BIO: James Batemon III was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA), where he attended Riverside University High School.

NBL EXPERIENCE

James Batemon III made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 27 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.

Head coach Justin Schueller entered his second season with a renewed roster focused on returning to playoff contention. Brisbane’s offseason began with the surprise jettisoning of face of the franchise Nathan Sobey, who had been with the club for seven seasons. Despite delivering one of the best years of his career in NBL24.

“Really this decision wasn’t about Nathan, but how we can continue to move forward as a club and build a true contender,” Schueller said. “We needed to lean more into our culture and bring in winners who can help us grow. We can’t shy away from Nathan’s production, but we also know there’s other areas we must improve if we want to win a championship.”

Alongside Sobey, Brisbane also farewelled Aron Baynes (retired), Chris Smith (to Japan), Shannon Scott (to Taiwan), and DJ Mitchell (to England). Mitch Norton was elevated to captain in Sobey’s absence, and the club re-signed Isaac White, Norton, Tyrell Harrison, and import forward Casey Prather. Young forward Josh Bannan also returned for his second NBL season. To refresh the squad, Brisbane added high-scoring import duo James Batemon and dynamic wing Keandre Cook. Former NBA forward Deng Adel was given another NBL opportunity, while Tohi Smith-Milner arrived via Adelaide to bolster the frontcourt. Development players Kye Savage, Tristan Devers, and Josh Kunen rounded out the roster.

Upon signing with Brisbane,, Batemon was hailed by Schueller as a “high-level impact scorer, floor leader and competitor” who would quickly become a fan favourite. “He’s coming off an outstanding recent year in Israel and we only see him continuing to grow in our league,” Schueller said upon Batemon’s signing.

Brisbane opened the season with back-to-back road losses to New Zealand and Illawarra before claiming their first win over South East Melbourne, led by Tyrell Harrison’s dominant double-double. Batemon immediately showcased his scoring prowess, recording 21 points in a Round 5 win over New Zealand and backing it up with another 21-point effort against Cairns.

After a slow start to his NBL career adjusting to the point guard role, Batemon thrived after shifting into a sixth-man role behind captain Mitch Norton. From that point onward, he averaged 15.2 points over a six-game stretch leading into the FIBA break, often sparking Brisbane’s offense off the bench.

The highlight of Batemon’s campaign—and arguably Brisbane’s season—came on November 17, when he erupted for a historic 51-point performance against the Perth Wildcats. Starting in place of the injured Casey Prather (hip), Batemon delivered one of the greatest single-game performances in modern NBL history. He connected on 19-of-28 from the field and 9-of-15 from beyond the arc, setting a new Brisbane Bullets record for points in a 40-minute game and becoming just the second player since the NBL’s return to 40-minute games to reach the 50-point mark, following Chris Goulding’s effort in 2014.

Batemon quickly set the tone, hitting four triples in the first quarter and another four in the third to help Brisbane build a 10-point lead that eventually blew out to a commanding 21-point victory, 105–84. His fiancée Nickayla and three-year-old son Jay were in the crowd to witness the milestone achievement, which Batemon later described as “something else.”

“You can’t get too high or too low, but honestly I can’t tell you where I’m at right now with how excited I am,” Batemon said post-game. “When I looked up at the scoreboard, the most nervous I’ve ever been was shooting that free throw at 39. Once I got to 50, I knew it was good.”

The win lifted Brisbane’s record to 4–6 heading into the FIBA international break. Meanwhile, Perth’s star Bryce Cotton struggled, missing his first 11 shots and finishing with just 13 points on 3-of-16 shooting. Despite a 27-point game from Keanu Pinder, the Wildcats could not overcome Batemon’s record-setting barrage. Brisbane and Perth would meet again later in November for the rematch in Perth.

However, disaster struck in late December. During a win over Cairns, Batemon suffered a high-grade hamstring injury that would rule him out for the rest of the season. The club immediately began searching for an import replacement, with CEO Malcolm Watts noting, “James has been an integral part of our success this season, bringing leadership, energy, and exceptional playmaking ability to the court.”

Brisbane’s fortunes declined following Batemon’s exit. The team battled injuries across the board—Jarred Bairstow (ankle), Josh Bannan (concussion), Sam McDaniel (shoulder), Tyrell Harrison (concussion), and Deng Adel (groin) all missed significant time. The Bullets added former JackJumpers star Josh Adams and ex-Illawarra playmaker Emmett Naar mid-season to bolster the backcourt, but Brisbane never climbed higher than seventh on the ladder after the new year.

Despite the challenges, Casey Prather delivered a career-best season, including 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in a January win over New Zealand and 36 points in a road win over Adelaide. Adams had a standout 23-point, 7-rebound game against Melbourne, while Keandre Cook remained consistent down the stretch, highlighted by a 28-point outing in the final game against Cairns.

Brisbane ultimately finished 12–17, eighth on the ladder, missing the playoffs despite flashes of high-level play.

James Batemon averaged 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists across 16 games before his injury. His performances included the unforgettable 51-point explosion against Perth, along with several 20+ point outings during Brisbane’s strong December stretch. Despite the abbreviated season, Batemon left a lasting impact on Brisbane’s campaign with his scoring brilliance and toughness.

Across the squad, Casey Prather (21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals) finished third in the league in scoring, winning Club MVP and earning All-NBL First Team selection. Keandre Cook (16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.7 steals) impressed as a rookie, leading the league in steals and ranking among the top three-point shooters. Tyrell Harrison (14.3 points, 9.7 rebounds) led the league in rebounding and won Most Improved Player, while Josh Bannan (13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds) captured the NBL Youth Player of the Year award.

Captain Mitch Norton (7.4 points, 2.9 assists) played all 29 games and was honoured with the Bullets’ Defensive Player and Players’ Player awards. Bench contributors Isaac White (6.6 points), Tohi Smith-Milner (5.1 points), Rocco Zikarsky (4.6 points), and Deng Adel (4.7 points) added valuable depth during an injury-riddled season.

James Batemon made history for the Brisbane Bullets, becoming the first player in the modern 40-minute NBL era to score over 50 points for the team. Batemon’s explosive performance included nine three-pointers, finishing with 51 points in a commanding 105-84 win over the Perth Wildcats. It marked only the second 50-point game in the 40-minute era, following Chris Goulding’s effort in 2014.

Starting in place of the injured Casey Prather (hip), Batemon quickly set the tone, hitting four triples in the first quarter and another four in the third, helping the Bullets build a 10-point lead before stretching it to a 21-point victory.

“When I looked up the scoreboard, the most nervous I’ve ever been was shooting that free throw at 39. Once I got to 50, I knew it was good.” Batemon said post-game.

The win brought Brisbane’s record to 4-6 heading into the FIBA break, while Perth’s Bryce Cotton struggled, missing his first 11 shots and finishing with 13 points on 3/16 shooting. Keanu Pinder led the Wildcats with 27 points, but it wasn’t enough to counter Batemon’s record-breaking display. Brisbane and Perth will meet again on November 29 in Perth.

James Batemon III currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets and has played 16 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 15.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists since entering the league in 2024.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Brisbane Bullets – 2 Year Deal (2024-26)

Dan Boyce (838 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.