NICKNAME/S: Ben10

BIO: Ben Ayre was born and raised in Melbourne (VIC), where he attended De La Salle College and began playing junior basketball with the Sandringham Sabres.

Ayre developed as a point guard through Melbourne’s junior basketball competitions, building a reputation for ball-handling, perimeter shooting and playmaking.

His junior basketball development led to opportunities to continue playing in the United States.

In 2015, at 19 years of age, Ayre moved to Washington state to attend Skagit Valley College.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ben Ayre made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 24 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After finishing 14-14 and missing the playoffs on points percentage the previous season, Adelaide reshaped its roster around returning players Daniel Johnson, Anthony Drmic, Ramone Moore, Harry Froling, Jack McVeigh and Brendan Teys, while Jerome Randle (via Sydney), Eric Griffin (via Israel), Kevin White (via Illawarra), Daniel Dillon (via Paris) and Obi Kyei (via Spain) were among the additions.

Ben Ayre (via Nunawading) joined Adelaide for his first official season as a development player after returning from a four-year college career in the United States and winning the inaugural NBL1 championship with the Spectres. Ayre had previously trained with Wright’s program before leaving for college, with Wright saying, “He’s been involved with the program… so it’s great to see him return.”

Ayre made his NBL debut against Melbourne at Melbourne Arena on December 7, where Ayre (0 points and 1 rebound) played two minutes. Griffin (34 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Randle (17 points and 3 assists) led Adelaide, while Long (34 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led Melbourne to a 112-90 win.

Ayre (0 points across 2 games) remained a development player and did not miss games because of a reported injury, with his limited opportunities coming at the end of Adelaide’s rotation. His only other appearance came against Cairns on February 8, where he recorded 1 assist in two minutes.

Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists), Johnson (18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds), Griffin (14 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) and Drmic (10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds) led Adelaide as the 36ers fell out of the playoff race late in the season. Ayre was unable to secure another NBL contract during the extended offseason and subsequently signed in Lithuania.

Ayre did not play in Adelaide’s final game against Perth at RAC Arena on February 15, where Johnson (18 points and 11 rebounds) and McVeigh (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Adelaide and Kay (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth to a 94-79 win as the 36ers finished seventh with a 12-16 record.

Ayre was unable to sign with a NBL team in 2020 and instead signed to play in Lithuania.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2021/22
After finishing ninth with an 8-28 record, Cairns replaced Mike Kelly with former Sydney coach Adam Forde and lost leading scorer Cameron Oliver (to Houston), Fabijan Krslovic (to Tasmania) and Mojave King (to Adelaide). Forde retained captain Scott Machado, Majok Deng, Kouat Noi, Nathan Jawai, Mirko Djeric, Jarrod Kenny and Jordan Ngatai, while adding Tahjere McCall (via Orléans), Stephen Zimmerman (via Nymburk), Keanu Pinder (via Adelaide) and rookie Bul Kuol (via Detroit Mercy).

After appearing in two games as a development player for Adelaide during the 2019/20 season and then playing in Lithuania, Ben Ayre joined Cairns as an unpaid training player. Forde had watched him play for Knox before former Adelaide coach Joey Wright recommended him to the Taipans.

Ayre was initially preparing to replace Machado after the captain suffered a heel injury in December, but collided with Pinder during a rebounding drill and fractured his knee. He said, “I ended up fracturing my knee and was in a brace for the next two months.” The injury and his position outside Cairns’ contracted roster prevented him from appearing during the first 20 games of the season.

With McCall sidelined by a hip injury, Zimmerman managing pain and swelling in his right knee and Djeric unavailable with a quadriceps injury, Ayre (6.6 points and 3.8 assists across 8 games) was elevated to the active roster as an injury replacement on April 1. He made his Cairns debut the following night and finished with 2 rebounds and 1 assist in six minutes as the Taipans defeated South East Melbourne 90-85 at the Cairns Convention Centre. Pinder (21 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Machado (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists) and Deng (16 points) led Cairns, while Creek (21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Munford (20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led the Phoenix.

After Machado suffered a high-grade left ATFL injury against Tasmania on April 8, Ayre made his first NBL start two days later and recorded 7 points, 5 assists, and 1 steal against Melbourne. Pinder (15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) and McCall (13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) also contributed, while Lual-Acuil Jr (23 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Goulding (20 points) led United to a 92-63 win at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Ayre remained in the starting line-up against Perth at RAC Arena on April 16 and finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Pinder (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Deng (16 points and 4 rebounds) and McCall (13 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns, while Cotton (22 points, 10 assists, and 2 steals), Frazier II (19 points) and Law (17 points) guided Perth to a 106-87 win.

