NICKNAME/S: Jase

BIO: Cadee was born and raised in the Sydney suburb of Greenacre. He attended Westfields Sports High School in the nearby suburb of Fairfield West, where he earned Hall of Fame status for basketball.

He grew up playing for the Bankstown Bruins junior program. Cadee received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2009. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2009, 2010).

FAMILY: Jason Cadee is the son of Robbie Cadee who played 100 games in the NBL.

Jason’s mother Debbie (formerly Debbie Lee) represented the Opals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jason Cadee made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Blaze at 19 years of age. He scored 11 points in his first game.

Cadee averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists as rookie while the Blaze finished with a record of 13-15 and in sixth place during the regular season.

2011/12
In 2011/12, Cadee numbers improved to 5.2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game as the Blaze finished with a record of 17-11 and in third place during the regular season.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2012/13
The Adelaide 36ers approached the 2012/13 season with a renewed focus on building around a foundation of local Australian talent. Capitalising on the Gold Coast Blaze’s exit from the league, the club acquired Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee on multi-year deals, while also bringing back Luke Schenscher for a second stint in Adelaide. Key returning players included Daniel Johnson, Mitch Creek, Stephen Weigh, and Nathan Crosswell, forming a balanced group of young prospects and seasoned contributors. In a deliberate shift away from dependence on imports, Adelaide signed only one—local state league scorer CJ Massingale. Departing the team were Adam Ballinger (to Melbourne), Everard Bartlett (to Perth), and former imports Chris Warren and Diamon Simpson, while Darren Ng, Nathan Herbert, and Wade Helliwell retired.

Adelaide began the season with early promise, defeating Melbourne 84–61 in the season opener. By Round 7, the team had improved to 4–3, including a hard-earned 69–65 win in Perth, and sat third on the ladder. However, momentum evaporated as the 36ers dropped 17 of their remaining 21 games, including an eight-game losing streak, finishing in last place for a second straight season with an 8–20 record.

The season was disrupted by the loss of Mitch Creek (5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds), who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in December against Townsville. Creek’s injury limited Adelaide’s athleticism on the wing and placed greater responsibility on the backcourt, including Cadee, to initiate offence.

Import CJ Massingale (4.1 points) was released midway through the campaign after failing to adapt to NBL standards. His replacement, American guard Scott Christopherson (2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds), joined from Belarus but encountered delays due to visa and FIBA clearance issues. Once eligible, Christopherson struggled to earn playing time and was heavily criticised, with basketball writer Boti Nagy later calling him the worst import in club history.

Jason Cadee (7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) had a steady campaign in his first year with the 36ers, operating primarily as a secondary ball-handler alongside Gibson. Cadee’s ability to play both guard positions made him a valuable rotation piece, especially as the team navigated injuries and a changing lineup throughout the year.

The team closed the season with four straight losses and an unchanged 8–20 record from the previous year. Head coach Marty Clarke was not retained, with Adelaide appointing championship-winning coach Joey Wright to lead the team into a new era. Despite the season’s results, Cadee gained valuable experience and was part of a core group expected to benefit from a fresh start under Wright.

While Cadee continued to grow in his role, teammates Daniel Johnson (16.2 points and 8.1 rebounds) and Adam Gibson (11.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds) were recognised with All-NBL Second and Third Team honours respectively. Other key contributors for the season were Petrie (11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds), Weigh (10.6 points and 5.9 rebounds), and Schenscher (9 points and 6.1 rebounds). Adelaide missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but with key young talent in place, hopes were high that Wright could unlock the group’s full potential.

2013/14
In 2013, the 36ers brought in NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright, who transformed the team from back-to-back wooden spooners into Grand Final contenders against the Perth Wildcats. The 36ers retained their core Aussie talent, including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds), who again led the team in scoring and rebounding, as well as Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee.

