BIO: Casper Ware was born in Cerritos, California (USA) and attended Gahr High School.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Casper Ware made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 26 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.

Melbourne United entered the 2016-17 season with a revamped roster and high expectations. With the league allowing three import players per team, Melbourne replaced import duo Stephen Holt and Hakim Warrick with Cedric Jackson, Ramone Moore, and Devin Williams. They effectively signed a fourth import by adding Tai Wesley (via New Zealand) as a local under the Asian player rule and swapped one Boomers big man for another by bringing in David Andersen (via Europe) to replace Daniel Kickert (to Sydney).

In coach Dean Demopoulos’ second season, United got off to a poor start with a 3-7 record. Cedric Jackson (10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.4 steals) was quickly released due to attitude issues and failing to buy into the team’s defensive principles. On November 14, 2016, after spending the preseason with the Washington Wizards, Casper Ware was signed as Jackson’s replacement. Ware’s arrival was highly anticipated but started with a rocky debut where he shot just 3-14 from the floor. “I’m not God, I can’t come in here and make everything happen,” Ware said after arriving in Australia, tempering expectations while embracing the challenge.

Ware quickly found his stride, becoming the spark Melbourne needed. In just his second game, Ware scored 28 points, including a game-winning three-pointer in a win (95-92) over Sydney. His scoring ability was fully on display on December 9, when he dropped 38 points and hit eight three-pointers in a close loss (89-92) to Perth. Around this time, Chris Goulding (17.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals), who had missed six games due to ankle issues, began to regain his form, and David Barlow (5.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) returned from a two-year absence due to a calf injury.

With Ware (22.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals) leading the way and the roster finally getting healthy, United turned their season around, winning 10 of their last 18 games. Midseason, Melbourne replaced the struggling Devin Williams (3.2 points and 4.0 rebounds) with Josh Boone (10.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks), who became a dominant presence inside, finishing as the league’s best rebounder. Boone’s efficiency was highlighted by leading the team in several advanced metrics, including PER, ORtg, DRtg, and TRB%.

Despite Ware’s brilliance, Ramone Moore (10.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) failed to make the expected impact as an import. The season was marked by inconsistent performances and injuries, with only Tai Wesley (8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) and Majok Majok (5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks) appearing in all 28 games. Import turnover and injuries meant that only six players suited up for at least 75% of games, and Melbourne finished with the league’s second-worst true shooting percentage, going 2-5 in games decided by five points or fewer.

Casper Ware’s impact was undeniable, earning him All-NBL First Team honors despite playing only 18 games. His arrival, combined with Melbourne’s late-season resurgence, left fans optimistic, evidenced by the near-capacity crowd of 9,545 at Melbourne’s final home game, despite the team being out of playoff contention.

However, under Demopoulos’ leadership, the season was marred by internal discord. By season’s end, it was public knowledge that his relationship with certain players had deteriorated, with tensions between the veterans and the highly competitive coach leading to a divided locker room. The inability to manage these relationships, coupled with injuries and offensive struggles, saw United finish in sixth place (13-15). Both Demopoulos and the team parted ways at the season’s end.

We could watch this again, and again, and again…

Re-live those final moments. It doesn't get much better than this one! #WeAreMelbourne pic.twitter.com/lFly5gLqRC

— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) November 27, 2016

2017/18
On August 22, 2017, Ware re-signed with Melbourne United, who looked to begin a new era, replacing head coach Dean Demopoulos. who had struggled to fit in with the playing group during his tenure, with Sydney assistant coach Dean Vickerman. Vickerman signed on for two seasons and shortly after, the team re-signed David Barlow and imports Josh Boone and Ware. Vickerman brought with him forward Craig Moller (via Sydney) as a replacement for the departing Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and added Casey Prather (via Perth) as the team’s third import.

Melbourne won their season opener against Adelaide (99–97) with Prather (20 points) leading the team offensively. Despite United’s hot start, they would win only five of their first ten games.

On December 16, Prather went down with a dislocated elbow in the second quarter of Melbourne’s win over Illawarra (84–78) and was subsequently ruled out for a minimum of eight weeks. While United looked for a injury replacement, development player Felix Von Hofe was elevated into the team until they signed former NBA talent Carrick Felix. Felix joined the team in December and with his addition, the team sparked a strong run home, finishing 15-3 for the remainder of the season.

