NICKNAME/S: Jase

BIO: Cadee was born and raised in the Sydney suburb of Greenacre. He attended Westfields Sports High School in the nearby suburb of Fairfield West, where he earned Hall of Fame status for basketball.

He grew up playing for the Bankstown Bruins junior program. Cadee received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2009. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2009, 2010).

FAMILY: Jason Cadee is the son of Robbie Cadee who played 100 games in the NBL.

Jason’s mother Debbie (formerly Debbie Lee) represented the Opals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jason Cadee made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Blaze at 19 years of age. He scored 11 points in his first game.

Cadee averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists as rookie while the Blaze finished with a record of 13-15 and in sixth place during the regular season.

2011/12
In 2011/12, Cadee numbers improved to 5.2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game as the Blaze finished with a record of 17-11 and in third place during the regular season.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2012/13
The Adelaide 36ers approached the 2012/13 season with a renewed focus on building around a foundation of local Australian talent. Capitalising on the Gold Coast Blaze’s exit from the league, the club acquired Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee on multi-year deals, while also bringing back Luke Schenscher for a second stint in Adelaide. Key returning players included Daniel Johnson, Mitch Creek, Stephen Weigh, and Nathan Crosswell, forming a balanced group of young prospects and seasoned contributors. In a deliberate shift away from dependence on imports, Adelaide signed only one—local state league scorer CJ Massingale. Departing the team were Adam Ballinger (to Melbourne), Everard Bartlett (to Perth), and former imports Chris Warren and Diamon Simpson, while Darren Ng, Nathan Herbert, and Wade Helliwell retired.

Adelaide began the season with early promise, defeating Melbourne 84–61 in the season opener. By Round 7, the team had improved to 4–3, including a hard-earned 69–65 win in Perth, and sat third on the ladder. However, momentum evaporated as the 36ers dropped 17 of their remaining 21 games, including an eight-game losing streak, finishing in last place for a second straight season with an 8–20 record.

The season was disrupted by the loss of Mitch Creek (5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds), who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in December against Townsville. Creek’s injury limited Adelaide’s athleticism on the wing and placed greater responsibility on the backcourt, including Cadee, to initiate offence.

Import CJ Massingale (4.1 points) was released midway through the campaign after failing to adapt to NBL standards. His replacement, American guard Scott Christopherson (2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds), joined from Belarus but encountered delays due to visa and FIBA clearance issues. Once eligible, Christopherson struggled to earn playing time and was heavily criticised, with basketball writer Boti Nagy later calling him the worst import in club history.

Jason Cadee (7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) had a steady campaign in his first year with the 36ers, operating primarily as a secondary ball-handler alongside Gibson. Cadee’s ability to play both guard positions made him a valuable rotation piece, especially as the team navigated injuries and a changing lineup throughout the year.

The team closed the season with four straight losses and an unchanged 8–20 record from the previous year. Head coach Marty Clarke was not retained, with Adelaide appointing championship-winning coach Joey Wright to lead the team into a new era. Despite the season’s results, Cadee gained valuable experience and was part of a core group expected to benefit from a fresh start under Wright.

While Cadee continued to grow in his role, teammates Daniel Johnson (16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds) and Adam Gibson (11.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds) were recognised with All-NBL Second and Third Team honours respectively. Other key contributors for the season were Petrie (11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds), Weigh (10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds), and Schenscher (9 points and 6.1 rebounds). Adelaide missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but with key young talent in place, hopes were high that Wright could unlock the group’s full potential.

2013/14
In 2013, the 36ers brought in NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright, who transformed the team from back-to-back wooden spooners into Grand Final contenders against the Perth Wildcats. The 36ers retained their core Aussie talent, including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds), who again led the team in scoring and rebounding, as well as Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee.

The 36ers also welcomed the return of Mitchell Creek and Luke Schenscher, both of whom had their previous seasons cut short by injury. Creek returned from a near career-ending Achilles injury, and Schenscher overcame elbow surgery. The club added BJ Anthony (via New Zealand) and 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville) to team up with new import Jarrid Frye in the backcourt.

After Round 7, the 36ers, led by Ervin and Johnson, were sitting in second place on the NBL ladder with a 7-2 record, including a 5-0 run. This stretch featured both of their wins over the Breakers in Auckland, marking their first victories against the triple defending champions since 2009. Adelaide also handed the previously undefeated Perth Wildcats (91-86) their first loss of the season in front of 6,585 fans at Adelaide Arena, the largest crowd since Brett Maher’s last home game in 2009.

By December, Adelaide (9-4) had already surpassed last season’s total of eight wins.