The 36ers also welcomed the return of Mitchell Creek and Luke Schenscher, both of whom had their previous seasons cut short by injury. Creek returned from a near career-ending Achilles injury, and Schenscher overcame elbow surgery. The club added BJ Anthony (via New Zealand) and 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville) to team up with new import Jarrid Frye in the backcourt.

After Round 7, the 36ers, led by Ervin and Johnson, were sitting in second place on the NBL ladder with a 7-2 record, including a 5-0 run. This stretch featured both of their wins over the Breakers in Auckland, marking their first victories against the triple defending champions since 2009. Adelaide also handed the previously undefeated Perth Wildcats (91-86) their first loss of the season in front of 6,585 fans at Adelaide Arena, the largest crowd since Brett Maher’s last home game in 2009.

By December, Adelaide (9-4) had already surpassed last season’s total of eight wins.

In February, the 36ers released Jarrid Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) due to underwhelming performances and an ankle injury. With second-placed Adelaide targeting a Grand Final berth, local guard Rhys Carter, who had been playing as an import in Sweden, was signed as Frye’s replacement.

The 36ers finished the regular season in second place (18-10), with Jason Cadee averaging 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

In the semifinals, Adelaide faced Melbourne, winning Game 1 convincingly behind Gary Ervin’s 27 points and 7 assists (101-85). In Game 2, Tigers guard Chris Goulding erupted for 37 points, leading Melbourne to a 98-87 win and tying the series (1-1). Adelaide responded in Game 3 with a dominant 102-63 victory, holding Melbourne to just 27 first-half points and winning every quarter by at least 7 points.

In the Grand Final, Adelaide faced top-seeded Perth. In Game 1, Wildcats star James Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth to a 92-85 victory, giving them a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 saw 8,127 36ers fans (the largest home crowd of the season) rally their team to an 89-84 win. Big performances from Gary Ervin (23 points) and Adam Gibson (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) evened the series (1-1).

In Game 3, 13,498 Perth fans watched the Wildcats clinch their sixth NBL title. With James Ennis hindered by foul trouble, Perth relied on veteran duo Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin to step up. Redhage scored 10 of his 16 points in the first quarter to help settle his team, while Martin delivered a superb defensive effort, limiting Gary Ervin to just 4 points while adding 14 points and 6 rebounds himself. Key contributions from Greg Hire (9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jermaine Beal (15 points) helped Perth erase the disappointment of losing the Grand Final in the previous two seasons.

Anthony Petrie (20 points) was relentless for the 36ers, but lacked support from Adam Gibson (8 points) and Daniel Johnson (9 points), both of whom had been instrumental in the first two games of the series.

SYDNEY KINGS
2014/15
During the 2014/15 season, Cadee averaged 8.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists and was a part of the Kings squad which finished in a seventh place with a record of 9-19.

2015/16
Since rejoining the NBL in 2010, the Sydney Kings had yet to finish with a winning record. They came close last season, but a season-ending injury to star Josh Childress derailed their hopes.

Determined to turn things around, Sydney loaded up on talent to support Childress and their emerging young core of Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp, and reigning Rookie of the Year Angus Brandt. The team also added veterans Julian Khazzouh, Steven Markovic, and Rhys Carter, while NBA draftee Marcus Thornton was brought in as the second import.

Childress missed the first four games of the season (1-3) with a foot injury but returned against Adelaide (Oct 23) at home, where he scored 23 points despite suffering a broken right hand during the game. This setback sidelined him for an additional four to six games with a boxer’s fracture.

Childress returned to action in late November but fractured his left hand just two games later, ruling him out for another three weeks. He rejoined the team on December 29 and finished out the remainder of the season. Overall, Childress averaged 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks, but he played in only 13 games.

Starting center Julian Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks) also put up solid numbers before suffering a serious right quadriceps injury in mid-December, which kept him out for a third of the season. Markovic (3.0 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) was limited to just three games due to illness and recovery. At one point, the team was so depleted that assistant coach Ben Knight had to suit up for four games.