Ware would average 16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, helping Melbourne finish in first place (20-8) during the regular season, before going on to meet fourth-seed New Zealand in the semifinals. In game one, Prather (15 points) led the team in scoring despite starting on the bench and led United to a 11-point win (88–77). Prather (12 points) then helped Melbourne win game two in overtime (88–86) and progress to the Grand Final. On the opposite side of the bracket, the Adelaide 36ers eliminated the reigning champions Perth in two games as well.

The opening game saw Casper Ware (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) come out on fire in the first half, before leaving the game with a hip injury. United sharp-shooter Chris Goulding would then step up with a impressive shooting display (26 points) to give Melbourne the victory (107-96) at Hisense Arena. Daniel Johnson (18 points) led the 36ers in scoring alongside Mitch Creek (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists).

In game two, Adelaide came out firing behind Majok Deng (18 points), Mitch Creek (17 points) and Ramone Moore (17 points) and tied the series with a 15-point win (110-95). Melbourne were led by Casey Prather (20 points), who had re-joined the team just prior to the Grand Final series, and Chris Goulding (19 points).

The 36ers win came at a cost, with import Josh Childress (13 points and 8 rebounds) going down with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter that would remove him from the remaining Grand Final games.

The series returned to Melbourne for game three, where tensions exploded at the end of the first half, Adelaide’s Nathan Sobey clashing heads with Casey Prather after the United import hit a three-pointer on the stroke of halftime. The Adelaide guard was called for a disqualifying foul and ejected from the match. There was further drama at the end of the game with players from both teams needing to be separated after the final buzzer. The incident also resulted in 36ers head coach Joey Wright being fined handsomely for questioning the integrity of the referees.

When the smoke settled, Melbourne had squeaked out a narrow victory (101-98) after Adelaide’s Majok Deng missed a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds. Casper Ware (25 points), Prather (23 points) and Chris Goulding (15 points), who hit three clutch triples to take control of the game, were among United’s best.

Game four saw Adelaide swingman Nathan Sobey (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists), who was ejected in game three for his part in the halftime melee, lead the way for the 36ers in the first half with the scoreboard reading 55-31 at the halfway mark. Again the home team was victorious, Adelaide getting a comfortable win over Melbourne United (90-81). Johnson (29 points and 10 rebounds) and Prather (23 points) top scoring for their respective sides.

In the deciding game five, Goulding, Ware (both 23 points) and Prather (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 steals) came to play and Melbourne defeated Adelaide (100-82) in front of a sold-out crowd at Hisense Arena, winning their first title since rebranding from the Tigers. Shannon Shorter (20 points) led Adelaide in scoring, while Chris Goulding was named Finals MVP after averaging 16.6 points and 3.6 rebounds over the five-game series. With the win, Prather collected his third NBL championship to become the first player in NBL history to win three straight titles in his first three seasons in the league.

2018/19
Melbourne entered the 2018/19 season looking to defend their championship. They retained their core group by first re-signing team captain Chris Goulding (two-year deal) and David Barlow (one-year deal) before securing Josh Boone (one-year deal) and Casper Ware (one-year deal), who were challenging to bring back due to strong interest from multiple overseas teams. The team also added DJ Kennedy (via Turkey), Mitch McCarron (via Cairns), and Alex Pledger (via New Zealand) to further strengthen their lineup. Melbourne’s strategy centered on continuity, aiming to keep their championship-winning core intact while adding depth and versatility.

Casper Ware (18.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists) was Melbourne United’s offensive engine, regularly leading the team in scoring. His best performances included 34 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block in a win against Cairns, 32 points and 2 assists in another win against Cairns, and 30 points and 5 rebounds in a win against Sydney.

Ware’s scoring ability and clutch performances kept Melbourne competitive throughout the season, making him one of the league’s premier guards.

Mid-season, Melbourne added Venky Jois (2.2 points and 0.7 rebounds), who had been playing in Japan, to provide additional cover for injuries and strengthen the roster for the playoffs.

Dean Vickerman’s leadership earned him the NBL Coach of the Year award as Melbourne finished second in the regular season (18-10), setting up a semifinal clash against Sydney.

