NICKNAME/S: Mud

BIO: Alex Mudronja was born and raised in Adelaide (SA) where he played his junior basketball with the Sturt Sabres. He was a member of the South Australian state basketball team when they won the U20 Men’s Championships in 2017 and was awarded the Bob Staunton Award as the most outstanding player during the 2018 competition. Mudronja received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2017. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2017, 2018).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Alex Mudronja made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 20 years of age. He scored nine points in his first game.

After finishing 14-14 and missing the playoffs on points percentage the previous season, Adelaide reshaped its roster following the departures of Nathan Sobey (to Brisbane), Jacob Wiley (to Spain), Majok Deng (to Cairns), Demitrius Conger (to Spain) and Shaun Bruce (to Sydney). Joey Wright remained as head coach, with Jerome Randle (via Sydney), Eric Griffin (via Israel), Kevin White (via Illawarra), Daniel Dillon (via Paris) and Obi Kyei (via Spain) among the additions.

Alex Mudronja (via Saint Mary’s) returned to Adelaide and signed a three-year deal, beginning the first year as a development player before moving onto the full roster for the remaining two. Wright described Mudronja as “the best point guard of his class in Australia.”

Adelaide opened the season with a 102-80 loss to Sydney before recovering to start 3-1. Mudronja made his NBL debut against New Zealand at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 24 and produced his best game of the season immediately, making all three of his field goal attempts and finishing with 9 points and 2 rebounds in 6:36. Griffin (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Johnson (19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led Adelaide, while Henry (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) was New Zealand’s leading scorer as the 36ers won 117-100 and improved to 5-6.

Mudronja (2.3 points across 4 games) remained at the end of Adelaide’s rotation as a development player, with his other three appearances coming against Illawarra and Cairns. No injury was reported during the season, with his limited appearances coming through his development-player role rather than an injury absence.

Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists) and Johnson (18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds) led Adelaide, with Griffin (14 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Drmic (10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds), Moore (7.8 points), Froling (7.3 points and 3.5 rebounds), McVeigh (6 points) and Teys (5.2 points) filling out the main rotation. Mudronja remained contracted with Adelaide following the season and was elevated to the full roster for 2020/21.

Adelaide entered its final game already out of playoff contention and travelled to RAC Arena to face Perth on February 15. Mudronja did not play, while Johnson (18 points and 11 rebounds) and McVeigh (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Adelaide and Kay (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth to a 94-79 win as the 36ers finished seventh with a 12-16 record.

2020/21
After missing the playoffs with a 12-16 record the previous season, Adelaide parted ways with long-time coach Joey Wright despite time remaining on his contract, with his departure coming amid several issues with players. Former Perth assistant Conner Henry was appointed as his replacement, while co-captain Kevin White (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Brisbane) and Obi Kyei (released) departed. Jack McVeigh, Brendan Teys and Daniel Dillon remained, while local guard Alex Mudronja remained under the three-year deal he had signed in 2019, having spent his first season as a development player before being elevated to a full roster position for 2020/21. Wright had previously described him as “the best point guard of his class in Australia.”

Adelaide added highly-rated Next Star Josh Giddey (via NBA Global Academy), while Daniel Johnson signed a new three-year deal and Isaac Humphries (via Lakeland), Keanu Pinder (via Warsaw) and Sunday Dech (via Illawarra) joined the roster. Former NBA guard Donald Sloan (via Baskets Bonn) and Tony Crocker (via Pinar Karsiyaka) filled the two import positions.

Mudronja (0 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) made his first appearance of the season against South East Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 20, playing 4:24 off the bench as the Phoenix defeated Adelaide 89-83. Humphries (20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks) and Johnson (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Adelaide, while Keifer Sykes (24 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals) led South East Melbourne.

Mudronja (1 point across 17 games) spent most of his second season at the end of Adelaide’s guard rotation, averaging 5.3 minutes and making only one start. There was no documented injury to Mudronja during NBL21, with the 19 games in which he did not get on court coming as his playing opportunities remained limited behind Adelaide’s more experienced guards.