In January 2016, Craig Moller and Jordan Vandenberg were brought in to help cover the losses of Khazzouh and backup forward Jeromie Hill (4.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists).

During Childress’ absence, the Kings signed former NBA players Damion James (7.0 points, 7.8 rebounds) for five games and Al Harrington (17.7 points, 6.8 rebounds) for six games. While James struggled, Harrington became a fan favorite, but neither could turn around the team’s fortunes. Coach Damian Cotter was released mid-season.

Joe Connelly, a former Washington Wizards assistant, took over as head coach and helped young players like Jason Cadee (14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), Tom Garlepp (14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists), and Angus Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) continue their development, with Brandt even earning a national team call-up at the end of the year. However, the under-manned Kings couldn’t avoid finishing in last place with a 6-22 record.

This season saw Cadee elevated to the starting lineup, where he posted career-highs in assists and 3-point attempts per game. He connected on 35.6% of his threes, marking his best shooting percentage in four years.

2016/17
Kevin Lisch turned down a contract extension with the Illawarra Hawks to sign a lucrative three-year deal with the Sydney Kings. This was the second major signing for the Kings, following the appointment of Australian basketball icon Andrew Gaze as head coach. The combination of Lisch and Gaze attracted more free agents to a team that had struggled since re-entering the NBL in 2010, including a 6–22 record in the 2015/16 season. A key bonus for the Kings was that Lisch had become an Australian citizen in March 2016, allowing the team to use its three import slots on other players. In the lead-up to the 2016/17 season, Lisch was named team captain.

When it became clear that Julian Khazzouh would miss the season due to a quadriceps injury, the Kings used their spare import spot to sign two-time NBA champion Josh Powell as his replacement.

Lisch made his debut for the Kings on October 8, 2016, scoring a game-high 20 points in a 77–73 loss to the Brisbane Bullets. In the Kings’ second game, Powell debuted with 14 points and six rebounds, leading Sydney to an 88–84 win over the Illawarra Hawks. The team’s celebrations after this victory became a viral sensation.

By mid-November, Lisch had guided the Kings to the top of the NBL ladder, with the team holding a 5-1 record and being title favourites. Lisch was averaging 18 points per game, and his strong performances led coach Andrew Gaze and teammate Steve Blake to comment that Lisch was good enough to play in the NBA.

However, things began to unravel. The Kings’ home-heavy early schedule caught up to them, and Blake unexpectedly returned to the U.S. due to personal issues. Lisch appeared to burn out, and while Powell had a few standout performances, he ended the season coming off the bench, averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds.

By Round 11, the Kings had slipped from the top of the ladder, and by Round 14, they were out of the top four. Sydney missed the playoffs, losing nine of their last twelve games to finish seventh on the ladder with a 13–15 record. Jason Cadee averaged 13 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the season.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2018/19
After finishing at the bottom of the ladder in 2018, Brisbane underwent significant changes, parting ways with Adam Gibson (to South East Melbourne), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney), and Anthony Petrie (retired). The Bullets embarked on a recruiting drive that brought in Boomers sharpshooter Cameron Gliddon (via Cairns), Jason Cadee (via Sydney), Matt Hodgson (via Adelaide), Tom Jervis (via Perth), and Mika Vukona (via New Zealand). They also welcomed back Rio Olympian and former Chicago Bull Cam Bairstow, returning from knee reconstruction. Additionally, Makoto Hiejima became the first Japanese player to sign with an NBL team under the league’s Asian Player rule, and NBA veteran Alonzo Gee (via Puerto Rico) was added as an import.

These key signings aimed to strengthen Brisbane’s roster for what was expected to be a tough start to the season, with 12 of their first 15 games against the previous season’s top-four teams.

