BIO: Ian Clark was born in Memphis, Tennessee (USA) where he attended Germantown High School.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ian Clark made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 31 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.

In 2021, Sydney replaced Adam Forde with unproven US coach Chase Buford. Buford, son of NBA Spurs mastermind RC Buford, inherited a strong core that included Xavier Cooks, Jarell Martin, and Dejan Vasiljevic. The Kings also added former NBA talent Jaylen Adams and import RJ Hunter to bolster their lineup.

However, the Kings faced early struggles due to injuries. RJ Hunter managed only one game before his season ended, and Adams missed a third of the season, while big man Jordan Hunter was sidelined for the entire year. This contributed to a sluggish start, and by January, the Kings had lost four straight games. When Adams returned to action, the Kings brought in former NBA guard Ian Clark, a former teammate of Kings co-owner Andrew Bogut, as an injury replacement for Jordan Hunter. Clark’s arrival marked a turning point for the team.

Clark played in 16 games, averaging 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, primarily coming off the bench as a clutch scorer. He shot 42.7% from three-point range on 5.1 attempts per game and added crucial firepower, helping the Kings find their stride and finish the regular season on a 13-game winning streak.

The Kings faced Brian Goorjian’s Illawarra Hawks in the semifinals, comfortably winning the series 2-0. Meanwhile, the Tasmania JackJumpers, in their debut NBL season, surprised everyone by defeating Melbourne United in three games. Tasmania, having finished fifth in the regular season, only qualified for the playoffs due to points percentage after South East Melbourne beat Perth in the final game of the regular season.

In the Grand Final series, Sydney asserted their dominance by winning Game 1 against Tasmania (95-78). Adams, who had been named NBL MVP the previous week, contributed 18 points but suffered a left hamstring injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the series.

In Game 2, Tasmania’s Josh Adams erupted for 36 points, but the Kings were able to secure a 90-86 win, thanks to 20-point efforts from both Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin, who shot an impressive 80% from the field. Dejan Vasiljevic also nailed a crucial three-pointer late in the game to clinch the victory. This marked Sydney’s 12th consecutive road win, the most ever in a single NBL season.

Dejan Vasiljevic with the 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 🗡️
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– 📺 Watch the #NBLFinals Live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/XDIgoHVKo9— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) May 8, 2022

The Kings closed out the series in Game 3, ending their 17-year championship drought in front of 16,000 fans at Qudos Bank Arena. Cooks and Martin combined for 45 points and 29 rebounds, leading Sydney to their 19th win in their last 21 games.

Xavier Cooks was named Finals MVP, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists over the three-game series. At just 33 years old, Buford became the fourth-youngest coach to win an NBL championship, following in the footsteps of Bob Turner (1983), Ken Richardson (1982), and Jim Ericksen (1981), two of whom were player-coaches.

17 years in the making 💜💛#WeTheKings #NBL22 pic.twitter.com/Wz7uIGjTr6— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) May 14, 2022

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2022/23
Adelaide entered CJ Bruton’s second season as head coach after finishing seventh with a 10-18 record, having struggled to establish a settled rotation as injuries decimated the team’s frontcourt. Captain Mitch McCarron, Daniel Johnson, Sunday Dech, Hyrum Harris, Kai Sotto and development player Nick Marshall returned, while Isaac Humphries (to Melbourne), Mojave King (to G League Ignite), Todd Withers (to Rytas Vilnius), Cameron Bairstow (retired), Dusty Hannahs (free agent), Tad Dufelmeier Jr (free agent) and Emmanuel Malou (free agent) departed. Bruton added Anthony Drmic (via Brisbane), Antonius Cleveland (via Illawarra), Robert Franks (via Brisbane), Craig Randall II (via Long Island Nets), Kyrin Galloway (via New Zealand) and Deng Acuoth (via Knox).

