Elijah Pepper
April 21, 2024
Brady Manek
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 4/09/98
- Place of Birth: Edmond, Oklahoma (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 206
- Weight (KG): 105
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Oklahoma (2017–2021) / North Carolina (2021–2022)
- NBL DEBUT: 17/09/22
- AGE AT DEBUT: 24
- LAST NBL GAME: 12/02/23
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: Perth 2023
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Brady Manek was born in Edmond, Oklahoma (USA) and grew up playing basketball with friend and college teammate Trae Young. His family moved to Harrah, Oklahoma where he attended Harrah High School. Whilst there he was named Little All-City Player of the Year by The Oklahoman in each of his final two seasons. As a senior, Manek averaged 24.3 points and 11.6 rebounds, leading Harrah to the state quarterfinals. Rated either a three-star and four-star recruit by several services, he committed to play college basketball for Oklahoma after his sophomore season of high school.
FAMILY: Manek’s older brother, Kellen, was his basketball teammate at Harrah High School for three years and played for Oral Roberts and Southeastern Oklahoma State.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Brady Manek made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 24 years of age. He scored eight points in his first game.
After missing the playoffs for the first time in 35 years, Perth Wildcats coach Scott Morrison stepped down after one season to return to Canada for family reasons, with former Townsville Crocodiles star John Rillie appointed as his replacement on a three-year deal.
Kevin White (to Illawarra) and Matt Hodgson (to Taiwan) departed, while imports Vic Law and Michael Frazier II did not return. Perth re-signed Bryce Cotton for three years, Todd Blanchfield for three years and Jesse Wagstaff for another season, while Kyle Zunic was elevated from development player to the full roster. Corey Webster (via Europe) returned as a free agent, with TaShawn Thomas (via France) and Brady Manek (via North Carolina) signed as the team’s new imports.
Manek signed a one-year deal as Perth’s third import, joining the Wildcats for his first professional season after completing his college career with North Carolina and playing for Charlotte during NBA Summer League.
“I’m excited to take my first step with Perth,” Manek said.
Perth opened the season against Brisbane at RAC Arena on October 2, where Manek (8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) made his NBL debut. Cotton (23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) led a 24-point turnaround, while Wagstaff (14 points) provided support and Devondrick Walker (16 points and 5 rebounds) led Brisbane as the Wildcats won 87-73.
Manek (13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks across 30 games) remained available throughout the campaign, playing all 28 regular-season games and both play-in games without an injury-related absence. Perth won its first three games and moved to the top of the ladder before five consecutive losses dropped the Wildcats to seventh. Manek scored only 25 points across the final four games of the losing streak and was moved to the bench against Melbourne, leading to speculation Perth could replace him as one of its imports.
Rillie dismissed the possibility of releasing him and backed Manek to adjust to the physicality and pace of his first professional season.
“The pieces all fit together so Brady Manek is a Perth Wildcat,” Rillie said.
Manek’s best scoring game came at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 5, where he came off the bench, made six three-pointers and converted eight of his 10 field goal attempts to finish with 25 points. Corey Webster (18 points and 4 rebounds) and Cotton (15 points and 5 assists) provided support, while Robert Franks (24 points and 9 rebounds) led Adelaide. Perth produced a 14-0 run after falling five points behind during the fourth quarter and ended its five-game losing streak with a 94-89 victory in front of an Adelaide Entertainment Centre record crowd of 9,071.
Brady Manek put on a show last night at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. 😎
Relive all his best bits from the win! pic.twitter.com/N460Y9ua71— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) November 6, 2022
Manek (21 points and 5 rebounds) made five of his seven three-point attempts against South East Melbourne at RAC Arena on November 17, while Cotton (32 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Webster (10 points and 4 rebounds) helped Perth defeat the Phoenix 103-96. Mitchell Creek (32 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led South East Melbourne before Manek completed the win with a late dunk.
At Spark Arena on December 3, Manek (18 points and 6 rebounds) made three consecutive three-pointers during the fourth quarter, while Webster (26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) scored 16 points in the third and Cotton (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) also contributed. Barry Brown Jr (27 points) led New Zealand as Perth ended the Breakers’ five-game winning streak with a 92-84 victory.
The improved performances did not completely remove Manek’s inconsistency, with a December stretch returning two points against Adelaide, three against Melbourne, 11 against Cairns and no points in 19 minutes against Brisbane.