However, four games into the season, Alonzo Gee (7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) was released after requesting to return to the U.S. for personal reasons. A month later, import Stephen Holt (7.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) left the team due to concerns over playing time, signing with a European club instead. Brisbane replaced Gee with Lamar Patterson (via China) in October and signed Jeremy Kendle (6.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) to fill Holt’s spot.

By January, Brisbane had fallen to a 9-9 record following a 29-point blowout loss to Cairns, placing them mid-table. Nnanna Egwu (0 points, 2.3 rebounds) briefly joined as an injury replacement, while Kendle’s contract was extended for the rest of the season. Makoto Hiejima was replaced by import AJ Davis (4.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists), son of NBA legend Antonio Davis, in an effort to further improve the squad.

Despite these roster changes, Jason Cadee (8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals) provided a consistent presence for the Bullets, mainly starting games. His standout performances included 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists against the New Zealand Breakers (16 Feb 2019), 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in a win over the Cairns Taipans (19 Jan 2019), and 16 points against Melbourne United (10 Dec 2018).

Lamar Patterson (17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals) led the team in scoring, while Cameron Gliddon (13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) and Cam Bairstow (11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds) were also key contributors.

Brisbane finished the regular season tied with Adelaide at 14-14 but secured the fourth playoff spot due to a superior points percentage.

In the semifinals, Brisbane faced Perth. In Game 1 (89–59), Terrico White (24 points, 3 rebounds) and Bryce Cotton (19 points, 10 assists) dominated, while Cam Gliddon led Brisbane with 18 points. Jason Cadee added 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

In Game 2 (84–79), Terrico White (24 points) and Bryce Cotton (19 points, 10 assists) once again outplayed Brisbane. Despite strong performances from Lamar Patterson (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Matt Hodgson (15 points), the Bullets couldn’t stop Perth from advancing to the Grand Final. Jason Cadee contributed 10 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 2 steals in Brisbane’s final game of the season.

2019/20
In 2019/20 Cadee averaged 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists as the Bullets finished with a record of 15-13 and in fifth place during the regular season. He was also selected as the league’s Best Sixth Man.

2020/21
Brisbane continued to struggle to establish a solid foundation in their fourth year since re-entering the NBL. The team parted ways with key players, including Cam Gliddon (to South East Melbourne), Lamar Patterson (to New Zealand), and Will Magnay, who signed with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.

In their place, Brisbane brought in rookie Tanner Krebs (St. Mary’s – NCAA), Anthony Drmic, and Harry Froling (both via Adelaide), alongside import signings Vic Law and Orlando Johnson.

The Bullets assembled a high-scoring squad, with Law (18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks) shooting 47% from the field, and team captain Nathan Sobey (21.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists) shooting 46%. Both players ranked among the league’s top five scorers. Brisbane also boasted a strong local frontcourt, with Matthew Hodgson (10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Harry Froling (8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds), and Tyrell Harrison (5.2 points, 5.8 rebounds), making them one of the top rebounding teams in the league, finishing third in offensive rebounds and second in defensive rebounds.

The Bullets showed their potential in a win over Illawarra (97-91), where Law (29 points and 9 rebounds) and Sobey (18 points and 7 assists) led the scoring while Froling and Hodgson combined for 13 rebounds.

Other standout games included a victory over top-of-the-table Melbourne (96-88), where Law grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with 10 points, while Hodgson had a season-best 24 points in 27 minutes. Another notable win came against Perth (95-92), with Law (23 points and 5 rebounds) and Sobey (31 points and 4 assists) combining for 54 points.

Despite their strong rebounding and scoring, Brisbane struggled to maintain consistency, sitting at 8-8 midway through the season. Orlando Johnson (6.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) was released in mid-March after a lackluster showing across 15 games. Coincidentally, around the same time, New Zealand released Lamar Patterson due to knee issues and a slow start to his season. Patterson returned to Brisbane, averaging 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals, and looked set to help the team make a playoff push. However, in the next game, Law suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Brisbane (10-8) had been floating around the top four, but Law’s injury proved costly. Sobey tried to fill the void, but the Bullets lost five of their next seven games, allowing an average of 90 points while scoring only 80 themselves. This prompted the mid-season signing of BJ Johnson (10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who helped steady the ship somewhat. Still, Brisbane ended the season with an 8-10 record from their last 18 games.

