BIO: Jackson Thomas White was born in Traralgon (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Traralgon basketball program. White received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2015. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2015, 2016).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jack White made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

In 2016, he was called up to play for the Cairns Taipans of the NBL as an injury replacement before moving to the USA to play for Duke University.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2020/21
After finishing fourth with a 15-13 record and losing its semifinal series to Sydney the previous season, Melbourne reshaped its roster after multiple seasons trying to get import Casey Prather back onto the court, with United and Prather mutually agreeing to terminate the second season of his contract. Melbourne added Jack White (via Duke University) on a three-year deal and Japanese star Yudai Baba on a one-year NBL Special Restricted Player contract, while captain Chris Goulding re-signed on a three-year deal, David Barlow on a one-year deal, Mason Peatling on a three-year deal and Sam McDaniel on a one-year deal. Scotty Hopson (via Europe) was signed as the team’s lone import before Australian Boomers forward Jock Landale (via Žalgiris) completed the roster on a one-year deal after Melbourne negotiated a buyout of his remaining Lithuanian contract when an NBA move did not eventuate.

White had previously made two brief appearances for Cairns during the 2015/16 season before spending four years at Duke University, where he captained the Blue Devils, and returned to the NBL as one of Melbourne’s major off-season additions.

Melbourne opened the season at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 15, where White (7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) started and provided energy at both ends as United defeated Adelaide 89-65. Lual-Acuil (16 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals), Goulding (16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Ili (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Landale (10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) led a balanced Melbourne performance, while Johnson (27 points and 5 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.

White (9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks across 11 games) immediately established himself as Melbourne’s starting power forward and one of the league’s leading Rookie of the Year candidates, with United winning 10 of the 11 games in which he appeared.

White produced 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block against Cairns on January 25, shooting 5-8 from the field as Melbourne survived a late Taipans comeback to win 87-85. Landale (19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Goulding (17 points) led United, while Machado (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists), Oliver (17 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Noi (17 points and 2 steals) led Cairns.

White’s best game of the season came against South East Melbourne at Bendigo Stadium on January 31, where he made 8-11 shots and three three-pointers to finish with a season-high 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks as Melbourne defeated the Phoenix 96-90 and remained undefeated. Goulding (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Landale (16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) provided support, while Sykes (24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals), Wetzell (17 points and 6 rebounds) and Creek (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) led South East Melbourne.

White produced one of his strongest defensive performances against Adelaide on February 25, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and a season-high 5 blocks as Melbourne defeated the 36ers 82-73. McCarron (18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Hopson (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Landale (12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led United, while Johnson (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals), Crocker (13 points and 2 steals) and Giddey (13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) led Adelaide. The win came at a heavy cost for White, who fell heavily attempting a dunk with 3.5 seconds remaining and suffered a dislocation and fracture to the small finger on his right hand. White underwent surgery the following day and was ruled out for four to six weeks, missing Melbourne’s next eight games.

White returned against South East Melbourne on March 27 after a month on the sidelines, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 16 minutes as Melbourne defeated the Phoenix 80-60. Goulding (25 points and 2 steals), Lual-Acuil (14 points) and McCarron (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) led United, while Gliddon (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Moore (12 points and 7 rebounds) were South East Melbourne’s best.

Only six days later, White’s season came to an end against Cairns. White (11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks) was putting together another strong performance when he felt a pop in his lower leg midway through the third quarter, with scans confirming a ruptured Achilles that would require around 12 months rehabilitation. Landale (20 points and 11 rebounds), Goulding (16 points) and Hopson (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped Melbourne defeat Cairns 95-85 for its fourth consecutive win, while Oliver (19 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Ngatai (17 points and 6 rebounds) led the Taipans. “We absolutely feel for Jack right now and it certainly takes the gloss off winning a little bit,” said Vickerman.

The Achilles rupture ended White’s rookie season after just 11 games and forced him to miss the remainder of Melbourne’s regular season and its entire playoff run. Former United big man David Andersen (1.3 points across 6 games) was later signed as White’s injury replacement for the remainder of the season.

Landale (16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 41 games) led Melbourne in scoring and earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Goulding (15.7 points across 36 games) remained the team’s leading perimeter threat despite missing six games with a calf strain. Hopson (11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games), McCarron (9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals across 42 games) and Lual-Acuil (9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 41 games) were key contributors, with McCarron and Goulding selected to the All-NBL Second Team and Lual-Acuil named the NBL’s Best Sixth Man. Baba (7.8 points across 36 games), Ili (6.6 points across 34 games), Peatling (5.9 points and 4 rebounds across 39 games), Barlow (5 points across 41 games) and McDaniel (4.5 points across 38 games) provided further depth as Melbourne finished first with a 28-8 record.