The rebuilt roster raised expectations during Adelaide’s NBLxNBA tour, where the 36ers became the first NBL team to defeat NBA opposition with a 134-124 victory against the Phoenix Suns. Randall II (35 points), Franks (32 points and 7 rebounds), Cleveland (22 points) and McCarron (4 points, 9 rebounds, 16 assists, and 3 steals) helped Adelaide make 24 three-pointers, while Payne (23 points) led Phoenix. The trip ended with a 131-98 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The expectations created in the United States were not matched during the regular season as Adelaide opened with a 3-4 record. Randall II (20.3 points and 3.2 rebounds across 6 games) had multiple on-court verbal altercations with Bruton and was released by mutual consent on November 8 after reacting negatively to being moved to the bench.

With Adelaide sitting at 6-8 and fighting Melbourne, Perth and South East Melbourne for the final two Play-In positions, Ian Clark (via Sydney) signed for the remainder of the season to fill the import vacancy left by Randall II. Clark arrived after helping Sydney win the NBL22 championship and had previously been part of Golden State’s 2017 NBA championship team. “He’s a winner, he knows what it takes to get it done in this league but most importantly, he’s a great teammate,” Bruton said.

Clark made his Adelaide debut against Brisbane at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 29, scoring 9 points in 19:30 off the bench as the 36ers collected their fourth consecutive victory with an 87-84 win in front of a record crowd of 9,263. Franks (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Cleveland (13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) led Adelaide, while Sobey (24 points and 4 rebounds) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Clark (12.2 points and 3.1 assists across 10 games) started three games and shot 47.3 per cent from the field, 35.6 per cent from three and 90.9 per cent from the free-throw line. He added experienced shooting and secondary ball-handling, but Adelaide was unable to establish consistent chemistry during the run home and lost six of its final eight games.

Clark’s best scoring game came against former team Sydney at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 3, where he made eight of his 12 field-goal attempts and finished with 18 points and 2 steals. Cleveland (23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) and Franks (19 points and 5 rebounds) helped Adelaide recover from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit and defeat the ladder-leading Kings 115-108 in front of a sellout crowd of 9,505, while Soares (24 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Sydney as the 36ers kept their Play-In hopes alive.

Franks (17.7 points and 6.5 rebounds across 28 games) led Adelaide in scoring and rebounding, while Cleveland (15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals across 28 games) won his second consecutive NBL Best Defensive Player award and the club’s Mark Davis Trophy. Johnson (11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds across 27 games) recorded his lowest scoring average in almost a decade, while Drmic (10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds across 25 games), McCarron (7.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals across 26 games), Dech (7.3 points across 28 games) and Sotto (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds across 27 games) were the other main contributors.

Clark’s best all-round performance came in Adelaide’s final game against Melbourne at John Cain Arena on February 5, where he made six of his nine field-goal attempts without committing a turnover and finished with 14 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. The 36ers entered the game needing a 23-point victory to remain in the Play-In race, but Tucker (31 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) led Melbourne to a 116-107 win despite Cleveland (30 points and 6 rebounds) and Dech (20 points and 4 assists) carrying Adelaide, leaving the 36ers eighth with a 13-15 record.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2023/24
Despite winning 11 of its final 14 games, Melbourne finished seventh at 15-13 and missed the NBL23 postseason before reshaping the roster around captain Chris Goulding. Rayjon Tucker (to Italy), Isaac Humphries (to Adelaide), Mason Peatling (to Illawarra), David Okwera (to Perth), Makuach Maluach (to Sydney), Marcus Lee (to Tasmania), Lachlan Barker (to Tasmania) and David Barlow (retired) departed. Coach Dean Vickerman brought Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (via China) and Matthew Dellavedova (via Sacramento) back to Melbourne, while Luke Travers (via Perth), Ian Clark (via Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (via Brisbane), Flynn Cameron (via UC Riverside) and Kyle Bowen (via Saint Mary’s) joined the roster.

The 2017 NBA and 2022 NBL champion signed a one-year deal with United after previously joining Sydney and Adelaide midway through their respective seasons. “It’s going to give me the best chance to be myself, the chance to be the true Ian on the court,” he said. A hamstring injury suffered during the NBL Blitz kept the import out of Melbourne’s opening 82-67 win over South East Melbourne and its 82-74 road victory against Adelaide.