In February, the 36ers released Jarrid Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) due to underwhelming performances and an ankle injury. With second-placed Adelaide targeting a Grand Final berth, local guard Rhys Carter, who had been playing as an import in Sweden, was signed as Frye’s replacement.

The 36ers finished the regular season in second place (18-10), with Jason Cadee averaging 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

In the semifinals, Adelaide faced Melbourne, winning Game 1 convincingly behind Gary Ervin’s 27 points and 7 assists (101-85). In Game 2, Tigers guard Chris Goulding erupted for 37 points, leading Melbourne to a 98-87 win and tying the series (1-1). Adelaide responded in Game 3 with a dominant 102-63 victory, holding Melbourne to just 27 first-half points and winning every quarter by at least 7 points.

In the Grand Final, Adelaide faced top-seeded Perth. In Game 1, Wildcats star James Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth to a 92-85 victory, giving them a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 saw 8,127 36ers fans (the largest home crowd of the season) rally their team to an 89-84 win. Big performances from Gary Ervin (23 points) and Adam Gibson (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) evened the series (1-1).

In Game 3, 13,498 Perth fans watched the Wildcats clinch their sixth NBL title. With James Ennis hindered by foul trouble, Perth relied on veteran duo Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin to step up. Redhage scored 10 of his 16 points in the first quarter to help settle his team, while Martin delivered a superb defensive effort, limiting Gary Ervin to just 4 points while adding 14 points and 6 rebounds himself. Key contributions from Greg Hire (9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jermaine Beal (15 points) helped Perth erase the disappointment of losing the Grand Final in the previous two seasons.

Anthony Petrie (20 points) was relentless for the 36ers, but lacked support from Adam Gibson (8 points) and Daniel Johnson (9 points), both of whom had been instrumental in the first two games of the series.

SYDNEY KINGS
2014/15
During the 2014/15 season, Cadee averaged 8.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists and was a part of the Kings squad which finished in a seventh place with a record of 9-19.

2015/16
Since rejoining the NBL in 2010, the Sydney Kings had yet to finish with a winning record. They came close last season, but a season-ending injury to star Josh Childress derailed their hopes.

Determined to turn things around, Sydney loaded up on talent to support Childress and their emerging young core of Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp, and reigning Rookie of the Year Angus Brandt. The team also added veterans Julian Khazzouh, Steven Markovic, and Rhys Carter, while NBA draftee Marcus Thornton was brought in as the second import.

Childress missed the first four games of the season (1-3) with a foot injury but returned against Adelaide (Oct 23) at home, where he scored 23 points despite suffering a broken right hand during the game. This setback sidelined him for an additional four to six games with a boxer’s fracture.

Childress returned to action in late November but fractured his left hand just two games later, ruling him out for another three weeks. He rejoined the team on December 29 and finished out the remainder of the season. Overall, Childress averaged 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks, but he played in only 13 games.

Starting center Julian Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks) also put up solid numbers before suffering a serious right quadriceps injury in mid-December, which kept him out for a third of the season. Markovic (3.0 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) was limited to just three games due to illness and recovery. At one point, the team was so depleted that assistant coach Ben Knight had to suit up for four games.

In January 2016, Craig Moller and Jordan Vandenberg were brought in to help cover the losses of Khazzouh and backup forward Jeromie Hill (4.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists).

During Childress’ absence, the Kings signed former NBA players Damion James (7.0 points, 7.8 rebounds) for five games and Al Harrington (17.7 points, 6.8 rebounds) for six games. While James struggled, Harrington became a fan favorite, but neither could turn around the team’s fortunes. Coach Damian Cotter was released mid-season.

Joe Connelly, a former Washington Wizards assistant, took over as head coach and helped young players like Jason Cadee (14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), Tom Garlepp (14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists), and Angus Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) continue their development, with Brandt even earning a national team call-up at the end of the year. However, the under-manned Kings couldn’t avoid finishing in last place with a 6-22 record.

This season saw Cadee elevated to the starting lineup, where he posted career-highs in assists and 3-point attempts per game. He connected on 35.6% of his threes, marking his best shooting percentage in four years.

2016/17
After finishing last with a 6-22 record in 2015/16, Sydney appointed Australian basketball icon Andrew Gaze as head coach on a three-year deal and rebuilt the roster. Reigning NBL MVP and Best Defensive Player Kevin Lisch (via Illawarra) turned down a contract extension with the Hawks to accept a more lucrative three-year deal with Sydney which made him the highest-paid player in the NBL, while Brad Newley (via Spain) and Aleks Maric were added on multi-year deals alongside returning locals Tom Garlepp, Jeromie Hill and Julian Khazzouh. Lisch becoming an Australian citizen in March opened all three import positions, with Josh Childress and Al Harrington not re-signed and Michael Bryson (via UC Santa Barbara), Greg Whittington (via Sioux Falls) and Josh Powell (via Luoyang Zhonghe) brought in. Powell arrived immediately before the season, with his signing becoming even more important when a quadriceps injury ruled Khazzouh out for the entire campaign. Lisch was appointed captain, with Maric and the Kings’ returning point guard selected alongside him in the leadership group.