Victorian rivals South East Melbourne awaited in the semifinals, with Victoria’s lockdown forcing all three games to be played at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena while White remained sidelined. Melbourne opened the series with a 96-78 win behind Landale (26 points) and Hopson (22 points and 3 assists), while Lual-Acuil (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) and Goulding (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) also contributed. Moore (17 points) and Creek (15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led the Phoenix.

South East Melbourne responded in game two, defeating Melbourne 90-79 behind Sykes (26 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Creek (26 points and 4 rebounds) and Wetzell (20 points and 8 rebounds). Hopson (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Goulding (14 points and 3 rebounds), Lual-Acuil (11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) and Peatling (11 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Melbourne as the Phoenix forced a deciding game three.

Melbourne fell behind 32-15 early in the second quarter of game three before its defence locked in, holding South East Melbourne to 42 points the rest of the night while scoring 69 themselves. Landale (27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) equalled his season-high while shooting 11-13 from the floor and 3/3 from beyond the arc, while Goulding (14 points and 2 steals), McCarron (11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Hopson (9 points and 6 rebounds) helped Melbourne win 84-74 and advance to the Grand Final. Te Rangi (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals), Creek (19 points and 9 rebounds) and Sykes (15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Phoenix.

Western Australia’s border restrictions meant Perth, despite being the lower seed, hosted the first two games of the Grand Final series at RAC Arena, with the Wildcats without injured league MVP Bryce Cotton. Melbourne took game one 73-70 behind Goulding (23 points and 2 steals), Landale (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), Lual-Acuil (10 points and 7 rebounds) and McCarron (6 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists), while Blanchfield (27 points and 7 rebounds), Kevin White (10 points and 5 rebounds) and Mooney (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals) led Perth.

Game two remained at RAC Arena, where Goulding (21 points), Baba (15 points and 4 rebounds), Landale (12 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil (10 points) helped Melbourne defeat Perth 83-74 and take a 2-0 series lead. Mooney (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists), Blanchfield (13 points and 8 rebounds), Norton (12 points) and Kevin White (12 points) led Perth.

Melbourne returned home for game three in front of a sold-out crowd capped at 5,000 under COVID restrictions at John Cain Arena. Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), Goulding (14 points and 4 rebounds), Hopson (12 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Peatling (12 points) and Baba (11 points) helped United hold off Perth 81-76 to complete the 3-0 sweep, while Kevin White (14 points), Mooney (14 points and 13 rebounds) and Blanchfield (11 points and 11 rebounds) led the Wildcats as Melbourne claimed the franchise’s sixth championship and its second under the United branding. Landale was named Finals MVP.

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2021/22
After watching Melbourne complete its 2021 championship run from the sidelines following the ruptured Achilles he suffered against Cairns, Jack White returned to a United roster that had lost leading scorer Jock Landale (to San Antonio), starting point guard Mitch McCarron (to Adelaide) and import Scotty Hopson. Melbourne re-signed Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, David Barlow and Shea Ili, while adding Brad Newley (via Sydney), Dion Prewster (via Wellington), Matthew Dellavedova (via Cleveland), Caleb Agada (via Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Callum Dalton (via Brisbane) and Next Star Ariel Hukporti (via Nevezis).

White missed Melbourne’s opening three games while completing his Achilles rehabilitation before returning against New Zealand at John Cain Arena on December 19. White (6 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) played 18 minutes off the bench, with Goulding (21 points), Agada (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists), Lual-Acuil Jr (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Hukporti (11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) leading United to an 83-60 win, while Finn Delany (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Breakers.

White (9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across 26 games) moved into the starting lineup during January and provided rebounding, athleticism and additional defensive pressure in Melbourne’s frontcourt. After beginning the season 0-2, United won three consecutive games to close December, went 5-1 during a January played entirely away from home and won four of five games in February to sit first with a 12-4 record. Melbourne won 20 of the 26 games White played, with his other absences coming against Tasmania on February 6 due to COVID protocols and in the final regular-season game on April 23 because of back tightness.

White’s best game came at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 30, where he made seven of 14 field goals and finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. Lual-Acuil Jr (23 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Mason Peatling (11 points) also contributed, but Dusty Hannahs (19 points), Todd Withers (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Cameron Bairstow (16 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Adelaide to an 88-83 overtime win, ending Melbourne’s eight-game winning streak.

