NICKNAME/S: Cal

BIO: Callum Dalton was born in Logan (QLD) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Logan basketball program. Dalton received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2016. He spent three years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2016, 2017, 2018).

FAMILY: Callum Dalton is the son of Mark Dalton who played 421 games in the NBL. His uncle is also Brad Dalton who played 290 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Callum Dalton made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Brisbane entered NBL21 looking to return to the playoffs after finishing fifth with a 15-13 record the previous season. Under coach Andrej Lemanis, the Bullets lost Cam Gliddon (to South East Melbourne), Lamar Patterson (to New Zealand), Reuben Te Rangi (to South East Melbourne), Will Magnay (to New Orleans), Mika Vukona (to Southern Districts), Taylor Braun (to Israel) and EJ Singler (to NZNBL), while Anthony Drmic and Harry Froling (both via Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (via St Mary’s), Tamuri Wigness and imports Orlando Johnson and Vic Law joined the roster.

Dalton returned to Brisbane as a development player after previously being part of the Bullets development program from 2017. “It’s great to get another season with Cal and I look forward to watching his continued growth,” Lemanis said.

Dalton made his NBL debut against New Zealand on April 16, playing 1 minute without scoring as Brisbane lost 91-71.

Dalton (0 points across 3 games) remained a development player throughout the season and was not sidelined by a reported injury, with his limited appearances coming through his role at the end of Brisbane’s rotation.

His best game came against Melbourne at Nissan Arena on May 24, where Dalton entered late and grabbed 1 rebound in 1 minute. Sobey (20 points and 4 rebounds) and Patterson (19 points and 5 assists) led Brisbane, while Chris Goulding (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Melbourne to a 99-88 win.

Sobey (21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists) carried much of Brisbane’s offence, while Law (18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Hodgson (10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) and Froling (8 points and 4.9 rebounds) were among the Bullets’ other major contributors.

Dalton did not play in Brisbane’s season finale against South East Melbourne on June 8, where Patterson (19 points and 3 assists) and Sobey (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Brisbane, while Mitchell Creek (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was the Phoenix’s best as the Bullets won 94-84 and finished sixth with an 18-18 record.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2021/22
After winning the 2021 championship, Melbourne entered NBL22 without Jock Landale (to San Antonio), Mitch McCarron (to Adelaide) and import Scotty Hopson, while Jack White returned after recovering from a ruptured Achilles. Matthew Dellavedova (via Cleveland), Brad Newley (via Sydney), Dion Prewster (via Wellington), Caleb Agada (via Hapoel Be’er Sheva), David Okwera and Next Star Ariel Hukporti (via Nevėžis) were added.

Callum Dalton (via Brisbane) signed a one-year deal and moved onto Melbourne’s full roster after spending the previous two seasons as a development player with the Bullets. “Callum is an impressive young player who has represented Australia at a national level multiple times, and we believe he has a strong future in this league,” Vickerman said.

He made his United debut against Sydney at John Cain Arena on December 16, recording 1 rebound and 1 steal in 3:03 as Agada (12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 29 games; 21 points and 7 rebounds) and Chris Goulding (13 points and 3 rebounds) led Melbourne to an 89-47 win, while Xavier Cooks (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) was Sydney’s best.

Dalton (1.3 points across 6 games) played 19 minutes without making a start, with his early opportunities limited by his position behind Melbourne’s experienced frontcourt rotation rather than an injury.

Dalton’s best game came against New Zealand at John Cain Arena on December 19, where Dalton (2 points and 1 block) played 1:21 as Goulding (15.1 points across 28 games; 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Agada (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Melbourne to an 83-60 win. Finn Delany (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) was New Zealand’s best.

Dalton’s final appearance came against Cairns at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 27, where Dalton (2 points) played 2:15 as Goulding (21 points and 3 assists) and White (9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across 26 games; 13 points and 8 rebounds) led Melbourne to an 89-73 win, while Tahjere McCall (16 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) led the Taipans. Two days later, Dalton tore his ACL during training and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Yudai Baba (via Texas Legends) was subsequently signed for the remainder of NBL22 after Dalton’s injury opened a roster position.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks across 30 games) led Melbourne in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, while Dellavedova (10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists across 30 games), Shea Ili (8.7 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals across 31 games) and Hukporti (6.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 30 games) completed the main rotation. Lual-Acuil Jr earned All-NBL First Team honours and was named United’s club MVP, Goulding and Dellavedova made the All-NBL Second Team, while Ili won the NBL Best Sixth Man award and received United’s Defensive Player of the Year and SHARE awards as Melbourne finished first with a 20-8 record.

Dalton remained sidelined throughout Melbourne’s semifinal series against Tasmania. United opened the series at John Cain Arena with a 74-63 win behind Agada (16 points and 7 rebounds), Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 blocks) and Dellavedova (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Josh Adams (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Jack McVeigh (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Tasmania.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where McVeigh (15 points), MiKyle McIntosh (13 points) and Josh Magette (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) led Tasmania to a 79-72 win. Goulding (18 points), Agada (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) led Melbourne as the JackJumpers forced a deciding game.

Goulding injured his calf during warm-ups and was ruled out shortly before game three at John Cain Arena, leaving Ili (18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Lual-Acuil Jr (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and White (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 block) to lead Melbourne. Adams (30 points), McVeigh (16 points) and Magette (9 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) led Tasmania as United made six of 29 three-pointers and the JackJumpers won 76-73.