Sydney opened the season against Brisbane at Qudos Bank Arena on October 8, where Cadee (11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) started as the Kings fell 77-73. Lisch (20 points and 3 steals) and Hill (14 points and 3 blocks) led Sydney, while Daniel Kickert (17 points and 4 assists) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Cadee (13 points and 3.2 assists across 28 games) started every one of Sydney’s 28 games and did not miss a game through injury or illness. He entered the season having won the NBL three-point competition during the preseason and provided another scoring and playmaking option alongside Lisch throughout the year.

His first major performance came in Wollongong on October 13, where Cadee (20 points and 5 assists) made four three-pointers as Sydney defeated Illawarra 88-84 and gave Gaze his first win as Kings coach. Lisch (20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) starred against his former team and Newley (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) provided support, while Powell (14 points and 6 rebounds) made all six of his field-goal attempts in his Kings debut and Marvelle Harris (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Illawarra. The victory was followed by a video of Sydney celebrating in the locker room which went viral.

Two days later, Cadee (23 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) took over after Lisch suffered a head injury during the third quarter as Sydney defeated Cairns 92-78 at Qudos Bank Arena for its first home victory. Whittington (21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) and Newley (13 points) provided support, while Cameron Gliddon (13 points and 4 rebounds) led Cairns. With Lisch unable to return, the Kings’ point guard carried the offence during the fourth quarter and made a three-pointer with 1:16 remaining to help seal the win. “When we lost Kev I just took it upon myself to be aggressive and it worked out well.”

Cadee’s best game came against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on December 18, where he made 11-of-18 shots and four three-pointers to finish with a season-high 29 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Whittington (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Lisch (15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) provided support, while Jerome Randle (19 points and 10 assists) led Adelaide to a 103-96 victory. The loss was Sydney’s third in a row and dropped the Kings to 10-9 after they had started the season 5-1 and reached 8-4.

Sydney’s import combination changed repeatedly throughout the season. Bryson (1.8 points across 4 games) struggled to make an impact and was released after four appearances, with 13-year NBA veteran Steve Blake (5.9 points across 9 games) (via Detroit) signed as his replacement for the remainder of the season. Dion Prewster (0.9 points across 17 games), who had entered the season as Khazzouh’s temporary injury replacement after initially accepting a practice-player role, performed well enough through the opening seven games to be signed as the 11th rostered player. Blake was later granted indefinite compassionate leave (to United States) to be with a sick family member and did not return, leaving Sydney with another vacant import position. Garrett Jackson (3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds across 6 games) (via state league), who had spent time training with the Kings, was signed late in December. Tony Tolovae (0 points across 1 game) then suffered a season-ending ankle injury during a practice game against the NSW Under-20 squad, opening another roster position for William McDowell-White (2.1 points across 7 games) (via Fresno State), who joined as a development player after committing to Fresno State but being unable to gain NCAA clearance. Sydney won only five of its final 16 games after reaching 8-4 and lost nine of its final twelve.

Newley (17.6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.2 steals across 23 games) led Sydney in scoring, while Lisch (16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals across 27 games) remained the Kings’ other major backcourt scorer. Whittington (11.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 28 games), Powell (9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds across 27 games), Garlepp (5.6 points across 28 games) and Maric (5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds across 28 games) provided the other major contributions. Newley and Lisch were both selected to the All-NBL Second Team, while Cadee finished runner-up to Nathan Sobey for the NBL’s Most Improved Player award, receiving 19 votes to Sobey’s 49. Newley won the Kings’ MVP and Members’ Player of the Year awards, Lisch was named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year and Maric received the Mike Wrublewski Most Inspirational Player award.

Sydney travelled to Perth Arena for its final game on February 10 needing a victory to secure its first playoff appearance since 2012/13, where Cadee (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) made three three-pointers and scored 11 points during the opening quarter. Newley (19 points) and Whittington (13 points and 8 rebounds) led Sydney, but Whittington was ejected after receiving his second technical foul during the third quarter, while Casey Prather (29 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led Perth to a 101-74 victory, eliminating the Kings and leaving Sydney seventh with a 13-15 record.

#VALUE!