Ayre’s best game came at John Cain Arena on April 18, where he made four three-pointers and finished with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals in his sixth appearance. Deng (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block), Pinder (15 points and 9 rebounds) and Kuol (12 points and 6 rebounds) also contributed, while Goulding (27 points and 3 assists), Dellavedova (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Hukporti (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Melbourne to a 92-80 win. Ayre became the third player during NBL22 to record at least 20 points and 10 assists in a game, joining Cotton and Adams, and the second player in Taipans history to reach those totals.

OK, BEN AYRE.
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– 2⃣0⃣ PTS
– 4⃣ 3PT
– 4⃣ REB
– 1⃣0⃣ AST
– 3⃣ STL#NBL22 pic.twitter.com/bkOYmEG4W6— The NBL (@NBL) April 19, 2022

McCall (16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2 steals across 22 games) led Cairns in scoring, assists and steals, while Deng (14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds across 28 games) finished second on the team in scoring. Zimmerman (11.4 points and 9.6 rebounds across 16 games) led the Taipans in rebounding before his right-knee injury ended his season, while Pinder (10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds across 28 games) was named the NBL’s Most Improved Player. Kuol (10.4 points across 28 games) made an Australian rookie-record 64 three-pointers and was named Rookie of the Year, while Machado (10.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 18 games), Noi (8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds across 16 games) and Jawai (5.9 points across 19 games) were the other main contributors.

Ayre played all eight games after being elevated and started the final five following Machado’s injury. His late-season performances earned him his first full NBL contract, with Cairns signing him to a two-year deal that included a club option for the second season.

Cairns ended its season at the Cairns Convention Centre on April 23, where Ayre finished with 9 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals as McCall (42 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block), Deng (30 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Pinder (17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) led the Taipans to a 112-98 win over Brisbane. Franks (30 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Bullets as Cairns completed its first 4-0 Sunshine Stoush sweep and finished ninth with a 9-19 record.

2022/23
After Adam Forde’s first season as head coach ended with Cairns finishing ninth with a 9-19 record, the Taipans retained Tahjere McCall, Majok Deng and Mirko Djeric. Rookie of the Year Bul Kuol and reigning Most Improved Player Keanu Pinder both took up mutual options to return for a second season. Kouat Noi (to Sydney) departed, Nathan Jawai was not re-signed despite wanting to continue playing, and imports Scott Machado and Stephen Zimmerman were replaced.

Forde added Sam Waardenburg (via Miami) on a two-year deal, Lat Mayen (via Nebraska) and Jonah Antonio (via Czech League), while DJ Hogg (via Cholet) and Shannon Scott (via Bamberg) completed Cairns’ import trio alongside the returning McCall, giving the Taipans the youngest roster in the league.

Ben Ayre initially joined Cairns as an unpaid training player during the previous season but after being elevated to the active roster as an injury replacement in April 2022, he impressed Taipans coaches enough to be rewarded him with his first full NBL contract on July 21, signing him to a two-year deal containing a club option for the second season. “We have challenged him, and each time Ben has answered the call,” Forde said.

Cairns raced to a 5-1 start while Ayre (5.8 points across 32 games) initially received limited minutes behind Scott and McCall. He came from the bench in all 32 appearances and was named in the team but remained unused during the October 8 win over South East Melbourne.

Ayre’s best regular-season game came against Melbourne at the Cairns Convention Centre on November 4, where he made three three-pointers and finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in 20:41. Pinder (18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), Kuol (18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) and Hogg (17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) helped Cairns force 20 turnovers and lead by as many as 40 points before defeating United 97-72 for its first home win of the season, while Isaac Humphries (17 points and 8 rebounds) led Melbourne.

Ayre provided an immediate scoring lift in Wollongong on January 2, making two three-pointers and scoring all 15 of his points during the opening quarter as Cairns defeated Illawarra 96-89. Scott (18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Hogg (16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Deng (13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) supported him, while Sam Froling (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Tyler Harvey (21 points) led the Hawks. Ayre also collected 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal before early foul trouble limited his involvement after quarter-time, with the victory giving Cairns its first win in Wollongong in more than six years.

