BIO: Lual-Acuil was born in Wau, South Sudan. At the age of three, his life was uprooted by civil war, forcing his family to seek refuge in a camp in Uganda, where they lived for three years before resettling in Australia. Growing up in Perth, he attended Kingsway Christian College and played high school basketball alongside his friend and future NBL player, Majok Majok.

Lual-Acuil Jr’s journey in professional basketball is one of the most remarkable development stories in recent NBL history. Joining Melbourne United in 2020 as a backup, he steadily improved under the mentorship of Jock Landale, flourishing into the league’s best sixth man during United’s championship-winning 2021 campaign. From there, he solidified his status as one of the league’s premier centres, eventually earning the opportunity to take his talents overseas and secure a lucrative contract in Asia. Lual Acuil received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2012. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2012).

FAMILY: Lual-Acuil’s father, Joseph, was South Sudan’s first Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jo Lual Acuil made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 25 years of age. He scored eight points in his first game.

On 20 August 2019, Jo Lual-Acuil signed with Melbourne United as part of a roster overhaul under head coach Dean Vickerman. United chose not to re-sign imports Casper Ware and Josh Boone, released Daniel Trist, and lost forward Craig Moller, who joined Sydney as a free agent. Lual-Acuil was signed alongside Shea Ili, who had previously played under Vickerman at the Breakers, and Jack Purchase, who joined the team as a development player.

To strengthen their roster further, United added import duo Melo Trimble (via Cairns) and Shawn Long (via New Zealand), who had previously played together for the USA National Team. The team retained several key players, including David Barlow, Alex Pledger, Tohi Smith-Milner, and Casey Prather. Prather returned on a two-year deal for his second stint with the club but was sidelined for the first seven games due to injury. Despite his return, Prather struggled to regain form, averaging 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds before being ruled out for the season with a hamstring tear. United signed former NBA player Stanton Kidd as his injury replacement.

United faced early struggles, losing four of their first five games amidst reports of internal discord and pressure mounting on Vickerman. By late November, however, United had turned their fortunes around, climbing to third on the ladder (7–4) following six consecutive wins. The team led the league in scoring (99.7 points per game), with standout performances from Trimble (19.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals), Long (18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks), and captain Chris Goulding (17.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists).

Jo Lual-Acuil provided depth off the bench, averaging 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists during the regular season. Melbourne finished fourth with a 15–13 record, setting up a semifinal clash against the top-seeded Sydney Kings.

In Game 1 of the semifinals, despite strong efforts from Long (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block) and Trimble (34 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) off the bench, United fell to the Kings (80–86) in Sydney. Xavier Cooks (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Jae’Sean Tate (19 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney to victory.

Back in Melbourne for Game 2, United leveled the series with a commanding 125–80 win, thanks to dominant performances from Long (26 points and 11 rebounds), Trimble (21 points and 2 steals), and Kidd (18 points and 4 rebounds). United’s 32–7 second-quarter run secured the win, while Tate (18 points and 6 rebounds) led Sydney’s scoring.

The series decider at Qudos Bank Arena came down to the wire. Goulding (19 points and 3 assists) led Melbourne, but Tate (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and the Kings edged out a two-point win to advance to the Grand Final, ending United’s season.

2020/21
After multiple injury-plagued seasons with Casey Prather, Melbourne United and Prather mutually agreed to terminate the second year of his contract. United retooled their roster, adding Jack White (via Duke University) and Japanese star Yudai Baba on a one-year NBL Special Restricted Player contract. The team also re-signed captain Chris Goulding (three-year deal), David Barlow (one-year deal), Mason Peatling (three-year deal), and Sam McDaniel (one-year deal).

To strengthen their roster further, United signed Scotty Hopson (via Europe) as their lone import and Australian Boomers forward Jock Landale (one-year deal), who became available after his Lithuanian contract was voided due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. United’s season suffered an early setback when rookie Jack White, who was averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds as a starter, ruptured his Achilles in April. White’s season-ending injury required a 12-month recovery, prompting United to sign David Andersen as an injury replacement.

Lual-Acuil played a crucial role in United’s rotation, delivering his best season yet by averaging 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. His consistent performances off the bench earned him the NBL’s Best Sixth Man award at the end of the season.

United finished the regular season with a league-best 28–8 record. Their semifinal series against South East Melbourne Phoenix began in Sydney due to Victorian lockdowns. The teams split the first two games before returning to Melbourne for the deciding Game 3. United overcame a 32–15 deficit in the second quarter, with Landale (27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) leading the charge. Goulding (14 points) marked his 350th game, while McCarron (11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists), Hopson (9 points, 6 rebounds), and Lual-Acuil (8 points, 3 rebounds) provided valuable contributions in an 84–74 win. Reuben Te Rangi (22 points) and Mitch Creek (19 points) led the Phoenix.

In the Grand Final series against Perth, United capitalized on Bryce Cotton’s absence due to injury. They won the first two games in Perth and closed out the series in front of a sold-out crowd at John Cain Arena, claiming their sixth championship. Lual-Acuil added depth and defensive presence throughout the series, complementing Finals MVP Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks), who delivered an all-around performance to secure United’s second title under the United branding.

