Although it’s been rumoured for weeks and up on our Free Agent Tracker, today the Adelaide 36ers announced the signing of former NBA guard Donald Sloan for the 2020-21 NBL season.
Sloan played 218 career NBA games, the majority with the Indiana Pacers in 2013-2015 where he was a key part of the team’s rotation. During the 2014-15 season, he started in 22 games and averaged 7.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 21 minutes for the season.
Sloan’s best NBA game came when he battled Washington Wizards All-Star John Wall in 2014. Wall dropped up 31 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists in the match-up while the 191 cm Sloan scored the Pacers final seven points in regulation, sending the game into over time before losing 94-96.
Sloan finished with a career-high scoring night with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in 42 minutes of game time.
He played a significant role for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011-12 season also, backing up Melbourne born NBA star Kyrie Irving in his rookie season before stepping into the starting line-up after Irving suffered a season-ending injury. He averaged 6.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists during his time in Cleveland.
Originally from Louisiana, Sloan played his college basketball for Texas A&M University from 2006–2010 before a number of stints in the NBA G-League (then D-League) and then finally signing a free-agent deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2011.
The 32-year-old most recently played with Baskets Bonn in the Basketball Bundesliga. Averaging 11.7 points a contest in Germany before Covid 19 ceased play.
In the season prior, Donald posted 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for the Jiangsu Dragons in the CBA.
“Donald has been an established international performer around the globe for over 10 years including the NBA. We expect him to round out our roster well and provide a great complement, through his talent, versatility and experience, to Josh Giddey and Sunday Dech in the back court.” Chairman Grant Kelley said
Donald Sloan is excited to join the Adelaide 36ers.
““I’m so excited to get to Adelaide and join the team I’ve heard nothing but great things about the players and the city and fans. I’m more than ready and looking forward to leading and being an extension of coach Henry on the floor. My knowledge of the 36ers is still growing but I do know they have a strong history including 4 NBL championships, and I know that Daniel Johnson is a beast!”
Head Coach Conner Henry also is looking forward to having Donald in the team, “We are all very excited to add Donald to the roster. Donald brings a new level of experience and range of skills from the NBA and high-level Europe to lead the club at the point guard position.”
“Donald is also going to be a fantastic mentor to new recruits Josh Giddey and Sunday Dech in the back court.”
Donald played both the point guard and shooting guard spots in the NBA providing the 36ers a luxury of an import who can play alongside next star Josh Giddey in a shooting guard role or with Sunday Dech in a point guard role.
Sloan finalises the Adelaide 36ers roster joining Giddey, Dech, Daniel Johnson, Jack McVeigh, Daniel Dillon, Obu Kyei, Alex Mudronja, Isaac Humphries, Brendan Teys and Keanu Pinder.
The Adelaide 36ers commence pre-season on 1 September at Titanium Security Arena.
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.