White’s next-best scoring game came against Illawarra at John Cain Arena on April 2, where White (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), Goulding (16 points) and Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points and 5 rebounds) helped Melbourne lead by six with five minutes remaining. Xavier Rathan-Mayes (25 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals), Antonius Cleveland (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Duop Reath (18 points and 9 rebounds) led the Hawks on a 14-2 finish as Illawarra won 96-90.

Dalton (1.3 points across 6 games) suffered a season-ending ACL tear during training, opening a roster position for Melbourne to bring back Yudai Baba (via Texas Legends) for the remainder of the season.

Lual-Acuil Jr (16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks across 30 games) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, finished third in league MVP voting, earned All-NBL First Team honours and was named United’s club MVP. Goulding (15.1 points across 28 games) and Dellavedova (10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists across 30 games) were selected to the All-NBL Second Team, while Agada (12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 29 games), Ili (8.7 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals across 31 games) and Hukporti (6.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 30 games) completed Melbourne’s main rotation. Ili won the NBL Best Sixth Man award and received United’s Defensive Player of the Year and SHARE awards as Melbourne finished first with a 20-8 record.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at John Cain Arena with a 74-63 win over Tasmania, taking control of the series behind Agada (16 points and 7 rebounds), Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks) and Dellavedova (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), while White (2 points and 10 rebounds) helped United control the glass. Josh Adams (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Jack McVeigh (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Tasmania.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Goulding (18 points), Agada (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists), Lual-Acuil Jr (13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) and White (8 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Melbourne, but McVeigh (15 points), MiKyle McIntosh (13 points) and Josh Magette (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) helped Tasmania win 79-72 and force a deciding game.

Goulding injured his calf during warm-ups and was ruled out shortly before game three at John Cain Arena, leaving Ili (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Lual-Acuil Jr (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and White (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 block) to lead Melbourne. White missed all five of his three-point attempts, while Dellavedova (5 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists), Agada (8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block), White and Baba (6 points) combined to make one of 21 shots from outside. Adams (30 points), McVeigh (16 points) and Magette (9 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) led Tasmania as United made six of 29 three-pointers and the JackJumpers won 76-73.

2024/25
Melbourne reshaped its frontcourt after falling one victory short of the championship, with Brad Newley (retired), Luke Travers (to Cleveland), Ariel Hukporti (to NBA), Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (to China), Zac Triplett (to Illawarra) and Malith Machar all exiting the club.

Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Ian Clark, Rob Loe, Flynn Cameron, Tanner Krebs and Kyle Bowen returned, while coach Dean Vickerman brought Jack White (via Denver) back on a two-year deal and added Marcus Lee (via Tasmania), Akech Aliir (via Adelaide) and development player Joel Foxwell (via NBL1).

Ili paired with Dellavedova to run the offence and apply defensive pressure to opposition guards, while White returned from two years in the NBA and G League to replace Travers as Melbourne’s leading athletic forward and primary rebounder.

United opened the season at HoopsFest with an 88-79 win over defending champion Tasmania, where Dellavedova (21 points) led the scoring, Ili (14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) set the defensive tone and White (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists) made an immediate impact, while Milton Doyle (23 points) paced the JackJumpers.

White (13.8 points and 9.4 rebounds across 27 games) became Melbourne’s second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, adding size, athleticism and the ability to defend multiple positions to United’s frontcourt.

Ili (11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 26 games) complemented Melbourne’s scorers with his passing and formed one of the league’s strongest defensive backcourts alongside Dellavedova.

Ili produced one of his most complete performances during Melbourne’s early road win over Perth, finishing with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists as Clark (25 points) led the scoring, with many of his baskets coming from Ili’s passes.

One of White’s best games came in Wollongong on 24 October, where White (12 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) became the first non-centre in ten years to collect 19 rebounds in an NBL game as an undermanned Melbourne defeated ladder-leading Illawarra 92-87.

He followed three days later with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists as United crushed Cairns 106-63, completing a round where he collected 32 rebounds across the two victories.

White (17 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 assists) then controlled the glass in Brisbane on 7 November as Melbourne produced 70 points during the second half of a 120-103 victory.

Goulding exploded for 46 points against Perth two days later, with Ili (5 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals) repeatedly creating opportunities for him as Melbourne recovered to win 106-97.

White suffered a calf injury during the Perth game and missed Melbourne’s following meeting with Adelaide before returning against Sydney on 1 December and recording his eighth double-double of the season.

White was also selected for Australia’s FIBA Asia Cup qualifying squad during the November international window for games against Thailand and Korea.

With Goulding unavailable against Brisbane on 8 December, Ili (18 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals) stepped into a larger role during Melbourne’s 122-114 loss.

