NICKNAME/S: Handle, Handle Randle

BIO: Jerome Randle was born in Chicago, Illinois (USA) and attended Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, Illinois. In 2005, he won a pair of championships after guiding his high school team to a 27–4 record, and the Illinois state title and helping his Chicago Ferrari team to the 17-and-under AAU national crown, earning tournament MVP honours after scoring 44 points in one tournament game. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 assists per game as a junior before increasing those averages to 25 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals as senior in earning state Class A Player of the Year honours from the Chicago Sun-Times.

FAMILY: Randle’s younger brother, Jamie Adams, is also a professional basketball player.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jerome Randle made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 28 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.

After finishing third with a 17-11 record before being swept by eventual champion New Zealand in the 2014/15 semifinals, Adelaide entered Joey Wright’s third season after club MVP Jamar Wilson (to Rouen), Brock Motum (to Žalgiris Kaunas) and Luke Schenscher (to Townsville) departed. Wright added Kenyon McNeail (via Oliveirense), two-time NBL champion Ebi Ere (via Bayamón), Lucas Walker (via Melbourne), Matthew Hodgson (via Frankston) and Nathan Sobey (via Cairns), who had spent the previous season as a training player with the Taipans before Wright noticed him working out and offered him a full roster position.

McNeail (4 points across 3 games) entered the season carrying a shoulder injury suffered during the NBL Blitz dunk contest and was released on October 19 when the injury failed to respond to treatment. Adelaide replaced him with Jerome Randle (via Eskişehir Basket), who had caught the attention of several NBL teams during an Australian tour with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Randle (23 points and 5.2 assists across 23 games) had spent the previous five seasons playing overseas after being viewed as ‘too small’ to make the NBA and had begun to ‘fall out of love’ with basketball. Wright, who was never known for holding back, did not like what he was seeing from his new import early and told him, “If you don’t play your game, then you’re gonna f***in’ sit on the bench!” The unexpected outburst struck a chord with Randle, who remembered thinking, “Damn, I’m at home now”, a sentiment he had not felt since leaving Chicago. Randle quickly became Adelaide’s primary scorer, scoring 30 points or more three times during his first NBL season.

Randle (24 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) made his NBL debut against Cairns at Titanium Security Arena on October 22, coming off the bench for 23 minutes and making four three-pointers as Adelaide defeated the Taipans 88-79. Gibson (15 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) and Johnson (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks) provided support, while Cameron Tragardh (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Cairns.

One of Randle’s biggest performances came against Sydney on November 7, where Randle (33 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) led Adelaide back from 25 points behind during the second quarter before the 36ers outscored the Kings 32-13 in the fourth and escaped with a 99-98 win at Titanium Security Arena. Petrie (23 points and 9 rebounds) provided the main support, while Al Harrington (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Julian Khazzouh (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led Sydney. Randle made two free throws with five seconds remaining to give Adelaide the lead, completing what became the biggest comeback of the NBL’s 40-minute era.

Randle produced one of his best all-around games against Melbourne on December 23, finishing with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists as Adelaide defeated United 91-81 at Titanium Security Arena. Johnson (31 points and 16 rebounds) dominated inside alongside him, while Hakim Warrick (20 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Daniel Kickert (20 points and 3 blocks) led Melbourne.

Randle’s best game of the season came against Sydney at Titanium Security Arena on January 20, where Randle (41 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) made 16-of-21 field goals and five of seven three-pointers as Adelaide defeated the Kings 96-89 and strengthened its push for a finals berth. Ere (19 points and 4 rebounds) and Creek (15 points and 4 rebounds) provided support, while Josh Childress (27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals) led Sydney. The 41 points were the highest individual score in the NBL during the season and helped Randle earn NBL Player of the Month honours for January.

Randle (4 points, 2 rebounds, and 9 assists) suffered a left knee injury early in the second half against Illawarra on January 30, having helped direct Adelaide’s offence before leaving the game as Ere (28 points and 4 rebounds) and Johnson (19 points and 11 rebounds) carried the 36ers to a 104-90 victory, while Kevin Lisch (24 points) led the Hawks. Scans revealed no structural damage, although Randle was initially expected to miss two to three weeks and sat out Adelaide’s next two games against New Zealand and Cairns. He used Port Adelaide’s anti-gravity training equipment during his rehabilitation before being cleared on February 10 to return for Adelaide’s final two games. Those were the only two games Randle missed after joining the 36ers, with his other three non-appearances occurring before Adelaide signed him.