Their worst performance came in Round 19 against South East Melbourne, where they put up a season-low 66 points in a 95-66 loss. With Sobey sidelined, Anthony Drmic (20 points) and Patterson (11 points) were the only players to score more than six points.

Despite flashes of potential, Brisbane finished the season in sixth place with an 18-18 record and missed the playoffs.

Jason Cadee played in all 36 games for the Bullets, averaging 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.

2021/22
Following a sixth-place finish in the previous season, it was announced that Andrej Lemanis would step down as head coach after five years with the Bullets. Although assistant coach and former Bullets player CJ Bruton was considered for the role, the team ultimately appointed former Sydney Kings assistant James Duncan as the new head coach.

Brisbane underwent significant roster changes, with import Lamar Patterson returning, but losing key players like Vic Law (to Perth) and BJ Johnson, who signed an NBA deal with Orlando. Local bigs Matt Hodgson (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Illawarra), and development player Callum Dalton (to Melbourne) also departed in search of better opportunities.

The Bullets re-signed Tyrell Harrison and Jason Cadee on two-year deals and added several international players to fill the remaining roster spots, including Chuanxing Liu (China), Jack Salt (New Zealand), Deng Deng (South Sudan), Next Star Tom Digbeu (France), and import Robert Franks (USA).

Brisbane opened the season with an overtime loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers (74-83), setting a tone for the season where the Bullets frequently found themselves on the losing side of close games against top teams.

By the halfway point of the season, Brisbane held a 5-9 record. Injuries to key players Tyrell Harrison (elbow) and star guard Nathan Sobey (knee) further disrupted the team’s rhythm, with Harrison missing 11 games and Sobey 16 games.

Robert Franks (18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) was the team’s top scorer in 13 games and led the vote count for the Leroy Loggins MVP Award (Club MVP). Franks shot 50% from the field, 76% from the free-throw line, and finished fifth in the league in points per game.

Other key contributors included Patterson (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists), Sobey (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists), and Jason Cadee (10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists). Cadee also set career highs in assists per game (4.9) and single-game assists, recording 11 against New Zealand in Round 17, finishing fifth in the league for assists.

Despite some flashes of potential under new head coach Duncan, the Bullets missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, finishing in eighth place with a 10-18 record.

2022/23
After finishing eighth with a 10-18 record during James Duncan’s first season as coach, Brisbane reshaped its roster. Robert Franks (to Adelaide), Anthony Drmic (to Adelaide), Deng Deng (to Illawarra), and Chuanxing Liu (to the Bay Area Dragons) departed, while Lamar Patterson, Isaiah Moss, Jack Salt, and Tom Digbeu were not retained.

The Bullets recruited Aron Baynes (via Toronto), Tyler Johnson (via San Antonio), Devondrick Walker (via Rockingham), Harry Froling (via Illawarra), Gorjok Gak (via Nymburk), DJ Mitchell (via Limburg), and Kody Stattmann (via Virginia). Nathan Sobey, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, and the club’s experienced point guard formed the returning core, with Brisbane’s recruiting leading many to predict a top-four finish. However, questions remained around Sobey’s recovery from a knee injury and Baynes’ return from the spinal cord injury suffered at the Tokyo Olympics.

Cadee entered the final season of the two-year deal he had signed in 2021 and was appointed to a three-man leadership group alongside Baynes and Krebs. Having captained Brisbane during the previous season, he remained the most experienced player in the squad and had played 342 NBL games entering the campaign. “Jason has a great feel for the organisation, the League, and the city of Brisbane,” Duncan said.