Three days later, Ayre recorded his highest-scoring regular-season game at Nissan Arena, making 9-of-12 shots and finishing with 20 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, and 1 steal as Cairns defeated Brisbane 107-81. Waardenburg (24 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal), Hogg (23 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) and McCall (16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals) helped the Taipans hold Brisbane’s starters to 23 combined points, while Tyler Johnson (32 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals) was the Bullets’ only consistent scorer. The victory was Cairns’ third during a six-game winning streak, with five of those wins coming while Pinder was sidelined by an ankle injury.

Ayre continued to provide scoring from the bench during the closing weeks of the season, including 10 points against South East Melbourne, 11 points against Adelaide and 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in the regular-season finale against Perth at RAC Arena on February 3. Kuol (15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal), Deng (14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) and Hogg (14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led Cairns to an 84-71 win, while Bryce Cotton (28 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists) and TaShawn Thomas (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Perth. The result briefly moved the Taipans into second place, but New Zealand’s final-round victories left both teams with an 18-10 record and the Breakers claimed second on percentage, leaving Cairns third and requiring it to enter the inaugural play-in tournament.

Hogg (18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks across 33 games) led Cairns in scoring, won the club MVP and Members’ Choice awards and earned All-NBL Second Team honours. Pinder (16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 19 games) joined him on the Second Team and became the first player to win consecutive Most Improved Player awards. McCall (16.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2 steals across 25 games), Waardenburg (11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds across 30 games), Kuol (10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds across 33 games), Scott (10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 31 games) and Deng (6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 32 games) completed the main rotation. Waardenburg won the inaugural Next Generation Award, Scott received the Players’ Player award, Ayre won the Coaches Award and Forde was named Coach of the Year.

Following the season, Cairns declined the club option on Ayre’s contract, allowing him to join South East Melbourne on a two-year deal. “My time in Cairns taught me a lot about creating a winning culture, grasping opportunities, and showing up for your teammates every night,” Ayre said.

Cairns opened the postseason against Tasmania in the Seeding Qualifier at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 9, where Ayre (0 points and 1 steal) played 10:56. McCall (24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Scott (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Hogg (13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) led the Taipans, while Milton Doyle (25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Isaac White (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Jack McVeigh (13 points and 9 rebounds) powered Tasmania to an 87-79 win. McCall partially dislocated his shoulder during the loss and joined the injured Pinder on the sidelines.

The sudden-death Play-In Game remained at the Cairns Convention Centre, where Ayre (3 points and 1 rebound), Hogg (32 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Kuol (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Waardenburg (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block) led the undermanned Taipans to a 91-78 win over Perth. Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists), Thomas (14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Corey Webster (14 points and 4 rebounds) led the Wildcats, but Hogg set a Taipans postseason scoring record and moved Cairns into the semifinals.

Game one of the semifinals moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Ayre (0 points, 2 assists, and 1 block), Hogg (24 points), Antonio (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) and Scott (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) helped Cairns build a nine-point halftime lead. Sydney responded by outscoring the Taipans 27-10 during the third quarter, with Xavier Cooks (27 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), Derrick Walton Jr. (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Tim Soares (14 points and 4 rebounds) leading the Kings to a 95-87 win. Scott also suffered a hamstring injury late in the game and was ruled out for the remainder of the series.

Game two moved to the Cairns Convention Centre, where Ayre (12 points and 2 rebounds), Hogg (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), McCall (20 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) and Waardenburg (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Cairns to a 93-82 win. Walton Jr. (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Justin Simon (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Noi (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led Sydney during a game that also saw Kings coach Chase Buford ejected, Cooks suffer an ankle injury, Waardenburg and Noi leave the court after hits to the head and Soares charged with striking.

Game three returned to Qudos Bank Arena, where Ayre matched his NBL career-high and led Cairns with 20 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, and 1 steal, making four three-pointers while playing 30:33. Waardenburg (17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), McCall (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Hogg (9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) provided support, while Dejan Vasiljevic (15 points and 5 rebounds), Cooks (11 points and 11 rebounds), Noi (11 points and 11 rebounds) and Walton Jr. (10 points and 9 assists) led Sydney to a 79-64 win.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2023/24
After a 15-13 season ended with a Play-In Qualifier loss to Perth, South East Melbourne replaced Simon Mitchell with Mike Kelly as head coach and reshaped its roster. Kyle Adnam (to Sibiu), Trey Kell III (to Adelaide), Ryan Broekhoff (retired) and Dane Pineau departed, while Mitch Creek, Alan Williams, Gary Browne, Reuben Te Rangi and Owen Foxwell returned. Kelly added Gorjok Gak (via Brisbane), Matt Kenyon (via Tasmania), Rhys Vague (via Japan), Craig Moller (via Germany) and import Will Cummings (via China). Williams suffered a knee injury during the preseason, leading to Tyler Cook joining as an injury replacement and winning the Ray Borner Trophy as NBL Blitz MVP.