Mudronja’s best and highest-scoring game of the season came against Sydney at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 6, where he came off the bench and finished with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in just over 17 minutes, but the Kings defeated Adelaide 94-75. Johnson (21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Dech (13 points) led Adelaide alongside Mudronja, while Casper Ware (27 points and 2 steals) led Sydney.

Adelaide had opened the season 4-2 before COVID-19 disruptions resulted in the NBL Cup being held in Melbourne, where the 36ers struggled and fell from third place to seventh. Sloan (9 points across 6 games) was moved to the bench before requesting and receiving a release, with Jeremy Kendle signed as an interim replacement before Brandon Paul (via Zhejiang) joined for the remainder of the season. Humphries (13.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks across 19 games) suffered a left foot injury on February 27 and missed 11 consecutive games before returning, while Jack Purchase (injury replacement) was added to provide frontcourt depth.

With Giddey and Humphries both unavailable through injury, Mudronja (0 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist) made his only start of the season against Perth at RAC Arena on March 22, playing 14 minutes as the Wildcats defeated Adelaide 92-82. Johnson (19 points and 8 rebounds) and Crocker (13 points and 2 blocks) led Adelaide, while Bryce Cotton (36 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals) starred for Perth.

Johnson (19.4 points and 7.1 rebounds across 36 games) led Adelaide in scoring for the sixth time and shared the club MVP award with Giddey (10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists across 28 games), who led the NBL in assists and was named Rookie of the Year. Paul (13.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 20 games) became one of Adelaide’s main scoring options after arriving midway through the season, while Crocker (10.8 points across 32 games), McVeigh (9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds across 36 games) and Dech (8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds across 36 games) were also regular contributors. McVeigh was named Adelaide’s Most Improved Player, Dech received the Best Defence Player award and Humphries received the Coaches Choice Award.

Mudronja’s limited playing opportunities ultimately saw his second season on Adelaide’s full roster become his last, with the club and Mudronja mutually agreeing following the season to release him from the final year of his contract so he could pursue greater playing opportunities.

Adelaide closed the season against Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on June 6, where Mudronja (0 points) played the final 2:18 off the bench, with Crocker (27 points and 5 rebounds) and Johnson (18 points and 13 rebounds) leading the 36ers, while Jock Landale (19 points and 9 rebounds) led United to a 102-80 victory, leaving Adelaide seventh with a 13-23 record.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2021/22
After reaching the semifinals in consecutive seasons, Illawarra entered the 2022/23 campaign without Brian Goorjian (to Bay Area Dragons), with long-time assistant Jacob Jackomas promoted to head coach. Duop Reath (to Lebanon), Justinian Jessup (to Spain), Antonius Cleveland (to Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (to Melbourne) and Harry Froling (to Brisbane) departed, while AJ Ogilvy retired, leaving Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling as the only players retained from the previous season’s main rotation. Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Sydney), Mangok Mathiang (via Casey), Justin Robinson (via Detroit) and George King (via Ontario Clippers) joined the rebuilt roster.

After serving as Daniel Grida’s nominated injury replacement and making one appearance during 2021/22, the Adelaide-born guard became a fully rostered player for the second season of the three-year arrangement he signed in November 2021, with the third year held as a club option. He entered NBL23 after a strong NBL1 North campaign with North Gold Coast and said, “My biggest personal goal is to get better every day.”

Alex Mudronja’s strongest all-round game came in Illawarra’s season opener against Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 1, where Mudronja (2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) played nine minutes off the bench. Lachlan Dent (19 points) and Harvey (18 points) led the Hawks, while Derrick Walton Jr (32 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) guided the Kings to a 106-97 win. Robinson (10 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) suffered a meniscus tear during the third quarter but completed the game before undergoing surgery that ended his season.

