Ultimate guide to off-season player movements

• NBL stars Kendric Davis and Tacko Fall are showcasing their talents in international leagues such as China's CBA during the off-season
• Eleven NBL25 players have signed in Puerto Rico's BSN, including free agent Bryce Cotton from the Perth Wildcats
• Taran Armstrong has signed a two-way deal with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA

The end of NBL25 season has triggered a global migration of Australian basketball talent, with players signing contracts in leagues around the world and here in Australian in NBL1.

China: A Popular Destination for NBL Talent

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) has become a premier destination for NBL stars seeking competitive basketball and lucrative contracts during the Australian off-season. Its timing complements the NBL calendar perfectly, allowing players to maintain their competitive edge while expanding their international profiles.

Kendric Davis exemplifies this transition, bringing his playmaking abilities to the Nanjing Monkey Kings. Through his first five games, Davis has maintained an impressive statistical output, averaging 22.4 points and 7.2 assists per game — numbers that mirror his NBL production.

Other players:

• Kouat Noi, who has maintained his scoring touch with the Ningbo Rockets, averaging 18.2 points and 6.4 rebounds following his Sixth Man of the Year season with the Sydney Kings.
• Montrezl Harrell, who has made his CBA debut with Xinjiang, where he joins forces with Cairns Taipans' Rob Edwards.

The G-League Bridge to the NBA

For players with NBA aspirations, the G-League serves as the most direct pathway from the NBL.

Taran Armstrong exemplifies this trajectory perfectly. After signing a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, Armstrong has begun his American professional journey with their G-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. His early performances have highlighted the playmaking skills that made him successful in Australia, including a seven-assist debut followed by a well-rounded 10-point, six-assist, four-rebound performance.

Cairns teammate Akoldah Gak has found a different G-League path, signing with the Mexico City Capitanes. This represents the growing diversity of opportunities for Australian basketball talent in North America beyond traditional NBA routes.

Spain: Tactical Basketball at Its Finest

James Batemon's situation highlights how overseas play can serve multiple purposes for contracted NBL players. Despite remaining under contract with the Brisbane Bullets for NBL26, Batemon has taken his talents to Spain with Hiopos Lleida after his NBL season was curtailed by injury.

His immediate impact — scoring 18 and 22 points in his first two games — demonstrates both his recovery and continued development. For the Bullets, this represents an ideal scenario where their contracted player maintains game fitness and continues developing during the off-season.

Turkey: Physical Basketball with Scoring Emphasis

Will Magnay's move to Turkey with Mersin Spor following an injury-shortened NBL campaign highlights another recovery pathway. The Turkish league's physical style provides an excellent environment for the athletic big man to regain his form against quality competition.

In the Turkish Second Division, JackJumpers standout Jordon Crawford has made an extraordinary debut, exploding for 45 points against Trabzonspor. This scoring outburst showcases how some players can find environments that particularly suit their playing styles when competing internationally.

Puerto Rico: The Off-Season Basketball Hotspot

The Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in Puerto Rico has emerged as a significant off-season destination for NBL talent, with timing that perfectly complements the Australian basketball calendar. The upcoming BSN season will feature an unprecedented 11 players from NBL25.

NBL1: Staying Home for Development

Not all players seek international opportunities during the NBL off-season. The NBL1 competitions across Australia provide valuable development pathways that allow players to remain in familiar environments while maintaining their competitive edge.

Adelaide 36ers

• Ben Griscti – Sturt Sabres (NBL1 Central)
• Dejan Vasiljevic – Forestville Eagles (NBL1 Central)
• Fiston Ipassou – Forestville Eagles (NBL1 Central)
• Jacob Rigoni – Stuart Sabres (NBL1 Central)
• Jarell Martin - Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL/South Korea)
• Jason Cadee – Bankstown Bruins (NBL1 East)
• Keanu Rasmussen – West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1 Central)
• Kendric Davis – Nanjing Monkey Kings (CBA/China)
• Lat Mayen – West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL1 Central)
• Montrezl Harrell – Xinjiang Flying Tigers (CBA/China) and BIG3 (USA)
• Nick Marshall – Wellington Saints (NZNBL)
• Sunday Dech - Knox Raiders (NBL1 South)
• Tom Kubank – South Adelaide Panthers (NBL1 Central)

Brisbane Bullets

• Callum Dalton – Nelson Giants (NZNBL)
• Casey Prather – Shanxi Loongs (CBA/China)
• Emmett Naar – Rockingham Flames (NBL1 West)
• Isaac White – Rockingham Flames (NBL1 West)
• James Batemon – Hiopos Lleida (Liga ACB/Spain Div 1)
• Keandre Cook – Guangdong Tigers (CBA/China)
• Kye Savage – North West Thunder (NBL1 South)
• Tohi Smith-Milner – Canterbury Rams (NZNBL)
• Tristan Devers – Nunawading Spectres (NBL1 South)
• Tyrell Harrison – Indios de Mayaguez (BSN/Puerto Rico)