Manek’s best game of the season came at the WIN Entertainment Centre on December 31, where Manek (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped Perth recover after Illawarra erased a 17-point halftime deficit. Webster (25 points and 5 rebounds) and Cotton (24 points and 6 assists) also contributed, while Tyler Harvey (28 points) led the Hawks before the Wildcats produced a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter and won 107-97.
With ten regular-season games remaining, Perth added Tai Webster (via Turkey) on January 3, reuniting him with his older brother Corey, while Corey Shervill was released from the Wildcats’ 11-man roster and remained with the club as a training player.
Cotton (23.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals) led the NBL in scoring, finished second in MVP voting, earned All-NBL First Team selection and received Perth’s club MVP award. Webster (14.2 points), Thomas (13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Luke Travers (9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds), Tai Webster (7 points) and Mitch Norton (5.1 points) formed the Wildcats’ main supporting group. Perth finished with the NBL’s highest offensive rating, ranked second in scoring at 92.1 points per game and shot 36.6 per cent from three-point range, but had the league’s worst defensive rating and ranked last in rebounding at 33.5 per game.
Perth entered its final three regular-season games needing victories to remain in the playoff race. Manek (13 points and 5 rebounds), Thomas (19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Cotton (17 points and 2 steals) led the Wildcats against Tasmania in Hobart on January 29, while Milton Doyle (21 points and 4 assists) led the JackJumpers. Tasmania outscored Perth 27-15 in the fourth quarter and won 102-94.
Manek (12 points) then played against Cairns at RAC Arena on February 3, with Cotton (28 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Thomas (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) leading Perth. Bul Kuol (15 points and 9 rebounds) was Cairns’ best as the Taipans won 84-71, leaving the Wildcats needing to defeat Sydney by at least 11 points in the final round to overtake Melbourne and finish sixth.
Sydney held Cotton to seven points on one-of-19 shooting at RAC Arena on February 5, but Manek (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals), Webster (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Travers (22 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Perth. Dejan Vasiljevic (18 points and 7 rebounds) was Sydney’s leading scorer before Manek’s two late free throws restored the required margin and Vasiljevic missed on the Kings’ final possession. Perth won 96-84, finishing sixth with a 15-13 record and reaching the inaugural play-in tournament by winning by 12 points when it required an 11-point margin.
The Play-In Qualifier moved to John Cain Arena on February 9, where Perth trailed South East Melbourne for most of the game before outscoring the Phoenix 41-23 in the fourth quarter. Manek (24 points) made six three-pointers and scored 19 points during the first half, while Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and Thomas (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) helped Perth win 106-99. Creek (24 points and 4 rebounds), Gary Browne (20 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Alan Williams (16 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 steals) led South East Melbourne.
Perth then faced Cairns at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 12, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. The Taipans entered without Keanu Pinder because of a serious facial injury, but DJ Hogg (32 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) set a Cairns playoff scoring record, while Kuol (23 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Sam Waardenburg (15 points and 10 rebounds) also contributed. Manek (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists), Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Thomas (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Perth as Cairns won 91-78.
Brady Manek played one season in the NBL. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 30 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 24 | Perth | 15-13 (6) | 30 | 835.6 | 394 | 160 | 50 | 44 | 116 | 21 | 14 | 25 | 54 | 141 | 304 | 46% | 77 | 189 | 41% | 35 | 44 | 80% | 61% | 59% | 25 | Totals | 30 | 836 | 394 | 160 | 50 | 44 | 116 | 21 | 14 | 25 | 54 | 141 | 304 | 46.4% | 77 | 189 | 40.7% | 35 | 44 | 79.5% | 61% | 59% | 25 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 24 | Perth | 15-13 (6) | 30 | 27.9 | 13.1 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 10.1 | 46% | 2.6 | 6.3 | 41% | 1.2 | 1.5 | 80% | 61% | 59% | 25 | Total | 30 | 27.9 | 13.1 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 10.1 | 46.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.7% | 2.6 | 6.3 | 79.5% | 61% | 59% | 25 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 25 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Manek joined the Charlotte Hornets for the 2022 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging seven points and four rebounds per game, in just over 14 minutes of action.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Turkey - Tofaş Bursa (2023), Mersin MSK (2025) | Lithuania - Žalgiris Kaunas (2023–2025) | Puerto Rico - Leones de Ponce (2025) | China - Nanjing Monkey Kings (2025–2026)
After spending his first season as a pro with the Perth Wildcats, he went on sign a deal to play in Turkey with Tofas Bursa, where he averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in the teams last eleven games.
