form of late, and has been one of the best scorers in any NBL competition over the past few months.

His 2025 campaign will be remembered for his 55-point outing, which held the record for the most points in an NBL1 game in league history, before it was broken by Elijah Pepper later in the season. However, Purchase has been rock solid all season long and deserves his chance after playing a key role for a thriving Tigers team.

He has averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game throughout the 2025 season, and will give a massive boost to the Bullets’ scoring power as they look to contend for the championship.