In Game 1 of the semifinals (95-73), Casper Ware contributed 22 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals as Melbourne controlled the game. DJ Kennedy (20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Chris Goulding (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) all produced big games. Sydney’s Andrew Bogut (7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks) struggled offensively, while Kevin Lisch (13 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Jerome Randle (13 points) couldn’t overcome Melbourne’s defensive pressure.

In Game 2 of the semifinals (90-76), Ware added 30 points and 5 rebounds as Melbourne closed out the series. Chris Goulding (23 points and 3 assists) starred again for United. Melbourne shut down star point guard Jerome Randle (2 points and 5 assists), and even though Andrew Bogut (10 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) bounced back from a poor Game 1, it wasn’t enough to prevent Melbourne from meeting Perth in the Grand Final. Kevin Lisch (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) top-scored for Sydney.

In Game 1 of the Grand Final series (81-71), Ware added 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists as Chris Goulding (15 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal) led Melbourne offensively. United were able to limit Perth’s star import Bryce Cotton (10 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) offensively, but big games from Terrico White (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Angus Brandt (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists) powered the Wildcats to victory.

Game 2 of the Grand Final series (92-74) saw Melbourne bounce back behind a balanced scoring attack from Casper Ware (14 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Chris Goulding (14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists), Mitch McCarron (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), and DJ Kennedy (12 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals). Ware also provided leadership and clutch scoring. Bryce Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Terrico White (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) stood out for Perth.

The loss to Melbourne saw Perth coach Trevor Gleeson make a number of adjustments, and the Wildcats came back to dominate in Game 3 (95-67). Ware struggled with 10 points and 3 assists, while DJ Kennedy (13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and David Barlow (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) were top scorers in an incredibly low-scoring effort. Bryce Cotton (27 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals) and Terrico White (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) combined for 58 points and came close to outscoring Melbourne themselves.

In the deciding Game 4 (97-84), Ware contributed 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 2 steals as Melbourne fought hard but fell short. Bryce Cotton (28 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and Terrico White (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth to the title, with Nick Kay (12 points and 10 rebounds) dominating inside. Chris Goulding (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) also made a strong contribution for Melbourne. Terrico White, who had faced criticism earlier in the season, claimed the Grand Final MVP award after averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over the four-game series.

SYDNEY KINGS
2019/20
With Sydney having underdelivered with Andrew Gaze as coach, the Kings went a different direction in 2019 and signed Will Weaver, a current assistant coach on the Australian Boomers, as the team’s head coach. With Melbourne deciding not to take on the optional third of Moller’s contract, he would return to Sydney, signing a two-year deal (15 April 2019).

Sydney’s other moves included re-signing Kevin Lisch on a multi-year deal, replacing imports Jerome Randle with Casper Ware (via Melbourne) and David Wear with Jae’Sean Tate. Weaver would add local talent Xavier Cooks (Winthrop University), Shaun Bruce (via Adelaide) and Lucas Walker (via Cairns).

With the NBL ramping up it’s ‘Next Stars’ program, the Kings also acquired Didi Louzada, who had just been drafted by the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, as a additional part of their roster.

The team suffered a major injury set-back when Kevin Lisch (6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals) suffered a left ankle fracture in Round 2 of the season and was subsequently ruled out for two months. Sydney added import Deshon Taylor (6.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1 assists), who had been released by the Adelaide 36ers in the pre-season until Lisch was able to return in February. He managed to play the final three games of the regular season to help the Kings finish in first-place (20–8).

During Moller’s second stint with the Kings, He appeared in the first 11 games of the 2019/20 season before missing the next 16 games with a right ankle injury. Moller (7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) returned to play in the Kings’ final regular season game, just in time for the playoffs.

Weaver had constructed a Kings team that delivered a well-balanced attack, proving almost unstoppable during the regular season. Casper Ware (19.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists) led the team in scoring, while Jae’Sean Tate (16.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists 1.1 steals) showcased a all-around game that not only saw him named in the All-NBL First Team, and Kings club MVP but resulted in him gaining a NBA contract with Houston the following year.

Andrew Bogut (8.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks), who showed clear signs of slowing down, was still able to make a huge impact at the defensive end and was named to the league’s All-NBL second team.