On July 21, 2023, Manek signed a two-year (1+1) deal with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. In 28 EuroLeague games he averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds while recording EuroLeague career highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds against Baskonia on October 19, 2023.
On March 15, 2024, Žalgiris extended Manek through 2026, removing his previous out clause, and he won the King Mindaugas Cup with Žalgiris in both 2024 and 2025 while sharing the roster across his Kaunas stint with players including Ignas Brazdeikis, Deividas Sirvydis, Sylvain Francisco, Lonnie Walker, Alen Smailagic, Arnas Butkevicius, Edgaras Ulanovas, and Joffrey Lauvergne.
During his second Žalgiris season, Manek suffered an ankle injury in September 2024 and later fell out of the EuroLeague rotation, finishing the 2024–25 EuroLeague season with 24 games at 3.3 points and 1.2 rebounds before being loaned to Mersin MSK on April 18, 2025.
Manek joined Mersin MSK for the closing stretch of the 2024–25 Turkish BSL season, and in six league games he averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and shot 34.4 percent from three while sharing the team with Justin Cobbs, Will Magnay, Gabriel Olaseni, Pako Cruz, and Evaldas Kairys.
On June 10, 2025, Manek signed with Leones de Ponce for the Puerto Rico BSN season, and in 19 games he averaged 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while playing alongside Matt Mooney, Michael Devoe, Jordan Murphy, Jezreel De Jesús, Aleem Ford, and James Thompson IV.
During that Puerto Rico stint, Ponce reached the 2025 BSN Finals as runners up, and Manek produced 21 points and 10 rebounds in a June 29 win over Osos de Manatí before returning from injury with 14 points and 15 rebounds in a July 23 playoff win over Mayagüez.
On July 11, 2025, Žalgiris officially released Manek, and he then spent the 2025–26 season playing with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association, where available league figures list him at 13.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while sharing the roster with Jaylen Hands, Haowen Guo, Baiqing Zhao, Marcus Lovett Jr., and Richard Solomon.
COLLEGE
Brady Manek played five NCAA seasons, spending four years at Oklahoma (2017–18 to 2020–21) before using the extra COVID-19 eligibility year as a graduate transfer at North Carolina (2021–22), finishing his college career with 161 games played and 138 starts.
As a freshman at Oklahoma in 2017–18, Manek averaged 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds across 32 games (26 starts), and he and Trae Young formed the highest-scoring freshman duo in NCAA Division I that season while Manek knocked down 59 three-pointers, the fourth-most ever by an Oklahoma freshman.
In 2018–19, he started all 34 games for the Sooners and improved to 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition while continuing his role as a high-volume stretch forward in Oklahoma’s frontcourt rotation.
Manek’s statistical peak at Oklahoma came as a junior in 2019–20, when he started all 31 games and averaged 14.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game, earning Third Team All-Big 12 honours while making 71 three-pointers at 38 percent and becoming the only Big 12 player that season to post multiple 30-point games.
During that 2019–20 season, Manek reached 1,000 career points on January 18, 2020, exploding for a career-high 31 points with seven made threes in an 83–63 win over TCU, then followed it with 30 points in an 82–69 win over Oklahoma State on February 1.
As a senior at Oklahoma in 2020–21, Manek averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25 games (20 starts), and his final season in Norman also included Academic All-America Third Team recognition before he entered the transfer portal and moved on as a graduate transfer.
Manek transferred to North Carolina for the 2021–22 season and became a key piece in the Tar Heels’ run to the NCAA championship game, averaging 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three across 39 games (27 starts).
He opened the year primarily in a sixth-man role before moving into the starting lineup after an injury to Dawson Garcia, a shift that aligned with North Carolina’s late-season turnaround and culminated with Manek scoring 20 points in the regular-season finale, a 94–81 win over Duke.
Manek’s year at UNC earned him Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition and ACC Player of the Week honours late in the season, before he produced signature NCAA tournament performances including a season-high 28 points against Marquette in the first round and 26 points in 28 minutes against Baylor in the second round.
Against Baylor, Manek was ejected on a flagrant 2 assessed on Jeremy Sochan while UNC led by 25 points, with Baylor storming back to force overtime before the Tar Heels held on 93–86 to advance, and he later capped his transfer season by winning the 2022 Riley Wallace Award as the nation’s top impact transfer player.
AWARDS
-King Mindaugas Cup winner (2024)
- Riley Wallace Award (2022)
-
Third-team All-Big 12 (2020)
Related
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