Brisbane opened the season at RAC Arena on October 2, where the veteran guard finished with 6 assists and 2 steals in 21 minutes, but Perth defeated the Bullets 87-73. Walker (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Johnson (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Brisbane, while Cotton (23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) starred for the Wildcats.

Cadee (11.5 points and 4.1 assists across 25 games) moved into the starting line-up during the opening month and remained one of Brisbane’s main ball handlers and leaders. He had not missed an NBL game since playing for Adelaide during the 2013/14 season, although the Bullets began the season with six consecutive losses.

Brisbane collected its first victory at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 24, where Cadee (16 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Baynes (17 points and 14 rebounds), and Sobey (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Bullets to an 82-56 win over Illawarra, while Harvey (13 points) was the Hawks’ leading scorer.

Three days later, Cadee (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped Brisbane defeat Illawarra 86-61 at Nissan Arena. Sobey (22 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) scored 14 points in the opening quarter and 22 before halftime, both career highs, while Froling (13 points and 10 rebounds) recorded a double-double and Deng (11 points and 11 rebounds) led the Hawks. It marked the first time since February 2007 that Brisbane had won consecutive games by at least 25 points.

Cadee played his 350th NBL game at MyState Bank Arena on November 5, finishing with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists as Brisbane defeated Tasmania 74-72 and extended its winning streak to three games. Baynes (16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Sobey (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Bullets, while McVeigh (17 points and 1 block) missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.

The winning streak did not stabilise the club. Walker was released after five games and replaced by Andrew White (via Büyükçekmece), while Duncan and Brisbane mutually parted ways with the Bullets holding a 3-6 record. General Manager Sam Mackinnon became interim coach for three games before assistant coach and former Townsville Crocodile Greg Vanderjagt took control for the remainder of the season, with New Zealand coach Pero Cameron later joining the staff. The working relationship between CEO Peter McLennan and Mackinnon was subsequently described as untenable.

Mackinnon’s first game as coach came at Spark Arena on November 27, where Cadee (7 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Krebs (19 points), and Sobey (14 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal) led Brisbane, but Brantley (29 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) powered New Zealand to a 116-79 victory.

Brisbane reached its lowest point against Sydney at Nissan Arena on January 11, where Cadee (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Sobey (14 points and 5 rebounds), and Johnson (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) were unable to slow the defending champions. Cooks (20 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) led Sydney to a 116-67 victory, with the 49-point margin becoming the largest during the NBL’s 40-minute era.

Cadee’s best scoring game came against South East Melbourne at the State Basketball Centre on January 16, where he made 11 of his 20 field-goal attempts and finished with 28 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Sobey (15 points and 1 block) and Mitchell (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) supported Cadee, while Williams (19 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Phoenix as Brisbane won 84-79 and ended South East Melbourne’s finals hopes.

Three days later, Cadee (22 points and 2 steals) made several important plays during overtime as Brisbane defeated Adelaide 106-101 at Nissan Arena. Johnson (27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Mitchell (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block) led the Bullets, while Drmic (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) was Adelaide’s leading scorer.

Cadee’s final appearance came at the WIN Entertainment Centre on January 21, where he finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal as Brisbane defeated Illawarra 103-86 and collected its third consecutive victory. Johnson (23 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and White (18 points) led the Bullets, while Harvey (22 points) was Illawarra’s best.

Johnson (15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) finished as Brisbane’s leading scorer per game and received the Members MVP and Players’ Player awards. Sobey (15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists) received the Leroy Loggins Trophy as the club’s Most Valuable Player, while Baynes (11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds) was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Mitchell (9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds), Krebs (8.3 points and 3 rebounds), White (7.7 points and 3.1 rebounds), and Froling (5.4 points and 4 rebounds) were Brisbane’s other main contributors. Cadee received the St Genevieve Partners’ Choice Award for his performance on and off the court and involvement with the club’s partners, while development player Matt Johns received the Youth Player of the Year award.