Sydney went on to defeat Melbourne in the semifinals (2-1), and would face off against Perth in the Grand Final.

Game one saw the Kings lose a nailbiter (86-88), with Lisch (17 points) leading the team in scoring. As the team’s prepared for game two in Perth, it was decided that the remaining games would all take place with no fans in the building. Without a single fan in the building, the Kings evened the series (1-1) thanks to Jae’Sean Tate (21 points) nailing seven of his nine shots and Andrew Bogut (24 points and 14 rebounds) having one of his best games of the season.

In game three of the grand final series against the Sydney Kings, Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists) delivered a career high scoring effort, including seven three-pointers alongside Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) to propel Perth to a game three victory (111–96).

Prior to game four, the Sydney Kings chose to withdraw from the series due to uncertainties of the coronavirus and travel restrictions. With multiple Kings players based overseas, many were concerned the restrictions would prevent any return home. After a week spent deliberating, it was decided Perth would be awarded the championship due to holding a 2-1 lead at the time, securing their tenth title. After averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over the three games, Cotton was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years, becoming the first player in Wildcats history to be named league MVP, Grand Final MVP and win a championship all in the same season.

Ware led the Kings in scoring and assists, averaging 19.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, and was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

Casper Ware is a walking bucket ????

The explosive guard averaged 18 points per game across five seasons in the NBL.

Check out some of his best plays ???? pic.twitter.com/F2hgEx1Lkj

— NBL (@NBL) May 20, 2024

2020/21
Sydney faced a major roster turnover after finishing runners-up to Perth in a Covid induced conclusion to the 2020 Grand Final. The team looked to recover from the loss of both All-NBL First Team forward Jae’Sean Tate and head coach Will Weaver, who both inked contracts with the NBA’s Houston Rockets while veterans Kevin Lisch, Andrew Bogut and Lucas Walker all retired. Kings assistant Adam Forde took up the reigns this season after being with the organisation since 2019 and replaced the outgoing talent with import Jarell Martin, Angus Glover (via Illawarra), and rookie Dejan Vasiljevic (via Miami University). During the preseason, Sydney lost promising forward Xavier Cooks to a foot injury and signed Tom Vodanovich (via New Zealand) as an injury replacement just before their opening game. The team’s injury woes continued when Angus Glover tore his ACL and would miss all but two games for the season.

As the season kicked off, the Kings looked to their young core to step up in the loss of key veterans and struggled early as a result. Losing three of their first four games, the team sat at the bottom of the ladder in seventh place. Mid-season, the league made the decisions to move all teams to Melbourne for a in-season tournament (NBL Cup) created to avoid COVID-related travel issues. It was here Sydney began to find some form, winning as many as they lost during the Cup (4-4) and then once the tournament was over, consecutive wins at home saw Sydney reach the top four by round 12.

Martin (17.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) and co-captain Casper Ware (17.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) became the focal points on offence. Ware appeared in each of the Kings 36 games of the season and only had five games where he scored less than 10 points, including a career-high 40 point effort in April during a win over Cairns (89–84). Ware was tasked with saving the Kings in several clutch moments during the season. This included his missed game-winning opportunity against the Taipans in Round 1, while another being his huge fourth quarter against Cairns in Round 14, where the fourth quarter began with both teams tied at 65-all and Ware produced 13 points in the final 10 minutes to deliver victory to the Kings.

Dejan Vasiljevic (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and Jordan Hunter (9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks) both became major parts of the King’s core rotation, Hunter finishing runner-up in the voting for the Most Improved Player award and Vasiljevic being selected as Rookie of the Year. Xavier Cooks (10.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 blocks) also showed what type of impact he could have during the King’s back end of the season win the league, producing a career high 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawks in Round 21. The Kings’ limitations this season were primarily their perimeter shooting, where they were equal worst in three-point percentage (tied with Illawarra with 33.4%) and inability to win on the road, where they lost 50% of their games away from home. With four rounds to go, Sydney was firmly entrenched inside the top four but a stretch of five losses in seven games that included two by over 20 points ultimately saw them fall short. Sydney ended the season on a three-game winning streak but would finish in fifth place (19-17) and fail to qualify for the playoffs.

Casper Ware played five seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings. He averaged 18.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 156 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (814 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.