Clark (13.6 points across 30 games) became United’s main scoring option from the bench, providing high-level shooting, secondary ball-handling and the ability to close games alongside Melbourne’s experienced starting guards. He later suffered a recurrence of the hamstring in early November and missed another three games before returning during December.

Clark’s United debut came against Tasmania at John Cain Arena on October 8, where Clark (11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) helped Melbourne build an eight-point third-quarter lead, but the JackJumpers recovered to win 80-75. Hukporti (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) and Goulding (12 points) were United’s other leading scorers, while Doyle (25 points and 8 rebounds) carried Tasmania.

Clark’s best scoring game came against Perth at John Cain Arena on December 23, where Clark (25 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made five three-pointers and scored 13 points during overtime as Melbourne defeated the Wildcats 109-103. Travers (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Goulding (19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) helped United improve to 14-3, while Cotton (36 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) led Perth before Clark’s two overtime three-pointers broke the game open.

Goulding (16.9 points across 36 games) led Melbourne in scoring, with Lual-Acuil Jr (14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 29 games), Dellavedova (12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across 30 games), Travers (12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 33 games) and Ili (10.7 points and 3.7 assists across 34 games) completing a balanced starting group. Hukporti (7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 36 games), Loe (5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds across 8 games) and Krebs (5.3 points across 36 games) provided further depth. Clark was named the NBL’s Best Sixth Man, Goulding earned All-NBL First Team honours, Lual-Acuil Jr was selected to the All-NBL Second Team, Ili won Defensive Player of the Year and Vickerman received Coach of the Year.

Melbourne closed the regular season against Illawarra at John Cain Arena on February 18, where Clark (13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals) helped United defeat the Hawks 92-87, with Goulding (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Dellavedova (17 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists) leading the scoring while Robinson (14 points and 5 assists) was Illawarra’s best. United finished first with a 20-8 record, three wins clear of the competition after spending 19 of the season’s 20 rounds on top of the ladder.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at John Cain Arena on March 7 and recovered from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Illawarra 115-106 in overtime. Clark (14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) provided scoring from the bench, while Dellavedova (30 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) and Travers (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led United. Froling (26 points and 5 rebounds) and Gary Clark (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) were Illawarra’s best.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Clark (17 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) stepped up during his 50th NBL appearance, with Dellavedova (20 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) and Lual-Acuil Jr (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block) also leading Melbourne. Gary Clark (31 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (23 points and 2 steals) and Hickey (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led Illawarra, with Hickey’s putback at the regulation buzzer forcing overtime before the Hawks won 113-108.

The series returned to John Cain Arena for game three, where Clark (14 points and 2 rebounds), Ili (22 points and 3 rebounds) and Travers (15 points and 11 rebounds) led Melbourne to a 100-94 win. Froling (23 points and 4 rebounds) and Robinson (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) kept Illawarra close before United advanced to the Grand Final series.

The Grand Final series opened in Melbourne, where Clark (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) delivered one of his strongest postseason performances off the bench as United defeated Tasmania 104-81. Goulding (22 points and 4 rebounds) and Lual-Acuil Jr (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the starters, while Drmic (18 points) and Doyle (16 points and 8 rebounds) were Tasmania’s best.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Clark (8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists), Ili (20 points) and Goulding (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) helped Melbourne establish a 15-point third-quarter lead. McVeigh (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists), Doyle (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Crawford (13 points and 4 assists) led Tasmania’s comeback before the JackJumpers won 82-77 and levelled the series.

Game three returned to John Cain Arena, where Clark (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal), Dellavedova (21 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Goulding (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Travers (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks) led Melbourne. McVeigh (18 points and 12 rebounds) and Doyle (14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) kept Tasmania close before McVeigh collected Doyle’s save and made a long three-pointer from beyond half-court at the buzzer, giving the JackJumpers a 93-91 win and handing United consecutive losses for the first time that season.

