BIO: Jonah Antonio was born and raised in Perth (WA). He also attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jonah Antonio made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 25 years of age. He scored 11 points in his first game.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
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 promoted injury replacement player Ben Ayre to the main roster. 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.

On June 14, Jonah Antonio (via Ostrava) signed a three-year deal with Cairns after beginning his professional career with Nova Hut Ostrava in the Czech League. The Perth-born wing had previously played college basketball with Mount St Mary’s, South Plains, UNLV and Wake Forest before helping Ostrava reach the Czech League finals for the first time since 2012. “An elite shooter with arguably one of the quickest releases in the league, Jonah brings size and elite shot making to our team,” Forde said.

A right lateral ankle sprain suffered during game-day shootaround kept the new signing out of Cairns’ 106-84 season-opening win over Tasmania on October 3. He made his NBL debut five days later at the Cairns Convention Centre, finishing with 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in 9:09 as Cairns defeated South East Melbourne 85-76. Pinder (19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Hogg (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals) led the Taipans, while Mitch Creek (27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) was the Phoenix’s best.

Antonio (3 points and 1.4 rebounds across 26 games) remained a reserve wing behind Kuol and Hogg, providing perimeter shooting and rebounding during limited minutes. He was dressed but did not take the court during six games because of Cairns’ rotation, with the ankle injury suffered before the opener accounting for his other non-appearance.

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 in league history 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), Deng (6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 32 games) and Ayre (5.8 points 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.

The regular-season finale at RAC Arena on February 3 saw Antonio (5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) make his first NBL start as Cairns defeated Perth 84-71. Kuol (15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) and Deng (14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led the Taipans, while Bryce Cotton (28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) was Perth’s best. The victory briefly moved Cairns into second place, but New Zealand’s final-round wins left both teams with an 18-10 record and the Breakers claimed second on percentage, leaving the Taipans third and requiring them to enter the inaugural play-in tournament.

Cairns opened the postseason against Tasmania in the Seeding Qualifier at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 9, where Antonio (0 points) played 4:12. 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 Antonio did not take the court as 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 Cairns to a 91-78 win over Perth. Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists), TaShawn 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.

Antonio’s best game of the season came in game one of the semifinals at Qudos Bank Arena, where he came from the bench and made six three-pointers to finish with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block in 17:48. Hogg (24 points) and Scott (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) helped Cairns build a nine-point halftime lead, but Sydney outscored the Taipans 27-10 during the third quarter as Xavier Cooks (27 points and 14 rebounds) and Derrick Walton Jr. (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Kings to a 95-87 win.

You’d never talk down on my name if you knew the work I put in.

— Jonah Antonio (@jonah__antonio) February 15, 2023

Game two moved to the Cairns Convention Centre, where Antonio (0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) started in place of the injured Scott. 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, while Walton Jr. (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Justin Simon (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) led Sydney. Kings coach Chase Buford was ejected, Cooks suffered an ankle injury, Waardenburg and Noi left the court after hits to the head and Tim Soares was charged with striking.

Game three returned to Qudos Bank Arena, where Antonio (0 points, 1 rebound, and 1 block) remained in the starting lineup. Ayre (20 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Waardenburg (17 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Cairns, while Dejan Vasiljevic (15 points and 5 rebounds), Cooks (11 points and 11 rebounds) and Noi (11 points and 11 rebounds) led Sydney to a 79-64 win.

2023/24
After finishing third with an 18-10 record and pushing eventual champions Sydney to a deciding semifinal the previous season, Cairns entered Adam Forde’s third year as head coach without Keanu Pinder (to Perth), DJ Hogg (to Sydney), Shannon Scott and Gabe Hadley (to Brisbane), Majok Deng (to Tasmania), Ben Ayre (to South East Melbourne) and Mirko Djeric (released). Forde retained captain Tahjere McCall, Bul Kuol, Sam Waardenburg and Lat Mayen, while Patrick Miller (via Bamberg), Sam Mennenga (via Davidson), Akoldah Gak (via Illawarra), Taran Armstrong (via California Baptist), Bobi Klintman (via Wake Forest), Josh Roberts (via Manhattan), Lachlan Anderson (via Skopje), Alex Mudronja (via Illawarra) and Kian Dennis (via Southern Districts) joined the roster.