Mudronja (1.9 points across 22 games) came off the bench in every appearance and averaged eight minutes without making a start. He remained available throughout the campaign and was listed for all 28 games, with his six non-appearances coming while he sat at the end of the guard rotation rather than through a reported injury. His season-high was five points, reached on three occasions, while Dent (4.9 points across 25 games) and William Hickey (4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds across 24 games) generally received the larger available backup guard minutes.

Illawarra’s backcourt was repeatedly reshaped after Robinson’s injury, with Kevin White (via Perth, 0.6 points across five games) initially added as a short-term replacement before Peyton Siva (via New Zealand, 9.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 11 games) joined for the remainder of the season. King (10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds across nine games) returned to the United States because of an ongoing right ankle and lower-leg injury, with Michael Frazier II (via Perth, 17.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across eight games) replacing him before suffering a broken left arm. Siva also suffered a high-grade right shoulder injury against Perth that ended his season, creating further opportunities for Illawarra’s younger guards during the final weeks.

Harvey (18.9 points and 1.5 steals across 27 games) led Illawarra in scoring and received the Members’ Choice Award, while Froling (14 points and 8 rebounds across 28 games) was named club MVP. Deng (8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds across 28 games) and Mathiang (7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds across 25 games) were the other main contributors, while Swaka Lo Buluk (4.9 points across 28 games) received the Defensive Player of the Year award, Grida (5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds across 14 games) received the Community Award and Akoldah Gak (1 point across 13 games) was named Players’ Player. Illawarra suffered 14 losses by ten points or fewer.

Illawarra closed the season against Tasmania at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 4, where Mudronja (5 points and 2 rebounds) matched his season-high scoring output during 15 minutes off the bench. Harvey (13 points) and Froling (12 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal) led the Hawks, while Milton Doyle (20 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal) guided the JackJumpers to an 87-63 win, leaving Illawarra in 10th place with a franchise-worst 3-25 record.

CAIRNS TAIPANS
2023/24
After finishing 18-10 and reaching the semifinals the previous season, Cairns entered NBL24 needing to replace several major contributors. 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) exited, while coach Adam Forde retained captain Tahjere McCall, Bul Kuol, Sam Waardenburg, Lat Mayen and Jonah Antonio. 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) and Kian Dennis (via Southern Districts) joined the roster.

Mudronja (via Illawarra) signed a two-year deal with Cairns as a development player in August 2023, with the second season a club option. Cairns became his third NBL team after two seasons each with Adelaide and Illawarra, where he made a combined 44 appearances. Mudronja was also added to the Taipans’ NBL Blitz squad as an injury replacement for McCall.

Cairns opened the season at Spark Arena on September 30, where Mudronja (0 points and 1 steal) played 4:37 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.

Mudronja (0.2 points across 9 games) remained at the end of Forde’s guard rotation, appearing entirely off the bench and playing fewer than five minutes in seven of his nine appearances.

Mudronja’s best game came against defending champions Sydney on October 28, where Mudronja (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals) played a season-high 13:42 as Cairns defeated the Kings 87-80. Kuol (24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Waardenburg (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Taipans, while Kouat Noi (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) was Sydney’s best.

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), Waardenburg (9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds), Klintman (9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds) and Armstrong (7.7 points and 4 rebounds) were the other major contributors, with Klintman receiving Members’ Choice MVP, Mayen (6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds) the Coaches Award and Mudronja the Commitment to Community award.

His final appearance came at RAC Arena on February 10, where Mudronja (0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal) played four minutes as Perth defeated Cairns 117-88. Miller (25 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) and Waardenburg (19 points and 1 steal) led the Taipans, while Bryce Cotton (26 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal) was Perth’s best. Cairns defeated first-placed Melbourne 97-88 six days later and finished eighth with a 12-16 record.

Alex Mudronja played five seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Adelaide 36ers, Illawarra Hawks and Cairns Taipans. He averaged 1.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 53 NBL games.