Game four moved back to Tasmania, where Clark (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block) led Melbourne’s scoring, with Travers (17 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Goulding (17 points) and Dellavedova (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) providing support. McVeigh (28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals), Doyle (14 points and 6 rebounds) and Crawford (14 points) led Tasmania before Dellavedova’s go-ahead lay-up and Clark’s late free throw helped United hold on for an 88-86 win and force a deciding game.

Game five returned to John Cain Arena, where Crawford (32 points and 6 rebounds) scored 19 points during the opening quarter and received support from McVeigh (14 points and 8 rebounds), Magnay (11 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Doyle (11 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals) as Tasmania defeated Melbourne 83-81 and secured its first championship. Lual-Acuil Jr (14 points and 6 rebounds), Dellavedova (13 points and 7 assists), Travers (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) and Goulding (13 points, 2 steals, and 1 block) led United, with McVeigh named Grand Final MVP before Dellavedova’s half-court attempt missed. Clark (11 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal) played 27:46 minutes in the loss.

2024/25
After falling one win short of the championship the previous season, Melbourne entered NBL25 without Brad Newley (retired), Luke Travers (to Cleveland), Ariel Hukporti (to NBA), Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (to China), Zac Triplett (to Illawarra) and Malith Machar. Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Ian Clark, Flynn Cameron, Tanner Krebs, Kyle Bowen and Rob Loe returned, while coach Dean Vickerman added Jack White (via NBA), Marcus Lee (via Tasmania), Akech Aliir (via Adelaide), Campbell Blogg, Tom Koppens and Joel Foxwell (via NBL1).

After winning the NBL’s Best Sixth Man award during his first season with United, the veteran guard signed a new one-year deal to remain in Melbourne. United opened the season at HoopsFest on 19 September with an 88-79 win over defending champion Tasmania, where he contributed 5 points and 6 rebounds.

Clark (12.7 points across 28 games) began the season in the starting lineup before later returning to the bench, giving Melbourne an experienced scorer capable of creating his own shot, stretching the floor and providing quick offence late in the shot clock.

His best regular-season scoring game came in Perth on 4 October, where Clark (25 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) made five three-pointers as Melbourne defeated the Wildcats 97-68 and handed Perth its first loss of the season.

Clark (19 points and 4 rebounds) provided another major contribution as United defeated South East Melbourne 120-117 in overtime on 20 October, before adding 14 points and 4 assists four days later as an injury-hit Melbourne side defeated the ladder-leading Illawarra Hawks 92-87 in Wollongong.

After starting Melbourne’s opening 12 games, Clark moved to the bench against Perth on 9 November, allowing United to add another proven scorer to its second unit. He contributed 8 points as Melbourne recovered from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Wildcats 106-97, before Clark (20 points and 4 rebounds) made four three-pointers in a 113-93 win over Adelaide on 17 November that sent United into the FIBA break on top of the ladder.

With Melbourne missing its leading scorer in Brisbane on 8 December, Clark (24 points and 3 assists) stepped into a heavier creation role as United attempted to cover the loss of its main perimeter threat, although the Bullets prevailed 122-114. Clark (18 points) later started against South East Melbourne on 15 December, but the Phoenix defeated United 109-97 as Melbourne entered a stretch where it lost five of six games.

Clark helped Melbourne return to form during its late-season road run, scoring 16 points and making 2 steals in a 99-93 win over Perth on 22 January before producing another of his best performances four days later against Brisbane. Clark (24 points and 1 steal) made an equal career-high five three-pointers in less than 22 minutes as United defeated the Bullets 115-88, continuing his unbeaten NBL record whenever making at least five three-pointers in a game.

Melbourne closed the regular season with four consecutive wins over Perth, Brisbane, Tasmania and South East Melbourne. Clark (12 points) helped United recover from 14 points down to defeat Tasmania 94-92 before adding 9 points and 3 assists in the 103-93 Throwdown victory that secured second place and direct entry into the semifinals with a 19-10 record.

Goulding (18.4 points across 25 games) led Melbourne offensively, with White (13.8 points and 9.4 rebounds across 27 games), Ili (11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 26 games), Dellavedova (10.9 points and 7.1 assists across 27 games), Loe (10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds across 29 games) and Lee (6.7 points and 5.5 rebounds across 26 games) forming the other primary contributors.