Cairns Taipans

• Akoldah Gak – Mexico City Capitanes (NBA G-League)
• Dillon Stith – Casey Cavaliers (NBL1 South)
• Jackson Makoi - Rivers Hoopers (Basketball Africa League)
• Kyrin Galloway – Iwate Big Bulls (B.League 3/Japan Div 3)
• Pedro Bradshaw – Rostock Seawolves (BBL/Germany Div 1)
• Rob Edwards – Xinjiang Flying Tigers (CBA/China)
• Sam Waardenburg – Indios de Mayaguez (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Tad Dufelmeier – Chennai Heat (INBL/India)
• Tanner Groves – Nagasaki Velca (B.League 1/Japan Div 1)
• Taran Armstrong – Golden State Warriors (NBA/USA)

Illawarra Hawks

• Brad Ballinger – Illawarra Hawks (NBL1 East)
• Dan Grida – Hawke’s Bay Hawks (NZNBL)
• Kobe McDowell-White – Illawarra Hawks (NBL1 East)
• Kuany Kuany - Townsville Heat (NBL1 North)
• Luca Yates – Hawke’s Bay Hawks (NZNBL)
• Mason Peatling – Dandenong Rangers (NBL1 South)
• Todd Blanchfield – Illawarra Hawks (NBL1 East)
• Wani Swaka Lo Buluk – Hawke’s Bay Hawks (NZNBL)
• Will Hickey – Auckland Tuatara (NZNBL)
• Zac Triplett – Logan Thunder (NBL1 North)

Melbourne United

• Akech Aliir - Mount Gambier Pioneers (NBL1 South)
• Campbell Blogg – Sandringham Sabres (NBL1 South)
• Flynn Cameron – Franklin Bulls (NZNBL)
• Joel Foxwell - Sandringham Sabres (NBL1 South)
• Kyle Bowen – Canterbury Rams (NZNBL)
• Rob Loe – Auckland Tuatara (NZNBL)
• Shea Ili – Wellington Saints (NZNBL)
• Tom Koppens – Sandringham Sabres (NBL1 South)

New Zealand Breakers

• Alex McNaught – Nelson Giants (NZNBL)
• Carlin Davison – Taranaki Airs (NZNBL)
• Dane Pineau – Sandringham Sabres (NBL1 South)
• Jonah Bolden – Capitanes de Arecibo (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Kaia Isaac – Canterbury Rams (NZNBL)
• Matt Mooney – Piratas de Quebradillas (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Max Darling – Canterbury Rams (NZNBL)
• Mitch McCarron - Eltham Wildcats (NBL1 South)
• Mojave King – Cangrejeros de Santurce (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright – Rytas Vilnius (LKL/Lithuania Div 1)
• Sam Mennenga – Atleticos de San German (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Sean Bairstow – Tauranga Whai (NZNBL)
• Tacko Fall – Nanjing Monkey Kings (CBA/China)

Perth Wildcats

• Bryce Cotton – Mets de Guaynabo (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• David Okwera- Franklin Bulls (NZNBL)
• Dontae Russo-Nance – Manawatu Jets (NZNBL)
• Elijah Pepper – Warwick Senators (NBL1 West)
• Hyrum Harris – Wellington Saints (NZNBL)
• Keanu Pinder – Shanxi Loongs (CBA/China)
• Kristian Doolittle – Gigantes de Carolina (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Michael Harris – Frankston Blues (NBL1 South)
• Tai Webster – JL Bourg (LNB Pro A/France Div 1)
• Thomas Gerovich – Willeton Tigers (NBL1 West)
• Todd Withers – Warwick Senators (NBL1 West)

South East Melbourne Phoenix

• Angus Glover – Ludwigsburg (BBL/Germany)
• Ben Ayre – EWE Baskets Oldenburg (BBL/Germany)
• Jordan Hunter – Santeros de Aguada (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Luke Rosendale – Ballarat Miners (NBL1 South)
• Matt Kenyon – Logan Thunder (NBL1 North)
• Nathan Sobey – Santeros de Aguada (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Owen Foxwell – Taranaki Airs (NZNBL)
• Thomas Vodanovich – Auckland Tuatara (NZNBL)

Sydney Kings

• Cam Oliver – Liaoning Flying Leopards (CBA/China)
• Izayah Le’Afa – Wellington Saints (NZNBL)
• Jason Spurgin – Sutherland Sharks (NBL1 East)
• Keli Leaupepe – Knox Raiders (NBL1 South)
• Klairus Amir – Central Coast Crusaders (NBL1 East)
• Kouat Noi – Ningbo Rockets (CBA/China)
• Shaun Bruce – Wellington Saints (NZNBL)
• Tyler Robertson – Casey Cavaliers (NBL1 South)

Tasmania JackJumpers

• Archie Woodhill – North West Thunder (NBL1 South)
• Brody Nunn - Knox Raiders (NBL1 South)
• Fabijan Krslovic – Phoenix Hagen (ProA/Germany Div 2)
• Jordon Crawford –Esenler Erokspor (TBL/Turkey Div 2)
• Lachlan Barker – North West Thunder (NBL1 South)
• Majok Deng – Al Ittihad Alexandria (BAL/Egypt)
• Milton Doyle – Indios de Mayaguez (BSN/Puerto Rico)
• Nicholas Stoddart – Ballarat Miners (NBL1 South)
• Rebuen Te Rangi – Franklin Bulls (NZNBL)
• Sean Macdonald – Canterbury Rams (NZNBL)
• Walter Brown – Canterbury Rams (NZNBL)
• Will Magnay – Mersin Spor (TBL/Turkey Div 1)

This list has been republished with permission of NBL.com.au