Melbourne-born Ayre returned to his home state in 2023, signing a two-year deal with the Phoenix after Cairns declined the option on his contract following his breakout NBL23 season. South East Melbourne beat reported interest from Melbourne and Brisbane for his signature, with Mike Kelly’s plans for the club helping convince him to join the Phoenix. Ayre entered NBL24 after averaging 24.3 points across 18 appearances for Sandringham and earning NBL1 South All-Star Five honours.

“I made the decision to sign with South East because of the vision Mike (Kelly) has for this ball club and the opportunity I have to grow with this group,” said Ayre on signing with the Phoenix.

“Representing my hometown is something special and I look forward to giving my all every night for this crowd.”

South East Melbourne opened the season against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on September 28, where Ayre (17 points and 2 rebounds) started and led the Phoenix in scoring, but United won 82-67. Cummings (14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Cook (12 points and 7 rebounds) provided support, while Travers (20 points and 8 rebounds) led Melbourne.

Ayre (10.7 points across 27 games) enjoyed a breakout first season with the Phoenix, almost doubling the 5.8 points he averaged with Cairns the previous year. He made 13 starts, increased his playing time to 23.8 minutes per game and shot 39.6 percent from three-point range. A minor ankle injury kept him out of the October 19 game against Adelaide, his only missed game of the season.

Ayre (13 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals) delivered one of his strongest all-round games at Qudos Bank Arena on December 10 as South East Melbourne defeated Sydney 104-94, with Creek (33 points) and Williams (21 points and 15 rebounds) leading the Phoenix while Adams (19 points) was Sydney’s top scorer.

With the Phoenix missing Williams, Browne, Kenyon and Moller through injury and Nader dressing but not entering the game, Ayre (23 points and 3 rebounds) made five three-pointers and set a new NBL career-high in scoring against Sydney at the State Basketball Centre on January 25. Creek (31 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Stattmann (16 points and 6 rebounds) helped South East Melbourne claim an unlikely 104-98 victory and snap a five-game losing streak, while Adams (24 points and 9 assists) led the Kings.

Ayre’s best game came two nights later against Perth, where Ayre (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) matched his career-high in scoring while producing his best passing performance of the season. Creek (29 points and 6 rebounds) and Foxwell (10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, but Pinder (23 points and 11 rebounds) led the Wildcats to a 103-91 win at the State Basketball Centre. Ayre and Foxwell also combined to pressure Bryce Cotton defensively as South East Melbourne attempted to recover from a 17-point first-quarter deficit.

Injuries and roster turnover continued to hurt South East Melbourne. Cook (13.3 points and 7 rebounds across 3 games) departed when Williams returned, while Cummings (14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 12 games) was released during December and Abdel Nader (14.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 8 games) joined as his replacement. Moller (6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds across 12 games) suffered a season-ending patellar tendon rupture, while Gak (5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds across 17 games) also missed time with a calf injury.

Creek (20.8 points and 6.7 rebounds across 23 games) remained the Phoenix’s leading scorer, earned All-NBL Second Team honours and won his fifth consecutive club MVP award. Williams (16.7 points and 10.9 rebounds across 15 games) led the league in rebounding despite his injury-interrupted season, while Browne (13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 20 games) remained a key part of the backcourt. Kenyon (5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds across 25 games) and Te Rangi (5.8 points across 26 games) were the other regular contributors as South East Melbourne’s promising start gave way to five wins across its final 20 games.

South East Melbourne closed the season against Sydney at John Cain Arena on February 17, where Ayre (4 points and 3 assists) played 24 minutes as the Phoenix suffered a 122-67 defeat. Foxwell (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Creek (13 points and 3 rebounds) led South East Melbourne, while Hogg (25 points and 7 rebounds) was Sydney’s top scorer as the Phoenix finished last with a 10-18 record.