Antonio returned for his second NBL season after joining Cairns from the Czech League in June 2022. Forde had attempted to sign the sharpshooter after college before Antonio began his professional career with NH Ostrava, then recruited him on the second attempt with a long-term view towards his development.

Cairns opened at Spark Arena on September 30, where Antonio (9 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal) made three three-pointers in 14:41 off the bench, but New Zealand won 98-87. Mennenga (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Miller (15 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals) led the Taipans, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (25 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 steals) controlled the game for the Breakers.

Antonio (3.7 points across 17 games) remained a floor-spacing option off the bench and was elevated into the starting lineup twice. His scoring increased from the previous season despite a calf injury eventually causing him to miss almost half of the campaign.

His first start came at John Cain Arena on December 3, where Antonio (7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) made two three-pointers in 16:48 as Cairns upset first-placed Melbourne 115-103. Miller (32 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) and McCall (23 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) led the Taipans, while Chris Goulding (23 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) was United’s leading scorer. Cairns shot a franchise-record 62.5 per cent from the field and recorded the highest score by any visiting team at John Cain Arena.

Antonio’s best scoring game came in Adelaide on December 9, where he made four three-pointers and finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block in 10:31 as Cairns defeated the 36ers 116-101. Miller (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Klintman (22 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) led the Taipans, while Dejan Vasiljevic (30 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) was Adelaide’s best. Antonio made the final basket after McCall collected his franchise-record 15th assist, helping Cairns establish a new league-high score for the season.

Miller (19.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) led Cairns in scoring and assists and received the club’s Most Valuable Player and Players’ Player awards, while McCall (17 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals) was named Defensive Player of the Year. Kuol (12.7 points and 3.1 rebounds), Klintman (9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds), Waardenburg (9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds), Armstrong (7.7 points and 4 rebounds), Mayen (6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds), Mennenga (6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds) and Gak (5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds) were the other main contributors. Klintman received the Members’ Choice MVP, Mayen the Coaches Award and Mudronja the Commitment to Community award.

With Antonio sidelined by the calf injury, Cairns closed the season by defeating first-placed Melbourne 97-88 at the Cairns Convention Centre, completing its first regular-season sweep of United and finishing eighth with a 12-16 record. McCall (23 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) and Miller (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Cairns, while Ian Clark (20 points) was Melbourne’s leading scorer. Antonio’s final appearance had come at MyState Bank Arena on January 6, where Antonio (2 points and 1 steal) played 10:07 in a 103-86 loss to Tasmania.

2024/25
Heading into NBL25, Cairns undertook a full roster refresh following the exit of key players Patrick Miller and Tahjere McCall. The offseason also saw Bul Kuol (to Sydney), Lat Mayen (to Adelaide), Bobi Klintman (NBA Draft), and Josh Roberts depart, leaving several vacancies to fill.

To restock, the Taipans brought in imports Rob Edwards, Pedro Bradshaw, and Tanner Groves, and elevated young playmaker Taran Armstrong to captain and lead guard. Additional reinforcements included Kyle Adnam (Illawarra), Jackson Makoi (Sydney), and Kyrin Galloway (Adelaide), while Sam Waardenburg re-signed to solidify the frontcourt. Development roster spots went to Alex Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann (South East Melbourne). Jonah Antonio returned as a floor-spacing wing option off the bench.

Cairns opened the season competitively, winning three of their first four games, including an early-season away upset of Melbourne United. However, things unraveled quickly. A heartbreaking three-point loss to Perth and a heavy road defeat to Sydney launched a double-digit losing streak through November and December. Despite flashes of individual brilliance from several contributors, the team’s defensive structure and late-game execution faltered consistently.