2022/23
Melbourne entered NBL23 after finishing the previous regular season first with a 20-8 record before losing the deciding semifinal against Tasmania without injured captain Chris Goulding. Jo Lual-Acuil (to China), Caleb Agada (to Prometey), Jack White (to Denver) and Matthew Dellavedova (to Sacramento) exited, with White and Dellavedova receiving late NBA opportunities despite being contracted. Goulding, Shea Ili, Ariel Hukporti and Brad Newley returned, while Callum Dalton and Zac Triplett returned as Development Players. Isaac Humphries (via Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (via Illawarra), Rayjon Tucker (via Wisconsin), Jordan Caroline (via Trento), Makuach Maluach (via Darwin), Joshua Duach (via Iona) and Malith Machar (via Forestville) were added, while David Barlow reversed his retirement decision and returned to the playing roster.

The young centre had suffered an ACL tear during training in March, ending his 2021/22 season and requiring a lengthy rehabilitation. Melbourne retained him as a Development Player, but his recovery kept him out of the opening two months of NBL23.

His first appearance came against Brisbane at John Cain Arena on December 10, where Callum (3 points in 1:44) made his only shot, a three-pointer, as Melbourne ended a five-game losing streak with a 104-88 victory. Goulding (17.1 points across 27 games; 20 points, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Tucker (18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds across 28 games; 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led United, while Nathan Sobey (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) was Brisbane’s best.

Dalton (across 6 games) remained outside Melbourne’s regular frontcourt rotation following his return, with each of his appearances coming in limited bench minutes behind Humphries, Marcus Lee, Mason Peatling and David Okwera.

His best game came in Christchurch on January 12, where Callum (4 points in 4:58) made all four of his free throws as Melbourne defeated New Zealand 77-65. Rathan-Mayes (14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 28 games; 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Newley (4.6 points across 28 games; 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) led United, while Jarrell Brantley (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) was New Zealand’s best.

Caroline (5.5 points and 6.2 rebounds across 6 games; to Manresa) was released in November after Hukporti’s Achilles injury changed Melbourne’s frontcourt needs, with Lee (8.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks across 17 games; via Manresa) signed as his replacement. Humphries (9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks across 23 games), Ili (8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 14 games) and Peatling (5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 18 games) were the other major contributors as Melbourne recovered from a 5-10 start. Goulding received Melbourne’s Most Valuable Player award, Lee was named Defensive Player of the Year and Dalton won the SHARE Award after describing his ACL rehabilitation as “the hardest year of my life.”

Dalton did not take the court in Melbourne’s final game, where Tucker (31 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) and Goulding (23 points and 2 steals) led United to a 116-107 victory against Adelaide before 10,175 fans at John Cain Arena, while Antonius Cleveland (30 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) was the 36ers’ best. Perth then defeated Sydney 96-84 to claim sixth place on points percentage, leaving Melbourne seventh with a 15-13 record.

2023/24
Dalton was unable to make an NBL roster this season.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2024/25
Callum Dalton returned to Brisbane on January 24 as a concussion replacement for Tyrell Harrison after spending the previous two seasons as a Bullets training player. The former Brisbane development player appeared in each of the club’s final four games. “He has worked hard all season behind the scenes and assisted in making our practice environment better. Now he gets an opportunity to impact winning on the floor,” Justin Schueller said.

Dalton (3.5 points across 4 games) produced his best performance in Brisbane’s season finale against Cairns. The Bullets finished eighth with a 12–17 record after losing 100–88, where Dalton (10 points and 5 rebounds) played 16:19 minutes in the loss.

2025/26
After missing the playoffs in NBL25, Brisbane replaced Justin Schueller with Stu Lash and lost Isaac White (to Adelaide), James Batemon (to Spain), Josh Bannan (to Tasmania), Keandre Cook (to Spain), Kye Savage and Rocco Zikarsky (to Minnesota). Lash retained Casey Prather, Tyrell Harrison, captain Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel and Tohi Smith-Milner, while adding Jaylen Adams (via Sydney), Javon Freeman-Liberty (via Chicago), Alex Ducas (via Oklahoma City), Taine Murray (via Virginia), Jacob Holt (via Sacramento State), Jack Purchase (via Melbourne) and Jensen Bradtke (via Montana).

Dalton returned to Brisbane as a nominated injury replacement player after appearing in four games as a concussion replacement late in NBL25. The centre had rebuilt his career following an ACL injury with Melbourne through stints in Luxembourg, India and New Zealand, before leading the NBL1 North in rebounding with Logan and earning another opportunity with the Bullets. He was used more regularly once Brisbane’s injuries mounted midway through the campaign.

Dalton (1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds across 16 games) provided frontcourt depth behind Harrison and Smith-Milner. His best all-around game came against Sydney on November 1, where Dalton (3 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists) played 13 minutes as Prather (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Harrison (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led Brisbane, while Xavier Cooks (24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block) powered the Kings to a 116-79 win.

Dalton matched his season-high with 4 points and grabbed a season-best 5 rebounds against Tasmania on February 6, with Hunter Maldonado (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Norton (17 points) leading Brisbane, while Nick Marshall (31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) carried the JackJumpers to a 114-70 win.

Prather (24.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2 steals across 12 games) and Harrison (14.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 25 games) were Brisbane’s leading players, while Freeman-Liberty (13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 steals across 9 games), Adams (12.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals across 13 games), Terry Taylor (11.9 points and 6.4 rebounds across 17 games) and Ducas (8.5 points across 30 games) were the other main contributors. Lash stepped down in December and Darryl McDonald took over as interim coach as Brisbane’s injuries and roster changes continued.

Brisbane closed the season at home against Sydney on February 20, where Dalton (3 rebounds and 1 assist) played seven minutes, with Maldonado (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Murray (13 points and 3 assists) leading the Bullets, while Kendric Davis (31 points and 8 assists) carried Sydney to a 117-77 win, leaving Brisbane last with a 6-27 record and 13 consecutive losses.

Callum Dalton currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets and has played 35 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 1.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists since entering the league in 2021.