Cadee was unavailable for Brisbane’s final three games, ending his run of consecutive appearances dating back to 2014. After five seasons with the Bullets, Cadee (to Adelaide) was among the players to leave during the major roster and staff turnover that followed the season.

Brisbane closed its campaign against New Zealand at Nissan Arena on February 4, where Baynes (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Johnson (15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) pushed the Breakers into overtime, but McDowell-White (15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) helped New Zealand win 80-75 as Brisbane finished ninth with an 8-20 record.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2023/24
After finishing eighth with a 13-15 record and missing the postseason for a second straight year under coach CJ Bruton, Adelaide reshaped its roster. Robert Franks (to Jerusalem) and Antonius Cleveland (to Tel Aviv) were released from the second seasons of their contracts, while Anthony Drmic (to Tasmania), Ian Clark (to Melbourne) and Kai Sotto (to Japan) also departed. Daniel Johnson was not re-signed after 13 years with the club.

Bruton brought back Isaac Humphries (via Melbourne) and Jacob Wiley (via Bayamón), while adding Next Star Trentyn Flowers, Alex Starling (via South Adelaide), Trey Kell III (via South East Melbourne), Tohi Smith-Milner (via South East Melbourne) and import Jamaal Franklin. Franklin was released during the NBL Blitz before playing a regular-season game.

Cadee returned to Adelaide on a two-year deal after spending five seasons with Brisbane, beginning his second stint with the 36ers after previously helping the club reach the 2014 Grand Final series. His long relationship with Bruton was central to the move, while his leadership and willingness to work from the bench made him an experienced option behind Adelaide’s younger guards. “I always had a genuine love for my time in Adelaide,” he said. “CJ was pretty adamant he wanted me in Adelaide when I went into free agency.”

Adelaide opened the season at Nissan Arena on September 29, where Cadee (7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist) played 20:18 minutes off the bench, but Brisbane defeated the 36ers 86-71. Humphries (17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Wiley (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) led Adelaide, while Nathan Sobey (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Cadee (5.5 points across 26 games) made four starts and played 17.6 minutes per game, operating predominantly as a reserve ball-handler while providing experience and leadership during an unsettled season.

Cadee’s best game came in Adelaide’s home opener against Melbourne on October 1, where he finished with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, but United defeated the 36ers 82-74. McCarron (12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) and Kell III (10 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) provided support, while Matthew Dellavedova (19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Melbourne.

After Adelaide opened 1-4, Dejan Vasiljevic (via Washington) joined the roster and Vasiljevic (19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 23 games) became the team’s leading scorer. Bruton was dismissed with the 36ers sitting at 4-9 and replaced by assistant Scott Ninnis, with Cadee left out of the rotation for Ninnis’ first two games before returning in a reduced role as Adelaide worked its way back into Play-In contention.

Cadee produced his strongest late-season performance against Sydney at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 2, finishing with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals in 17:57 minutes as the 36ers defeated the Kings 85-78. Humphries (20 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 4 blocks) and Vasiljevic (20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Adelaide, while Jaylen Adams (21 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) was Sydney’s best.

Vasiljevic and Kell III (17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 25 games) carried Adelaide’s backcourt scoring, while Humphries (15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 28 games) produced a career-best season and Wiley (10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds across 26 games) led the team in rebounding. Kyrin Galloway (5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds across 27 games) and Flowers (5.2 points across 18 games) supplied the other regular scoring contributions. Adelaide finished second in the NBL for rebounding at 43.5 per game but last in three-point percentage at 29.9 per cent.

Humphries won the Mark Davis Trophy as club MVP, Vasiljevic received the Members’ Choice MVP, Galloway was named Most Improved Player and Sunday Dech (4.4 points across 27 games) won Best Defensive Player, while Cadee received the Coaches Award for his leadership and team-first approach.