Clark was again nominated for the NBL’s Best Sixth Man award, while Goulding was selected to the All-NBL Second Team and received Melbourne’s club MVP award, and Ili won the Damian Martin Trophy as Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Melbourne opened its semifinal series against Perth at John Cain Arena with a 105-93 win. Goulding (41 points) made 10 three-pointers, while Clark (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists), White (13 points and 10 rebounds) and Lee (10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) provided support. Keanu Pinder (24 points and 11 rebounds), Bryce Cotton (22 points and 6 assists) and Kristian Doolittle (22 points and 9 rebounds) led Perth.

Game two moved to Perth, where the Wildcats recovered from a 20-point deficit to win 96-89. Dylan Windler (27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks), Cotton (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) powered Perth, while Goulding (15 points), Clark (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal), Dellavedova (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists) and White (13 points and 6 rebounds) led Melbourne.

The deciding third game returned to Melbourne and developed into a shootout, with Clark producing the best game of his season. Clark (38 points, 3 assists, and 6 three-pointers) scored a career-high and combined with Goulding (30 points) and White (15 points and 9 rebounds) to lead United to a 113-112 overtime victory. Doolittle (37 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists), Cotton (33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) and Pinder (15 points and 5 rebounds) led Perth as Melbourne advanced to a second consecutive Championship Series.

The Championship Series opened in Wollongong, where Melbourne recovered from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Illawarra 96-88. Dellavedova (18 points and 7 rebounds), Goulding (15 points and 4 assists), Lee (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Clark (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Ili (13 points and 4 assists) led United, while Sam Froling (16 points and 7 rebounds), Will Hickey (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists), Todd Blanchfield (13 points) and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (11 points and 2 steals) were best for Illawarra.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where Illawarra tied the series with a 102-100 win. Clark (31 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) scored 16 points during the fourth quarter and put United ahead with three free throws with 10.4 seconds remaining, but Tyler Harvey (24 points) answered with the game-winning three-pointer. Froling (23 points and 5 rebounds), Trey Kell III (18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals) and Swaka Lo Buluk (12 points) led the Hawks, while Goulding (17 points and 4 assists) and Dellavedova (14 points and 5 assists) supported Clark.

Game three returned to Wollongong, where Melbourne erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit with a 20-4 run to win 83-77. White (20 points and 5 rebounds), Dellavedova (16 points and 11 assists), Clark (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Goulding (14 points and 3 steals) led United, while Hickey (12 points), Darius Days (11 points), Kell III (10 points and 8 rebounds) and Swaka Lo Buluk (10 points) led Illawarra.

Illawarra kept the series alive in game four with an 80-71 win at John Cain Arena. Hickey (22 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Lachlan Olbrich (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Harvey (12 points and 4 rebounds) led the Hawks, while Froling suffered a ruptured Achilles and was ruled out of the deciding game. Dellavedova (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Goulding (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Clark (16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) were Melbourne’s best.

The final game returned to Wollongong, where Illawarra defeated Melbourne 114-104 to win its second NBL championship. Kell III (26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists), Hickey (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists), Harvey (16 points and 7 rebounds) and Swaka Lo Buluk (16 points) led the Hawks, while Goulding (21 points), Ili (20 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals), White (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Clark (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2025/26
After coming within one win of their first Grand Final in Josh King’s first season, South East Melbourne entered NBL26 after finishing fourth with a 16-13 record and losing the deciding semifinal to Illawarra. Matthew Hurt, Derrick Walton Jr, Joe Wieskamp, Reuben Te Rangi (to New Zealand), Ben Ayre (to Tasmania), and Matt Kenyon (to Adelaide) departed, while King retained co-captains Nathan Sobey and Jordan Hunter alongside Angus Glover, Owen Foxwell, and Malique Lewis. Akech Aliir (via Melbourne), DJ Mitchell (via Manchester), Gorjok Gak (via Tasmania), Hunter Maldonado (via Ludwigsburg), and John Brown III (via Belgrade) were added to the roster.

