BIO: Will Magnay was born in Brisbane (QLD) where he attended school at Nudgee. He began playing basketball as a junior with the Brisbane basketball program and in 2015 Magnay received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra). He spent three years year there and played for the program’s SEABL team between 2015-17.

After his third year in Canberra he accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Tulsa in (2017).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Will Magnay made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 19 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

Will Magnay began his professional basketball career by signing a three-year deal with his hometown team, the Brisbane Bullets, in October 2017 after leaving Tulsa University. Joining the team as a development player, Magnay appeared in 16 games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds. The Bullets finished the season in eighth place with a 9-19 record. His contributions earned him a promotion to the main roster for the following season.

Brisbane entered the 2018/19 season looking to rebound from their last-place finish the previous year. The team underwent significant roster changes, parting ways with Adam Gibson (to South East Melbourne), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney), and Anthony Petrie (retired). In their place, the Bullets signed Boomers sharpshooter Cameron Gliddon, Jason Cadee, Matt Hodgson, Tom Jervis, and Mika Vukona. Cam Bairstow returned after a knee reconstruction, while Makoto Hiejima joined under the NBL’s Asian Player rule as the first Japanese player in the league, and NBA veteran Alonzo Gee was added as an import.

The season started with a tough schedule, with 12 of Brisbane’s first 15 games against top-four teams from the previous season. Four games in, Alonzo Gee (7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) requested to return to the US for personal reasons and was released. Import Stephen Holt (7.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) also departed after expressing concerns over limited playing time. To fill these gaps, Brisbane signed Lamar Patterson (via China) and Jeremy Kendle (6.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists).

In January, Brisbane faced a low point with a 29-point loss to Cairns (95-66), leaving them at 9-9. The team made further adjustments, bringing in Nnanna Egwu as an injury replacement for three games and replacing Hiejima with AJ Davis (4.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists). Despite these midseason changes, Brisbane managed to secure the fourth playoff spot with a 14-14 record, edging out Adelaide due to a higher points percentage.

Will Magnay (1.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.2 assists) contributed primarily off the bench. While his role was limited, he showed flashes of potential in games such as his 4-point, 2-rebound, and 1-assist performance against Adelaide (15 Dec 2018) and his 2-point, 2-rebound, and 1-block effort against Illawarra (31 Dec 2018).

Brisbane was powered offensively by Lamar Patterson (17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals), Cameron Gliddon (13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), and Cam Bairstow (11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists). Reuben Te Rangi won both the NBL’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards, averaging 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

In the playoffs, Brisbane faced the Perth Wildcats in the semifinals. Game 1 saw Terrico White (24 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Bryce Cotton (19 points, 2 rebounds, and 10 assists) lead Perth to a dominant 89-59 win. Cameron Gliddon (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) was Brisbane’s top performer. In Game 2, despite strong efforts from Patterson (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Hodgson (15 points, 2 blocks), the Bullets fell short (84-79), ending their playoff run as Perth advanced to the Grand Final. Magnay saw limited minutes during the series but gained valuable postseason experience.

2019/20
The 2019/20 season marked a breakout year for Will Magnay as he was elevated into the Brisbane Bullets’ starting lineup. Magnay played a crucial role in the team’s significant improvement from the previous season, averaging 8.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. His contributions helped Brisbane finish in fifth place with a 15-13 record, just shy of a playoff berth.

Throughout the season, Magnay garnered the attention of multiple NBA scouts who were in Australia to evaluate high-profile prospects like LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton. His performances placed him firmly on their radar. Magnay’s standout season was recognized at the league level, with him winning the NBL’s Most Improved Player award. This accolade capped a stellar year that ultimately led to him securing a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Although Magnay had re-signed with the Bullets on a two-year deal in February 2020, his release was granted to pursue his NBA dream with New Orleans.

PERTH WILDCATS
2020/21
After sustaining a leg injury during his NBA stint, Magnay returned to the NBL and joined the Perth Wildcats midway through the 2020/21 season. The move was delayed due to contractual complications with the Brisbane Bullets, who reportedly demanded a significant financial settlement for Magnay to exit his deal.

The Wildcats, led by league MVP Bryce Cotton and new recruit John Mooney (16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists), were poised for a dominant season. Magnay, despite playing through lingering injuries, averaged 4.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his role with the team. Perth finished the regular season in second place with an impressive 25-11 record, setting the stage for a deep playoff run.

In the semifinals, Perth overcame a resilient Illawarra Hawks team to advance to the Grand Final. However, their championship hopes were derailed when Bryce Cotton suffered a season-ending injury during the last round of the regular season. Compounding their challenges, injuries to Mitch Norton left the Wildcats without their primary backcourt rotation at full strength.

The Grand Final series against Melbourne United saw Perth battling against a red-hot opponent. Despite home-court advantage for games one and two due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Melbourne survived a late scare to win game one by three points and delivered a dominant performance in game two, fueled by Chris Goulding’s 21 points.

