NBL teams engage with a Boomers legend for NBL27 as the 36ers move to re-sign their semi-final hero, while pressure builds on Mike Wells with Vasiljevic calling out a breakdown in standards.
All of this and more in the latest edition of NBL Daily.
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NBA VETERAN EMERGES AS TARGET FOR NBL27
With the NBL season down to just two teams and a championship on the line, the focus across the rest of the league has already shifted – and one potential move is beginning to loom as a genuine game-changer for NBL27.
Free agency is heating up and one name is quickly gathering momentum after whispers first surfaced last offseason.
That name is five-time Olympian, Australian Boomers legend and NBA veteran Joe Ingles.
Speaking on NBL Now, Pete Hooley and Casey Prather weighed in on the potential return of Ingles, with clubs already beginning to make their move.
“I might have dropped this morning about an Australian legend in Joe Ingles, who NBL clubs have begun to reach out to. We know the off-season has begun to try and convince him to come back and finish his career where it started in the NBL,” Hooley said.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, I’ve reached out to him, spoke to him this morning to confirm everything that I had heard and yes he is definitely considering his options of returning home but it’s not just his decision.
“When you’ve got kids and you start to get situated, a lot more goes into it just than making a simple decision. So hopefully things, the wheels start to get in motion because man, it’d be fun,” Hooley said.
When asked about the prospect of Ingles returning, Prather – despite being uncontracted and recovering from a knee injury – didn’t hesitate to enter full recruitment mode for the Brisbane Bullets.
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“First of all, that’s some exciting news, especially coming off this early morning. But yeah, anytime you got a legend like Joe trying to come back to the NBL or teams reaching out to Joe, I think that’s always a good thing,” Prather said.
“You want to bring in talent, you want to keep your local talent that’s been groomed from home.
“So I think it’ll be a great welcome home party for him. You know, I would love for him to come to Brisbane Bullets if I’m here next year playing for the Bullets,” Prather said.
Ingles made his mark on the NBL in 2007, setting the record for most points on debut by an Australian with 29 for the South Dragons.
He went on to win Rookie of the Year that season and helped lead the Dragons to a championship in 2009.
Now 38 and currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Adelaide product is weighing up a return that could send shockwaves through the league.
36ERS SEMI-FINAL HERO SET TO RE-SIGN FOR NBL27
The Adelaide 36ers look set to retain semi-final hero Nick Rakocevic for the 2026-27 season after his breakout campaign in Adelaide.
According to Code Sports, Rakocevic is set to re-sign with the club for another season.
Once the deal is finalised, Rakocevic will join a strong group of contracted players returning for NBL27, including Bryce Cotton, Zylan Cheatham, Flynn Cameron, Isaac Humphries, Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac White and Ben Griscti.
Rakocevic, who joined the club late following the departure of Montrezl Harrell, averaged 8.9 points and 6.5 rebounds across the season.
He has also delivered three double-doubles in a crucial role for the 36ers during their semi-final series against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
With Rakocevic set to return, the conversation around Isaac Humphries could intensify, with his minutes and overall role taking a hit amid Rakocevic’s strong form and growing importance.
WELLS UNDER FIRE AS 36ERS DRAMA BOILS OVER BEFORE GRAND FINAL PUSH
Mike Wells’ future in Adelaide remains uncertain and the pressure has never been more visible.
Despite guiding the Adelaide 36ers to a second-place finish, scrutiny has followed Wells throughout the NBL26 season. Reports of crisis meetings, player-only discussions and ongoing criticism of his coaching style have created a constant cloud over the club.
That tension reached a new level in Game Three of the semi-final series against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Holding a 17-point lead, the 36ers were in control – until Wells was hit with a technical foul during a key moment as MVP Bryce Cotton prepared to inbound the ball.
What followed only added to the spotlight.
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Cotton showed visible emotion towards Wells, with the moment unfolding directly in front of 36ers owner Grant Kelley and NBL Executive Director Larry Kestelman – a scene that summed up the growing frustrations around the group.
Speaking on Nothing But Net: Aussie Hoops, Dejan Vasiljevic didn’t hold back on what he believes was a breakdown in standards.
“It’s holding people to the same standard. We talked about before the game, we need to stay off the refs,” Vasiljevic said.
“It’s us against South East. There’s going to be calls that we’re not in favour of but we don’t need that from Mike Wells.
“I think it was 14-15 (point lead) at the time and he keeps yapping to Michael Aylen, that’s not the guy to be talking to.
“As soon as you say something wrong or something that’s going to threaten him, he’s going to tee you up. He teed up John Brown in the game as well along with Ian Clark,” Vasiljevic said.
For Vasiljevic, the message was clear and it extends beyond just one moment.
“We’ve just got to hold each other to a higher standard and obviously Mike knows that and we’ll speak about it later in our practice, but you’ve just got to chill out and allow the game to keep going and we can ride the momentum,” Vasiljevic said.
Now, with the best-of-five Grand Final series tipping off on Saturday, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Adelaide has the talent. They’ve shown they can dominate. But composure, discipline and control in the biggest moments will ultimately define whether they lift the championship.
For Wells, it’s more than just a title on the line – it’s his future.
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