Adelaide finished ninth with a 12-16 record, one win and percentage short of the Play-In Tournament, before closing the season against New Zealand at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 18. Vasiljevic (25 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Humphries (15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block) led the 36ers, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (24 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal) was New Zealand’s best as Adelaide won 76-70, and Cadee (5 points and 4 rebounds) started in place of the injured Kell III and played 19:47 minutes in the win.

2024/25
After missing the postseason in 2023/24, Adelaide underwent another major off-season overhaul, with Scott Ninnis replaced by Mike Wells before the season. Former captain Mitch McCarron (to New Zealand), Trentyn Flowers (to Los Angeles Clippers), Jacob Wiley (to Spain), Tohi Smith-Milner (to Brisbane), Kyrin Galloway (to Cairns), Trey Kell III (to Illawarra), and Akech Aliir (to Melbourne) all departed.

Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries re-signed on three-year deals, with Vasiljevic elevated to team captain, while Keanu Rasmussen, Fiston Ipassou, and Jacob Rigoni were retained. Wells added Kendric Davis (via Santa Cruz Warriors), Lat Mayen (via Cairns), Ben Griscti (via UC Riverside), Patrick D’Arcy (via Sturt), Jarell Martin (via Galatasaray), and Tom Kubank (via South Adelaide). With Martin injured before the opening game, former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell (via Philadelphia) was signed as his nominated replacement player.

Cadee entered the second season of the two-year deal he signed in April 2023 when he returned to Adelaide (via Brisbane), giving the 36ers an experienced reserve guard for the NBL25 campaign.

Adelaide opened the season against Sydney at HoopsFest in Perth on September 22, where Cadee (6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) made two three-pointers off the bench, but the Kings won 102-94, with Mayen (23 points and 4 rebounds) and Vasiljevic (23 points) leading the 36ers while Adams (25 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) was best for Sydney.

Cadee (3.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 29 games) settled into a reduced role in Adelaide’s deep backcourt, providing steady ball-handling and leadership from the bench. He became the 53rd player in league history to reach 400 NBL games during October, while his leadership and professionalism were recognised with Adelaide’s Coaches Award.

Cadee’s best scoring game came at John Cain Arena on February 2, where he made three three-pointers and finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists as Adelaide fell 105-99 to South East Melbourne, with Harrell (25 points and 11 rebounds) and Davis (23 points and 7 assists) leading the 36ers while Sobey (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the Phoenix.

Davis (25.6 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.3 steals) led Adelaide in scoring and assists, winning the club MVP and earning All-NBL First Team honours, while Harrell (20.7 points and 9.2 rebounds) was selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Captain Vasiljevic (18.1 points and 4.2 rebounds), Humphries (12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Martin (8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds), Dech (5.8 points), and Mayen (5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds) completed the main rotation.

Adelaide finished the regular season sixth with a 13–16 record, edging Tasmania on points percentage and returning to the postseason for the first time since 2017/18. Cadee announced on February 11 that he would retire when the 36ers’ season ended.

Adelaide opened the postseason at Qudos Bank Arena on February 13, where Cadee (3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) helped the 36ers defeat Sydney 95-88 and extend his career, with Vasiljevic (25 points and 2 steals), Davis (24 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), and Harrell (18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks) leading Adelaide, while Adams (30 points and 10 assists) and Oliver (19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) were best for the Kings.

The final qualifier moved to John Cain Arena on February 16, where South East Melbourne came from 21 points down to eliminate Adelaide 85-75 behind Hurt (25 points and 9 rebounds) and Ayre (17 points), while Davis (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Harrell (17 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the 36ers and Cadee (10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) played 26:29 minutes in his 424th and final NBL game.

Jason Cadee played fifteen seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Gold Coast Blaze, Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 417 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 46th in total games played.
– 33rd in total assists

HIGHLIGHTS:

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