Ili followed with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists against South East Melbourne, blending his playmaking with on-ball pressure through the middle of the schedule.

White and Ili both starred in Sydney on 9 January, where White (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists) finished Dellavedova’s game-winning alley-oop and Ili (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided another strong two-way performance as Melbourne edged the Kings 90-88.

White produced his best game of the season in Perth on 22 January, scoring a career-high 26 points with 16 rebounds while shooting 9-of-12 from the field as United defeated the Wildcats 99-93.

Ili delivered another major performance against Tasmania on 1 February, finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as Melbourne secured a 94-92 victory before the playoffs.

White missed the final regular-season game with a back injury, with Melbourne defeating South East Melbourne 103-93 to complete four consecutive wins and finish second with a 19-10 record, securing direct entry into the semifinals.

Goulding (18.4 points and 2 rebounds) led United in scoring, with Clark (12.7 points), Dellavedova (10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists), Loe (10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds), Lee (6.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks) and Krebs (5.3 points) joining White and Ili as Melbourne’s main contributors.

Goulding was selected to the All-NBL Second Team and received his fourth Melbourne club MVP award, while Ili won the Damian Martin Trophy as the NBL’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and also received United’s Defensive Player of the Year, SHARE and fan-voted MVP awards.

Melbourne opened its semifinal series against Perth at John Cain Arena with a 105-93 win, as Goulding (41 points) made 10 three-pointers alongside Clark (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists), White (13 points and 10 rebounds), Lee (10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Dellavedova (6 points and 9 assists) and Ili (3 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists), while Keanu Pinder (24 points and 11 rebounds), Bryce Cotton (22 points and 6 assists) and Kristian Doolittle (22 points and 9 rebounds) led Perth.

Game two moved to Perth, where the Wildcats recovered from a 20-point deficit to win 96-89 behind Dylan Windler (27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks), Cotton (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists), while Goulding (15 points), Dellavedova (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists), Clark (13 points), White (13 points and 6 rebounds), Lee (10 points and 6 rebounds) and Ili (8 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Melbourne.

The deciding third game returned to Melbourne and required overtime, with Clark (38 points and 3 assists), Goulding (30 points), White (15 points and 9 rebounds), Dellavedova (10 points and 11 assists) and Ili (5 points and 2 steals) leading United to a 113-112 victory, while Doolittle (37 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists), Cotton (33 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Pinder (15 points and 5 rebounds) led Perth.

The Championship Series opened in Wollongong, where Melbourne recovered from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Illawarra 96-88 behind Dellavedova (18 points and 7 rebounds), Goulding (15 points and 4 assists), Lee (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Clark (13 points and 4 assists), Ili (13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and White (9 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block), while Sam Froling (16 points and 7 rebounds), Will Hickey (14 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals), Todd Blanchfield (13 points) and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (11 points and 2 steals) led the Hawks.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Illawarra tied the series with a 102-100 win after Tyler Harvey (24 points) hit the game-winning three-pointer alongside Froling (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists), Trey Kell III (18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals) and Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points), while Clark (31 points), Goulding (17 points and 4 assists), Dellavedova (14 points and 5 assists) and Krebs (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led United, with Ili collecting 4 rebounds and 2 assists while being held scoreless and White grabbing 6 rebounds without scoring.

Game three returned to Wollongong without Ili, where White (20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) made 8-of-9 shots and led Melbourne alongside Clark (16 points and 7 rebounds), Dellavedova (16 points and 11 assists) and Goulding (14 points and 3 steals), while Hyunjung Lee (12 points), Hickey (12 points), Darius Days (11 points), Kell III (10 points and 8 rebounds) and Swaka Lo Buluk (10 points) led Illawarra before United erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 83-77.

Illawarra kept the series alive in game four with an 80-71 win at John Cain Arena behind Hickey (22 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Lachlan Olbrich (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Days (9 points and 11 rebounds), while Dellavedova (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Goulding (17 points and 5 rebounds), Clark (16 points and 2 steals) and White (6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Melbourne, with Ili again unavailable and Froling leaving after rupturing his Achilles.

The final game returned to Wollongong, where Illawarra defeated Melbourne 114-104 behind Kell III (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists), Hickey (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists), Harvey (16 points and 7 rebounds) and Swaka Lo Buluk (16 points), with Dellavedova awarded the Larry Sengstock Trophy before handing it to Hickey.

Goulding (21 points), Ili (20 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals), White (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Clark (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne.

Jack White played four seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Cairns Taipans and the Melbourne United. He averaged 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 66 NBL games.