BIO: Josh Bannan was born in Melbourne (VIC) Bannan received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2018. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Josh Bannan made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 22 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.

Signed a three-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets in April 2023.

“Josh is the standout college recruit this year and I couldn’t be happier that he will be joining us,” head coach Justin Schueller said upon signing Bannan.

“He is a highly skilled player, with great versatility and a high-level competitor. I have known Josh a long time, he has always been of high character and will be a fan favourite and key piece of this Club for years to come.”

2024/25
Head coach Justin Schueller entered his second season with a renewed roster focused on returning to playoff contention. Brisbane’s offseason began with the surprise jettisoning of face of the franchise Nathan Sobey, who had been with the club for seven seasons. Despite delivering one of the best years of his career in NBL24.

“Really this decision wasn’t about Nathan, but how we can continue to move forward as a club and build a true contender,” Schueller said. “We needed to lean more into our culture and bring in winners who can help us grow. We can’t shy away from Nathan’s production, but we also know there’s other areas we must improve if we want to win a championship.”

Alongside Sobey, Brisbane also farewelled Aron Baynes (retired), Chris Smith (to Japan), Shannon Scott (to Taiwan), and DJ Mitchell (to England). Mitch Norton was elevated to captain in Sobey’s absence, and the club re-signed Isaac White, Norton, Tyrell Harrison, and import forward Casey Prather. Young forward Josh Bannan also returned for his second NBL season. To refresh the squad, Brisbane added high-scoring import duo James Batemon and dynamic wing Keandre Cook. Former NBA player Deng Adel was given another NBL opportunity, and Tohi Smith-Milner arrived via Adelaide to bolster the frontcourt. Development players Kye Savage, Tristan Devers, and Josh Kunen rounded out the roster.

Brisbane began the season with consecutive road losses before finding rhythm in Round 4 with a narrow win over South East Melbourne. Harrison dominated that night with 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Bannan contributed in multiple roles across the opening month. The versatile Bannan brought balance to Brisbane’s frontcourt alongside the physical presence of Harrison. He posted 11 rebounds against Sydney in Round 3 and 9 boards with 21 points in the Round 5 win over New Zealand.

As the season progressed, Bannan’s two-way impact grew. He added rebounding stability and could space the floor when needed. In Round 9, he grabbed another 9 rebounds against Perth, and his playmaking off short rolls and pick-and-pops gave Brisbane flexibility. His strong stretch through December was highlighted by 12 rebounds and 19 points in a tight Round 20 loss to Cairns. The Bullets hit their best form late in 2024, reaching 9–8 after back-to-back wins over Cairns and Adelaide. But a New Year’s Eve loss to Illawarra and injuries to key personnel, including Bannan himself, reversed their momentum.

Mid-December marked a turning point. Point guard James Batemon suffered a torn hamstring, and the following month saw Brisbane’s depth crumble. Bannan suffered a concussion in January, sidelining him for multiple games after already missing time earlier in the season with an ankle concern. Jarred Bairstow (ankle), Sam McDaniel (shoulder), and Tyrell Harrison (concussion) also missed chunks of January. Deng Adel managed only 10 appearances due to groin and hand issues. The injury toll peaked on a slippery Gippsland floor where three Bullets went down in one night, prompting Schueller to remark, “I don’t know if we can field a side right now.”

With the roster threadbare, Brisbane brought in Emmett Naar and former JackJumpers guard Josh Adams mid-season. Adams added scoring spark, including a 23-point, 7-rebound game against Melbourne, while Bannan returned late in the month, recoring a season high 12 rebounds against Cairns. Despite fighting through adversity, Brisbane never climbed higher than seventh after January 1 and eventually missed the finals, finishing 12–17 and eighth on the ladder.

Bannan was a key part of the team’s rotation when healthy, averaging 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 19 appearances. His rebounding and interior finishing were consistent throughout the campaign, and his improved physicality around the basket stood out in his second professional season. His performances earned him the NBL’s Youth Player of the Year award.

Casey Prather (21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals) finished third in league scoring, earned Club MVP honours, and was named to the All-NBL First Team. Keandre Cook (16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals) led the league in steals while knocking down 2.5 three-pointers per game. James Batemon (15.5 points, 2.8 assists) was a standout prior to injury, including a 51-point performance against Perth. Tyrell Harrison (14.3 points, 9.7 rebounds) led the NBL in boards and won the Most Improved Player award. Bannan joined them as Brisbane’s third award recipient with his Youth Player of the Year win.

Captain Mitch Norton (7.4 points and 2.9 assists) was Brisbane’s ironman, appearing in all 29 games and collecting Defensive Player and Players’ Player honours. Isaac White added 6.6 points off the bench, while Tohi Smith-Milner (5.1 points), Rocco Zikarsky (4.6 points), and Deng Adel (4.7 points) all made contributions when called upon.

Among Bannan’s top outings were his 23-point, 11-rebound double-double in a Round 22 loss to South East Melbourne, a 21-point effort against New Zealand in Round 5, and a 19-point, 12-rebound showing in Brisbane’s high-scoring battle with Cairns on January 17. His blend of size, touch, and IQ made him a key piece of the Bullets’ frontcourt core and a player with significant upside heading into NBL26.

Josh Bannan currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets and has played 38 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists since entering the league in 2023.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Brisbane Bullets – Signed with TAS

Dan Boyce (837 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.