Wes Iwundu (via Patras) joined after the season began, while Gak (to Sichuan) departed during December. The Phoenix then released Maldonado (to Brisbane) and signed NBA champion, NBL champion, and former Best Sixth Man Ian Clark (via Santurce) for the remainder of the season. The veteran joined South East Melbourne with the team sitting second at 13-6, adding another proven scorer and experienced postseason performer to King’s backcourt.

Clark (27 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) produced his best regular-season scoring game at HoopsFest on January 18, stepping into the starting line-up with Sobey unavailable through illness and making 11-of-18 shots and five three-pointers as South East Melbourne defeated league-leading Adelaide 108-89 at RAC Arena. Hunter (20 points and 9 rebounds) and Foxwell (15 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals) supported Clark as the Phoenix improved to 17-8, while Cotton (30 points and 6 assists) led the 36ers.

Clark (13.7 points across 18 games) quickly became South East Melbourne’s primary scorer off the bench, providing instant offence and outside shooting during the second half of the season.

Three days after his HoopsFest performance, Clark (24 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) made five three-pointers against New Zealand as the Phoenix scored 74 points in the opening half and defeated the Breakers 123-116 at the State Basketball Centre. Iwundu (23 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Sobey (19 points and 7 assists) helped South East Melbourne improve to 18-8, while Mennenga (28 points and 5 rebounds) was New Zealand’s best.

Clark (23 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 steals) again led the Phoenix against New Zealand on February 5, helping South East Melbourne break open a tied game by winning the second half 62-31 and defeating the Breakers 114-83 at Eventfinda Stadium. Sobey (21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) and Lewis (13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) provided support as the Phoenix moved to 21-9, while Brockington (19 points and 3 rebounds) led New Zealand.

Sobey (22.5 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.7 steals across 36 games) led South East Melbourne in scoring, won the club MVP award, and earned All-NBL First Team honours. Brown (10.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals across 37 games) joined him in the All-NBL First Team and won the Damian Martin Trophy as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Hunter (11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds across 37 games), Iwundu (11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds across 32 games), Foxwell (10.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals across 32 games), Glover (10.4 points across 35 games), who was named Best Sixth Man, and Lewis (6.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 29 games) completed one of the league’s deepest rotations as the Phoenix finished third with a 22-11 record, the highest ladder finish in club history.

South East Melbourne opened the postseason at John Cain Arena on March 4 and defeated Perth 111-94, with Clark (16 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal) making 8-of-12 shots before limping from the court during the second half. Sobey (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Foxwell (18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) led the Phoenix into the semifinals, while Doolittle (22 points and 6 rebounds) was Perth’s best.

Game one moved to Adelaide on March 10, where Clark (12 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks), Sobey (23 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals), Hunter (14 points and 4 rebounds), and Glover (14 points and 4 rebounds) kept South East Melbourne within reach. Cotton (42 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists), Vasiljevic (17 points), and Rakocevic (14 points and 10 rebounds) led Adelaide to a 104-97 win and a 1-0 series advantage.

Game two returned to John Cain Arena on March 14, where South East Melbourne recovered from an 18-point deficit behind Sobey (41 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists). Brown (12 points and 7 rebounds), Clark (10 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist), and Glover (10 points and 3 rebounds) helped the Phoenix win 101-92 and force a deciding game, while Cotton (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), Rakocevic (18 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists), and Vasiljevic (14 points) led Adelaide.

Game three returned to Adelaide on March 17, where Clark (32 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) produced his best game of the season on 13-of-18 shooting and 5-of-7 from three, with Sobey (17 points and 8 assists), Brown (9 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals), and Hunter (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks) supporting him, while Cotton (38 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists), Vasiljevic (27 points and 4 assists), and Rakocevic (14 points and 12 rebounds) led the 36ers as Adelaide defeated South East Melbourne 108-96.Ian Clark currently plays for the South East Melbourne Phoenix and has played 102 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 13.2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists since entering the league in 2021.