Johnson (15.5 points and 9.3 rebounds across 28 games) remained Adelaide’s leading rebounder and was selected to the All-NBL Second Team, while Ere (10.8 points across 28 games), Petrie (9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds across 28 games), Creek (9.9 points and 4.1 rebounds across 26 games), Gibson (9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 27 games) and Walker (5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games) provided the other major contributions. Randle finished as the NBL’s leading scorer, becoming the first Adelaide player to lead the league in scoring, finished second in assists, won the inaugural NBL Australia Post Fan’s MVP and was selected to the All-NBL First Team.

Randle returned against Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre on February 12, finishing with 15 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, and 1 steal after missing two games with the knee injury. Johnson (20 points and 8 rebounds) and Petrie (12 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while AJ Ogilvy (17 points and 11 rebounds) led the Hawks to a 106-95 victory.

Adelaide closed the season at Perth Arena on February 14, where Randle (14 points and 3 assists) played 28 minutes as the Wildcats defeated the 36ers 100-84. Creek (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Gibson (16 points) led Adelaide, while Jermaine Beal (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Casey Prather (15 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth, leaving Adelaide fifth with a 14-14 record.

2016/17
After finishing fifth with a 14–14 record and missing the playoffs, Adelaide retained Jerome Randle on a new one-year deal while Adam Gibson (to Brisbane), Anthony Petrie (to Brisbane), Ebi Ere (to SLUC Nancy) and Lucas Walker (to Perth as an injury replacement for Matthew Knight) departed. Coach Joey Wright added Anthony Drmic (via Boise State), Majok Deng (via Louisiana-Monroe), Eric Jacobsen (via Arizona State), Adam Doyle (via Forestville) and 18-year-old NBA Draft prospect Terrance Ferguson (via high school). Ferguson chose to play professionally in the NBL rather than attend college, a move which later helped pave the way for the league’s Next Stars Program. Most experts predicted the young and relatively inexperienced 36ers to finish last.

Adelaide opened the season at WIN Entertainment Centre on October 7, where Randle (13 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) struggled to make his usual impact as Illawarra defeated the 36ers 122–88, with Creek (24 points) and Deng (13 points and 6 rebounds) leading Adelaide, while Rotnei Clarke (23 points and 6 assists) led the Hawks.

Randle (21.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across 31 games) started every game and played in all 28 regular-season games and all three playoff games, leading Adelaide in scoring and remaining the team’s primary playmaker. He did not miss a game through injury during the season.

Adelaide’s slow start was made more difficult when captain Creek (12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 21 games) suffered a stress fracture in his right foot against Melbourne and was ruled out for eight weeks. Johnson (15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds across 29 games) also missed two games with a hamstring injury.

One of Randle’s first major performances came against Brisbane at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on October 16, where Randle (34 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) helped Adelaide twice recover from 10-point deficits and defeat the Bullets 96–93 in overtime. Sobey (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Johnson (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, while Torrey Craig (22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) led Brisbane.

Randle’s best game of the season came against Perth at Perth Arena on November 5, where he made 14 of 23 field goals and five three-pointers to finish with 40 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists. Playing without Creek and Johnson, Adelaide trailed by 18 points before Randle scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and helped the 36ers take the lead with 23 seconds remaining. Drmic (17 points) and Jacobsen (14 points and 9 rebounds) provided support, while Casey Prather (28 points and 8 assists) led Perth. A charging foul was called against Randle on Adelaide’s next possession before Prather sealed a 106–103 Wildcats win from the free-throw line.

Adelaide reached its lowest point against Brisbane on November 19, where Randle (7 points) was held to his lowest scoring total of the season as Craig (34 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Petrie (23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Bullets to a 105–87 win. Sobey (24 points) and Johnson (20 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists), playing his first game back from the hamstring injury, led Adelaide as the loss dropped the 36ers to 3–6 and last place.

Five days later Randle (22 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals), Johnson (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Sobey (18 points) led Adelaide to a 101–83 road win over Brisbane, while Craig (20 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the Bullets. The victory began an eight-game winning streak which took Adelaide from last place to first by Round 11.

Randle delivered another of his best games against New Zealand at Titanium Security Arena on December 10, making 15 of 19 field goals to finish with 37 points and 4 assists as Adelaide defeated the Breakers 102–92 for its fourth consecutive win. Johnson (15 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while Creek (14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) made his return after eight weeks out with the foot injury and Kirk Penney (25 points) led New Zealand.