By game three, with restrictions lifted and the series shifting to John Cain Arena in Melbourne, the Wildcats faced an uphill battle. In front of a sold-out crowd of 5,000 fans, United defeated Perth 81-76 to clinch the championship. Jock Landale was a force in the deciding game, contributing 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, earning Finals MVP honors and leading Melbourne to their sixth NBL championship.

Despite falling short, Magnay gained valuable postseason experience in his first season with Perth, contributing to a Wildcats team that battled adversity and showcased its resilience on the league’s biggest stage.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2021/22
During the 2021 off-season, Will Magnay became one of the most sought-after players in the NBL, with almost every team pursuing his signature. After coming close to deals with both Perth and Melbourne, Magnay signed a one-year contract with the Tasmania JackJumpers, becoming the team’s first marquee player.

The JackJumpers entered their inaugural NBL season with low expectations, with betting agencies offering 400:1 odds on them winning the championship. However, in their debut on 3 December 2021, Tasmania defeated Brisbane (83–74) in an overtime thriller, setting a positive tone for their journey.

Despite this initial success, the JackJumpers struggled to establish consistency, managing just one more win by round eight and sitting in ninth place with a 2-6 record. Magnay’s season came to an early end due to a significant injury, forcing head coach Scott Roth to adjust the team’s strategy. Roth shifted the JackJumpers’ gameplay from a perimeter-focused approach to a more balanced system. The changes paid dividends, as Tasmania won 10 of their last 12 games to finish the regular season in fifth place with a 17-11 record.

Thanks to a last-round victory by the South East Melbourne Phoenix over Perth, Tasmania edged out the Wildcats for fourth place via points percentage, securing their spot in the playoffs. Despite playing just 11 games, Magnay contributed averages of 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, underscoring his importance when healthy.

In the semifinals, Tasmania faced reigning champions Melbourne United and, against all odds, forced a three-game series. After losing game one in Melbourne (74-63), Tasmania evened the series at home with a spirited performance. In the deciding game three, United captain Chris Goulding was ruled out due to injury, providing a key opportunity for the JackJumpers. Tasmania capitalized, edging out Melbourne in a nail-biter (76-73) to reach the Grand Final series.

The JackJumpers faced the Sydney Kings, who had swept the Illawarra Hawks in the other semifinal. Sydney’s dominant form continued in game one of the Grand Final, where they defeated Tasmania 95-78. Game two, held in Tasmania, featured a remarkable 36-point effort from fan favorite Josh Adams, but Sydney’s depth and experience shone through. With Xavier Cooks, Jarrell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic contributing heavily, the Kings secured a 90-86 victory, their 12th consecutive road win of the season—a new NBL record.

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The Kings closed out the series in game three in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena, ending their 17-year championship drought with an 81-76 win. Xavier Cooks and Jarrell Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds, delivering Sydney their 19th victory in 21 games.

2022/23
Following Tasmania’s impressive inaugural campaign, Will Magnay committed to a two-year deal with the JackJumpers immediately after their Grand Final loss. The team retained much of its core roster with the only major departures being import duo Josh Adams and MiKyle McIntosh. Head coach Scott Roth replaced them with Milton Doyle and Rashard Kelly, who both made significant contributions throughout the season.

Magnay began the season recovering from a foot injury, while captain Clint Steindl was sidelined due to a knee injury sustained at the FIBA Asia Cup. Tasmania had a shaky start, losing their opening three games to South East Melbourne (79-84), Cairns (84-106), and New Zealand (65-71). However, they bounced back with an overtime win over Brisbane (90-86), thanks to Doyle’s 32 points and 4 assists.

This victory sparked a four-game winning streak that lifted Tasmania back into playoff contention, a position they maintained for the rest of the season. Doyle emerged as the team’s leading scorer, averaging 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals. Jack McVeigh also stepped up, averaging 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, establishing himself as the JackJumpers’ top local player.

Tasmania finished the regular season in fourth place with a 16-12 record, earning a spot in the NBL’s inaugural play-in tournament. Point guard Josh Magette, a key contributor with 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, suffered a season-ending facial injury in the final regular-season game, leaving a significant gap in the lineup.

Despite Magette’s absence, the JackJumpers defeated Cairns (79-87) in the play-in qualifier to advance to the semifinals against second-seeded New Zealand. Game one saw Tasmania struggle offensively, scoring just 68 points, their third-lowest total of the season. Doyle and Kelly were the only players to reach double figures. In game two, Doyle’s 23 points and 5 assists propelled Tasmania to a home win (89-78), but New Zealand proved too strong in the deciding game three, winning 77-92 to end Tasmania’s season.

Will Magnay, despite battling injuries, made impactful contributions throughout the season, averaging 5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. His defensive prowess earned him the club’s Defensive Player Award, highlighting his value to the team on that end of the court.

Will Magnay currently plays for the Tasmania JackJumpers and has played 131 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 7.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists since entering the league in 2017.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Tasmania JackJumpers – 2 Year Deal (2024-26)

Dan Boyce (816 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.