After claiming the 2021 championship, Melbourne United faced a challenging off-season with the departure of leading scorer Jock Landale to the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and starting point guard Mitch McCarron, who became the league’s highest-paid local player by signing a three-year deal with Adelaide. In preparation for NBL22, United moved swiftly to retain Jo Lual-Acuil, David Barlow, and Shea Ili, while welcoming back Jack White, who had missed the second half of the previous season with an ACL injury. To bolster the roster, they added free agents Brad Newley (via Sydney) and Dion Prewster, the reigning NZNBL MVP. The team also signed NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova to a three-year deal, marking the off-season’s biggest free-agent acquisition. Finally, Caleb Agada, fresh off representing Nigeria at the Olympics, replaced import Scotty Hopson, while German prospect Ariel Hukporti joined as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program.

Despite starting the season with back-to-back losses (0-2), United quickly found their stride, winning three consecutive games to close December and losing just once (5-1) in January, playing all their games on the road. In January 2022, Chris Goulding reached a personal milestone, scoring his 5,000th NBL point, becoming only the second active player to achieve this feat after Adelaide’s Daniel Johnson.

United dominated throughout the regular season, winning four of their five games in February to solidify their position atop the NBL ladder with a 12-4 record—a position they held for the remainder of the season. Jo Lual-Acuil (16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks) emerged as the team’s leading scorer and was rewarded with selection to the All-NBL First Team. Chris Goulding (15.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) earned All-NBL Second Team honors, while Shea Ili (8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals) provided crucial contributions off the bench, winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. United completed the regular season in first place with a league-best 20-8 record.

In the semi-finals, United faced the Tasmania JackJumpers, who finished fourth in their inaugural NBL season. United opened the series with a convincing win (74-63), but Tasmania responded with a strong performance at home, leveling the series (1-1). The decisive game three saw a major setback for Melbourne as captain Chris Goulding was ruled out due to injury. Without Goulding’s presence, United struggled offensively, particularly from beyond the arc, as Dellavedova (1-7), Agada (0-7), White (0-5), and Baba (0-2) combined for a dismal 1-21 from three-point range. Overall, Melbourne shot just 6-29 (20%) from deep compared to Tasmania’s 10-32 (31%). Despite their shooting woes, United kept the game close, but the JackJumpers secured a narrow victory (76-73), ending United’s playoff run and advancing to the Grand Final in their debut season.

Lual-Acuil delivered his best performance of the season in a regular-season loss to Tasmania (85-94), recording an impressive 20-20 game with 26 points, 21 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

2023/24
After a challenging 2023/24 season that saw Melbourne United regroup following the departures of Jo Lual-Acuil to China, Jack White, and Matthew Dellavedova to the NBA, the team re-signed Lual-Acuil and Dellavedova for NBL24, adding NBA prospect Luke Travers to a roster reminiscent of the 2022 squad that narrowly missed a Grand Final appearance. With hopes of reclaiming championship form, United signed import Ian Clark (via Adelaide) to bolster bench scoring—a role previously filled by Scotty Hopson—and added promising young talents Tanner Krebs (via Brisbane), Kyle Bowen, and Flynn Cameron to round out the roster.

An early wrist injury to Lual-Acuil prompted the signing of veteran Rob Loe (5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) as an injury replacement for eight games. Ariel Hukporti (7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) stepped into the starting lineup during this period, helping United surge to the top of the ladder (7–1) by the time Lual-Acuil returned.

In his sixteenth NBL season, Chris Goulding (16.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) delivered one of the best campaigns of his career, showcasing his sharpshooting skills fresh off playing with the Boomers at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Goulding led United’s potent offensive attack, complemented by consistent performances from Lual-Acuil (14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks), Dellavedova (12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists), and Ian Clark (13.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists). Luke Travers (11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks) emerged as a versatile contributor, filling the stat sheet across multiple categories.

Melbourne finished the regular season with a 20–8 record, three games ahead of their nearest competitors, and drew sell-out crowds nearly every week. Their biggest win came in December against Brisbane, with a dominant 35-point margin. The game featured standout performances from Goulding, who shot 7-of-9 from beyond the arc, and Lual-Acuil, who delivered his best game of the season with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals on 10-of-14 shooting. Defensively, United held Brisbane to a woeful 3-of-26 from three-point range.

In the semifinals against Illawarra, both teams showcased high-scoring performances, with consecutive games featuring 100+ points. Tied at one win apiece, United narrowly escaped in Game 3 to advance to the Grand Final.

United opened the Grand Final series with a commanding win over Tasmania (104–81), led by Goulding (22 points on 7-of-12 shooting) and Lual-Acuil (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks). The JackJumpers evened the series at home (82–77) with big contributions from Jack McVeigh (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Milton Doyle (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists). Shea Ili (20 points on 8-of-12 shooting) led United in the loss.

In Game 3, Dellavedova (21 points and 8 assists) delivered one of his best performances of the season, but a miraculous shot from McVeigh (18 points and 12 rebounds) helped Tasmania secure a dramatic win, marking United’s first back-to-back losses of the season.

United responded in Game 4, riding the hot hand of Ian Clark (18 points and 4 rebounds) to even the series at two games apiece with a narrow win (88–86).

In the deciding Game 5, Tasmania’s Jordon Crawford delivered a historic performance, scoring 19 points in the first quarter and finishing with 32 points—the equal-third highest tally in a Grand Final game during the 40-minute era. Supported by McVeigh (14 points and 8 rebounds), Doyle (11 points and 10 rebounds), and Will Magnay (11 points and 12 rebounds), Tasmania came from behind to claim their first NBL championship with a gritty 83–81 win. United’s balanced effort saw all five starters score in double figures, led by Lual-Acuil (14 points), Goulding, Dellavedova, and Travers (13 points each), but their efforts fell just short in the title decider.

Jo Lual Acuil played three seasons the Melbourne United. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1 assists in 85 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (827 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.