2024/25
After finishing at the bottom of the ladder the previous season, South East Melbourne rebuilt its roster following the departures of franchise leader Mitch Creek (to Turkey), Reuben Te Rangi and Gorjok Gak (both to Tasmania), Kody Stattmann (to Cairns), Rhys Vague (to Japan), and Alan Williams (released). Mike Kelly remained head coach, with Nathan Sobey (via Brisbane), Jordan Hunter and Angus Glover (both via Sydney), Tom Vodanovich (via Tasmania), Luke Fennell (via Centre of Excellence), Next Star Malique Lewis, and imports Derrick Walton Jr., Matt Hurt, and Joe Wieskamp joining the Phoenix.

The Melbourne-born Ayre returned for the second season of the two-year contract he signed in 2023 after joining South East Melbourne from Cairns. He remained on the bench as the Phoenix opened the season with a 106-98 loss to Perth, where Hunter (19 points and 7 rebounds) and Hurt (16 points and 12 rebounds) led South East Melbourne, while Pinder (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) starred for the Wildcats.

Kelly was dismissed after the Phoenix lost their opening five games, with assistant Sam Mackinnon taking over on an interim basis before Josh King was appointed head coach. Ayre (4.5 points across 19 games) saw his role diminish significantly after averaging 10.7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists the previous season. His playing time fell from 23.8 minutes to 9.8 minutes per game, while he went from starting 13 times in NBL24 to coming off the bench in every appearance during NBL25.

The Phoenix acknowledged early in the season that there would not always be minutes available for their backup point guards behind the new starting backcourt. During a five-game stretch after South East Melbourne’s starting point guard returned from his first hamstring injury, Ayre appeared twice for only 14 total minutes. His opportunity increased after another hamstring injury opened the rotation, with King praising Ayre for remaining prepared and providing energy at both ends of the floor.

Ayre (13 points and 2 assists) received his first extended opportunity against New Zealand on October 24, making three of four three-pointers in 15:16 as South East Melbourne won 88-62. Hurt (19 points and 7 rebounds) and Glover (13 points) helped the Phoenix improve to 2-0 under Mackinnon, while Jackson-Cartwright (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Breakers.

His best regular-season game came against Perth on January 31, where Ayre (14 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) made six of 10 shots and two of three three-pointers in 16:46. His three-pointer on the final possession reduced the margin to one, but the Wildcats won 100-99 behind Cotton (29 points and 6 assists), while Hurt (19 points and 7 rebounds) and Hunter (13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led South East Melbourne.

South East Melbourne’s turnaround was powered by Hurt (20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds), who earned All-NBL First Team honours, and Sobey (17 points, 4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 steals). Walton Jr. (11.8 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals) missed the closing months of the regular season after re-injuring his hamstring, while Wieskamp (10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds), Hunter (10.6 points and 7 rebounds), Glover (9.7 points), Foxwell (7.9 points), and Lewis (7 points and 4.1 rebounds) completed the main rotation.

King guided the Phoenix to a 16-8 record after taking over, with South East Melbourne finishing fourth at 16-13 and becoming the first team of the 40-minute era to reach the postseason after beginning 0-5. King finished runner-up in Coach of the Year voting. NBL25 proved to be Ayre’s final season with the Phoenix, with his two-year contract ending before he left the club and signed a two-year deal with Tasmania.

South East Melbourne opened the postseason against Perth in the Seeding Qualifier, where Ayre (0 points and 1 assist) left the game after only 49 seconds with a sore shoulder as the Wildcats won 122-105. Glover (25 points and 2 steals), Hurt (24 points and 3 steals), and Sobey (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the Phoenix, while Pinder (35 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), and Doolittle (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists) starred for Perth.

The Phoenix then hosted Adelaide in a sudden-death Play-In Game, where Ayre (17 points) made four of seven three-pointers in 19:49 and provided the spark for South East Melbourne’s recovery from a 19-point halftime deficit. He made three triples during the fourth quarter, including the shot that gave the Phoenix their first lead since the opening minutes, as Hurt (25 points and 9 rebounds) and Foxwell (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) helped South East Melbourne win 85-75. Davis (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Harrell (17 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Adelaide.

Game one of the semifinals moved to Wollongong, where Ayre (2 points, 1 steal, and 1 block) played 8:36 as Illawarra defeated South East Melbourne 101-94. Wieskamp (22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks), Sobey (17 points and 9 rebounds), and Walton Jr. (15 points and 11 assists) led the Phoenix, while Kell III (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Harvey (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) carried the Hawks.