Adelaide continued its surge through January, with Randle (19 points and 11 assists), Creek (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Sobey (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists) leading the 36ers to an 87–73 win over Sydney at Titanium Security Arena on January 21, while Tom Garlepp (15 points and 3 rebounds) led the Kings. The victory gave Adelaide 14 wins from its previous 15 games and secured first place with three rounds remaining.

With first place already secured, Randle skipped training with a knee complaint before Adelaide travelled to Cairns on February 9 but still suited up. Randle (4 points and 3 assists) was restricted to 11 minutes to rest his knee ahead of the playoffs, while Drmic (17 points) and Sobey (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Adelaide and Cameron Gliddon (16 points) led Cairns to an 89–85 win. Randle did not miss a game because of the knee complaint.

Randle (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) returned to a larger role in Adelaide’s final regular-season game against Cairns two days later, with Creek (16 points and 9 rebounds) and Johnson (13 points and 4 rebounds) providing support, while Travis Trice (18 points) and Gliddon (16 points and 5 assists) led the Taipans to a 98–89 win. It was Adelaide’s fourth consecutive loss to end the regular season, although the 36ers still claimed the minor premiership with a 17–11 record, two games clear of the rest of the competition.

Sobey (15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 31 games) emerged as one of the league’s breakout players, while Jacobsen (6.8 points and 5.9 rebounds across 31 games), Drmic (6 points and 3.2 rebounds across 30 games), Hodgson (5.6 points and 5.7 rebounds across 31 games) and Teys (5.1 points across 31 games) provided Adelaide’s other major contributions.

Randle was named NBL Most Valuable Player, becoming the second Adelaide player after Mark Davis in 1987 to win the award. He was also selected to the All-NBL First Team for the second consecutive season and won the NBL Fans MVP award for the second straight year. Johnson joined Randle on the All-NBL First Team, Sobey was selected to the All-NBL Second Team and named Most Improved Player, Drmic was named Rookie of the Year and Wright won Coach of the Year.

Adelaide opened its semifinal series against fourth-placed Illawarra at Titanium Security Arena, where Randle (26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), Sobey (16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Johnson (16 points and 7 rebounds) led the 36ers, while Tim Coenraad (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) was Illawarra’s best. Randle scored 18 points in the first half before cramping badly early in the fourth quarter, returning midway through the period as Adelaide snapped its four-game losing streak with a 93–78 win and took a 1–0 series lead.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Randle (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists), Johnson (17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Jacobsen (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Adelaide, while Coenraad (17 points and 10 rebounds), Mitchell Norton (17 points) and Clarke (15 points) helped Illawarra win 100–94 and level the series.

The deciding game returned to Titanium Security Arena, where Illawarra built a 21-point lead before Adelaide mounted a late fourth-quarter comeback behind Randle (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Sobey (22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), cutting the margin to five with two minutes remaining. Clarke (20 points) and Marvelle Harris (17 points) steadied the Hawks as Illawarra won 106–98 and eliminated Adelaide 2–1.

SYDNEY KINGS
2017/18
After winning the NBL MVP award and leading Adelaide to the minor premiership the previous season, Jerome Randle became one of the biggest stories of the 2017 off-season. Adelaide and Randle failed to agree on a new contract, with reports suggesting his asking price was around $300,000, although Randle’s agent Daniel Moldovan later claimed the 36ers never formally made him an offer. Randle signed with Bahçeşehir in Turkey but returned to Australia after only a month amid delayed salary payments. He initially explored returning to Adelaide, but with the 36ers roster already finalised, Sydney emerged as an option.

The Kings had opened the season 2-6 and lost captain Kevin Lisch to a serious calf injury, increasing pressure on the club to add a genuine point guard. Sydney released Travis Leslie (to Levallois Metropolitans) and signed Randle (via Bahçeşehir) for the remainder of the season with a club option for 2018/19, while also adding former NBA centre Jeremy Tyler (via China). Jeremy Kendle, who had been signed as Lisch’s temporary injury replacement, also departed as Sydney reshaped the roster around the reigning MVP.

Randle made his Kings debut against Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre on November 16 and immediately produced his best game of the season. Randle (28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) made five three-pointers and helped Sydney build a 19-point lead before the Hawks recovered to force overtime and win 97-93. Perry Ellis (21 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 steal) also produced a double-double, while AJ Ogilvy (19 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block), Rotnei Clarke (19 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) and Demitrius Conger (16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led Illawarra. Gaze praised Randle’s impact despite the loss, saying he had been “fantastic” with little preparation and had already begun holding teammates accountable and trying to lift the group.

Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.1 steals across 19 games) started every game after arriving in Sydney and did not miss a game through injury. His addition gave the Kings the recognised point guard they had lacked while Lisch was sidelined, although Sydney initially continued to struggle as the new roster adjusted.

Two days after his debut, Randle faced his former team in Adelaide for the first time. Randle (19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) was booed by the Adelaide crowd as Sydney lost 108-93, with Ellis (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Isaac Humphries (17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) providing support. Shannon Shorter (19 points and 6 assists), Nathan Sobey (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Daniel Johnson (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists) led Adelaide.

The arrival of Randle and Tyler gave Sydney two high-usage imports midway through the season, but Tyler’s stay became increasingly problematic. Early reports questioned Tyler’s attitude on court, while later coverage described him as a distraction and reported claims he had missed numerous training sessions and struggled to control his emotions during games. Randle later spoke publicly about the difficulties of playing alongside Tyler when discussing the season on the Aussie Hoopla podcast. Tyler (13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds across 11 games, released) was cut on January 9 with eight games remaining as Sydney decided to give greater opportunities to Humphries and Dane Pineau.

One of Randle’s strongest wins came against Brisbane on December 23. Sydney fell behind 25-7 during the opening quarter before Randle (27 points and 7 assists) took control late and led the Kings to a 101-95 comeback win at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Todd Blanchfield (20 points and 3 rebounds) and Jason Cadee (18 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists) made key three-pointers from Randle passes down the stretch, while Travis Trice (19 points) and Perrin Buford (18 points and 10 rebounds) led Brisbane. Gaze described it as one of the best games he had seen Randle play and called him “a genuine superstar.”

Lisch (11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 11 games) finally returned in January after missing 17 games with two calf injuries, allowing Sydney to play the previous two NBL MVPs together in the backcourt. The combination helped the Kings finally find some consistency, with Sydney defeating Perth twice in three days in January before finishing the season with four consecutive victories.

Ellis (14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds across 27 games) led Sydney in total scoring, while Brad Newley (11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 27 games), Cadee (11.1 points and 3.3 assists across 28 games) and Blanchfield (9.1 points and 4 rebounds across 25 games) were the other major contributors. Humphries was named NBL Rookie of the Year.

Despite playing only 19 games, Randle led the NBL in both scoring and assists, becoming the first player since Andrew Gaze in 1989 to lead the league in both categories. He was named to the All-NBL Second Team and became one of the few bright spots in a season where Sydney lost 16 of its opening 21 games.

Sydney closed the season against New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena on February 18, where Randle (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) helped the Kings overcome a six-point half-time deficit to defeat the Breakers 101-86. Cadee (30 points and 3 assists) made six three-pointers and Blanchfield (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) provided support, while Jordan Ngatai (17 points) led New Zealand. The victory was Sydney’s sixth from its final seven games and left the Kings seventh with an 11-17 record.

Randle did not leave Sydney following the season. The Kings exercised the option on his contract on March 29, securing him for 2018/19 after his impact during the final months of the year. Randle said, “We really started clicking towards the end” and described the Kings as having “serious unfinished business”.

2018/19
Sydney entered the season looking to rebound from an 11-17 finish in 2017/18, which left the Kings seventh and outside the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season despite winning six of their final seven games. Andrew Gaze returned for a third season as coach, while Perry Ellis (to Cantù), Jason Cadee (to Brisbane), Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and Tom Garlepp (retired) departed, with Isaac Humphries having left late in the previous season (to FMP Beograd). The Kings rebuilt around returning captain Kevin Lisch and Brad Newley, adding NBA champion Andrew Bogut, Daniel Kickert (via Brisbane), David Wear (via Osaka Evessa), Deng Deng (via McKinnon), Kyle Adnam (via Melbourne) and Tom Wilson (via Melbourne). Sydney also became the first NBL team to utilise the league’s Next Stars program by signing highly-rated prospect Brian Bowen.

On March 29, Sydney exercised the team option on its star point guard’s contract to secure him for another season. “I’m very excited to be back with the Kings for another season,” he said, with the strong finish to the previous campaign leaving the group feeling it had unfinished business entering 2018/19.

Sydney travelled to Hawaii to face the Los Angeles Clippers during the NBLxNBA series, where he led all scorers with 25 points as the Kings were beaten 110-91.

The regular season began against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on October 13, where Randle (28 points and 7 assists) produced the performance identified as his best all-around game of the season, but Sydney was beaten 94-83. Kickert (14 points) and Bowen (13 points) provided support, while Daniel Johnson (22 points and 10 rebounds) and Nathan Sobey (21 points) led Adelaide.