Jonah Antonio served primarily as a reserve wing, tasked with providing outside shooting and secondary rebounding. In a rotation that was frequently disrupted by injuries, Antonio was one of several role players who stepped up when the team was undermanned. His scoring came in bursts, but his size on the wing and rebounding hustle made him a useful depth piece during stretches where Cairns was forced to dig deep into their bench.

By the end of 2024, Cairns had tumbled to a 3–16 record and found themselves last on the ladder. Injury setbacks played a significant role—Taran Armstrong missed time with an ankle sprain in Round 3 warmups, and import Tanner Groves was also sidelined for several games with a calf strain. Kyrin Galloway was the only player to appear in all 28 games, with the projected starting five missing 25 combined games over the season. Temporary signings Deshon Taylor (3 games) and Tad Dufelmeier Jr (4 games) were brought in to help patch the roster.

The Taipans showed improved form in January, going 4–3 in that month alone. Notable wins came over Brisbane, Illawarra, and a thrilling double-overtime road win against Perth. Rob Edwards erupted for 30+ in multiple games, and Armstrong posted the team’s lone triple-double in a 100–88 win over Brisbane. The team closed the regular season at 8–21, with Adam Forde departing the club shortly after, ending a three-year run as head coach.

Jonah Antonio completed the season averaging 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists across 26 appearances. His standout games included an 11-point, 8-rebound outing against Melbourne United on October 27, a 13-point effort with 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a key win over Adelaide on September 28, and a 9-point, 4-rebound showing against the New Zealand Breakers on November 16. Though not a primary option, Antonio’s contributions added necessary support during a season when depth was frequently tested.

Sam Waardenburg (14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists) was Cairns’ most consistent presence and earned Club MVP, Defensive Player, and Members’ Choice MVP honours. Tanner Groves (13.5 points and 5.7 rebounds) and Pedro Bradshaw (10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds) were both solid, while emerging talent from Kyrin Galloway (7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks), Akoldah Gak (6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds), and Alex Higgins-Titsha (6.2 points, 3.9 rebounds) gave fans optimism for the future.

2025/26
After winning its second NBL championship, Illawarra entered 2025/26 without Trey Kell III (to Toyama), Darius Days (to San-en), Lachlan Olbrich (to Chicago) and Hyunjung Lee (to Nagasaki), while Tyler Harvey, William Hickey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Mason Peatling, Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida and the injured Sam Froling returned. Head coach Justin Tatum added JaVale McGee (via Bayamón), JaQuori McLaughlin (via Jakarta), Jonah Bolden (via Arecibo), Harry Froling (via Melbourne), Biwali Bayles (via Sydney), Johny Narkle (via Geraldton) and Jackson Ball (via Hawke’s Bay).

Illawarra raised its championship banner before opening the season against Tasmania at the WIN Entertainment Centre on September 27, where Antonio (0 points in 0:17) appeared briefly off the bench as the JackJumpers won 91-86. McGee (32 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) and Harvey (19 points and 6 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Hamilton (21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) was Tasmania’s best.

Antonio (0.8 points across 6 games) had signed as a nominated injury replacement player on September 17 after spending three seasons with Cairns. The 28-year-old guard had also represented Australia at the 3×3 World Cup and averaged 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 three-pointers with East Perth during the NBL1 West season.

Antonio’s best scoring game came against Brisbane on October 11, where he made one three-pointer and finished with 3 points in 6:38 as Illawarra collected its first win of the season with a 116-89 victory. Harvey (22 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) and McGee (13 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Hawks, while Prather (28 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) was Brisbane’s best.

After Antonio’s sixth appearance, development player Narkle (2.1 points across 18 games) was elevated to the main roster in his place for the October 25 game against Perth, ending Antonio’s brief role in the active squad.

McGee (19.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 31 games) and Harvey (16.9 points and 3.6 assists across 31 games) led Illawarra’s offence, while Peterson (15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 26 games) and Hickey (12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across 27 games) provided the other major production.

The Hawks missed the postseason and finished eighth with a 13-20 record before closing their title defence with a 103-70 win over Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena.

Jonah Antonio currently plays for the Illawarra Hawks and has played 75 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 3.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists since entering the league in 2022.