King shortened his rotation for game two at John Cain Arena, with Ayre remaining unused as South East Melbourne tied the series with a 101-94 victory. Hurt (30 points and 2 blocks), Sobey (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals), and Glover (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Phoenix, while Hickey (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Illawarra’s best.

Game three returned to Wollongong, where Kell III (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Blanchfield (28 points and 4 rebounds) powered Illawarra to a 126-96 victory, while Wieskamp (25 points and 5 rebounds) and Sobey (19 points and 6 rebounds) led South East Melbourne. Ayre (8 points and 1 steal) played 14:28 in the loss.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2025/26
Missing the NBL25 play-in on percentage with a 13-16 record led Tasmania to reshape its roster, with Clint Steindl (retired), Reuben Te Rangi (to New Zealand), Fabijan Krslovic (to Melbourne), Walter Brown (to Canterbury), Gorjok Gak (to South East Melbourne), Jordon Crawford (to Istanbul), Milton Doyle (to Melbourne) and Ian Hummer exiting the club. Scott Roth added Nick Marshall (via Adelaide), Josh Bannan (via Brisbane), Ben Ayre (via South East Melbourne), Kobe Williamson (via Seattle), David Johnson (via Memphis), Bryce Hamilton (via Rostock) and Tyger Campbell (via Vechta), while Will Magnay was appointed captain and Anthony Drmic vice-captain, and Sean Macdonald was ruled out for the season with a knee injury before the opening game. Ayre arrived after helping Sandringham win the 2025 NBL1 South championship, signing a two-year contract with a mutual second-year option.

Tasmania opened NBL26 against Melbourne at MyState Bank Arena on September 18, where Ayre (2 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) provided energy from the bench, but United won 88-84 despite Hamilton (24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Johnson (22 points and 10 rebounds) leading the JackJumpers, while Doyle (22 points and 3 assists) was Melbourne’s best.

Ayre (6.3 points across 29 games) provided backup point guard minutes and defensive pressure, with his form earning him a first Australian Boomers call-up and senior international debut in Hobart during the November FIBA window.

Ayre (13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) made three three-pointers against Sydney at MyState Bank Arena on October 15, with Campbell (21 points and 5 assists) and Bannan (18 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists) leading Tasmania to an 86-70 win and a 4-2 record, while Galloway (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was Sydney’s leading scorer.

Ayre (14 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal) made four three-pointers against Brisbane at MyState Bank Arena on November 8, with Marshall (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Bannan (18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) providing support, but Prather (28 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led the Bullets to an 83-81 win and handed Tasmania its fourth consecutive loss.

In his best game of the season, Ayre (19 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) made three three-pointers and all eight free throws against Sydney at MyState Bank Arena on November 23 as Tasmania won 104-81, with Hamilton (22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Bannan (19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) leading a balanced attack, while Davis (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) was Sydney’s best as the JackJumpers snapped a six-game losing streak.

After Johnson suffered a calf injury, Tasmania signed TJ Starks (via Astana) as an injury replacement, and Starks (4.7 points across 7 games) departed to join his team in China during November.

A groin injury suffered in late January ruled Ayre out for the remainder of the season after he had appeared in Tasmania’s first 29 games, leaving him unavailable for the final four regular-season games and the postseason.

Hamilton (18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across 27 games) and Bannan (15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds across 34 games) led Tasmania offensively, with Johnson (12.7 points and 3.8 rebounds across 23 games), Deng (10.8 points and 4.9 rebounds across 29 games), Campbell (10.4 points and 3.8 assists across 34 games), Marshall (10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds across 34 games) and Magnay (10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 24 games) forming the other main contributors. Hamilton earned All-NBL Second Team honours before a ruptured ACL ended his season, while Bannan was named club MVP, Marshall received the Coaches’ and Players’ awards, Magnay won Defensive Player of the Year and Deng was voted Fan Favourite as Tasmania finished sixth with a 14-19 record.

Tasmania travelled to John Cain Arena for the Play-In Qualifier on March 5, where Marshall (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists), Bannan (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Johnson (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the JackJumpers, while Delany (33 points and 6 rebounds), Doyle (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Krebs (11 points) carried Melbourne to an 82-68 win. Ayre missed the loss with the groin injury.

Ben Ayre played six seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Adelaide 36ers, Cairns Taipans, South East Melbourne Phoenix and Tasmania JackJumpers. He averaged 6.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 121 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Ben Ayre – 17 points v Melbourne United, 29 September 2023