Randle (17.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 29 games) remained Sydney’s leading scorer and primary perimeter creator, although all three averages were his lowest during his NBL career to that point. He also dealt with injury throughout the season. Early in the campaign, an elbow to the head left him suffering concussion symptoms and headaches, forcing him out of on-court training during the following week, although he recovered without missing a game. Later, a lingering glute injury restricted his explosiveness and became increasingly troublesome late in the season.

His best scoring performance came against Melbourne on November 24, where Randle (35 points) made five three-pointers, scored 15 points in the opening quarter without missing a shot and had 23 by halftime as Sydney came from behind before losing 84-82 at Melbourne Arena. Bowen (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Lisch (13 points and 4 assists) helped the Kings erase a late deficit, but a tip-in with 2.4 seconds remaining gave United the win, with Casper Ware (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Josh Boone (16 points and 10 rebounds) leading Melbourne.

One of Sydney’s most important wins came against Brisbane on February 3, when Randle (26 points and 2 steals) led a 107-91 victory at Qudos Bank Arena that secured the Kings’ first finals appearance since 2013. Lisch (21 points, 3 assists, and 5 steals) and Bogut (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Sydney produce a season-high 34 points in the opening quarter, while Lamar Patterson (27 points and 6 rebounds) led Brisbane.

The Kings added Ray Turner (via Bendigo) for the remainder of the season in January to provide further frontcourt depth. Bogut (11.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks) became the centrepiece of the defence, while Lisch (14.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals), Newley (10.8 points and 4.6 rebounds), Kickert (9.4 points), Wear (6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds), Adnam (6.7 points) and Bowen (6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds) gave Sydney one of the league’s deepest rotations. The Kings remained in contention for top spot late in the season before entering the final round fighting for home-court advantage.

Randle’s glute injury forced him to miss his only game of the season when Sydney hosted Cairns on February 16. Without him, Newley (19 points and 6 rebounds), Lisch (18 points and 5 assists) and Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) led an 89-84 win, while Melo Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) paced Cairns. Randle remained in considerable pain and used the break before the playoffs to rehabilitate, while the victory completed an 18-10 regular season that ultimately left Sydney third on the ladder.

Despite the injury reducing his production, Randle remained one of the league’s leading guards and was selected to the All-NBL Second Team for a second consecutive season. Bogut was awarded the Andrew Gaze Trophy as league MVP, was named Best Defensive Player and earned All-NBL First Team honours. Before the playoffs began, it was also confirmed that Gaze would leave the Kings at the completion of the season.

The glute injury continued to hamper Randle entering the semifinals, having kept him out of most training for two and a half weeks before he managed only a couple of practice sessions ahead of game one against defending champion Melbourne. Randle (13 points) joined Newley (17 points) and Lisch (13 points) as Sydney’s leading scorers, but United controlled the opener at Melbourne Arena and won 95-73 behind Ware (22 points and 7 assists) and DJ Kennedy (20 points and 6 rebounds).

Game two moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Randle (2 points and 5 assists) endured his toughest game of the season, making only 1-of-15 field goals as Melbourne completed the sweep with a 90-76 victory in front of 14,569 fans. Lisch (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Adnam (13 points) and Bogut (10 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) led Sydney, while Ware (30 points and 5 rebounds) and Chris Goulding (23 points) led Melbourne.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2019/20
After losses to Melbourne and Perth in their final two games left Adelaide 14-14 and fifth the previous season, tied with Brisbane but outside the playoffs on percentage, the 36ers reshaped their roster. Nathan Sobey (to Brisbane), Majok Deng (to Cairns), Demitrius Conger (to Real Betis), Shaun Bruce (to Sydney) and Jacob Wiley (to Gran Canaria) departed, while Joey Wright added Eric Griffin (via Ironi Nahariya), Kevin White (via Illawarra), Daniel Dillon (via Paris Basketball), Obi Kyei (via Spain), Alex Mudronja (via Saint Mary’s) and Deshon Taylor (via Fresno State) alongside returning players Daniel Johnson, Anthony Drmic, Ramone Moore, Harry Froling, Jack McVeigh and Brendan Teys.

After Sydney elected to move on from Randle and sign Casper Ware, Jerome Randle (via Sydney) reunited with Wright and Adelaide on a two-year deal on October 2, replacing Taylor before the regular season. Randle later revealed the move came together within three hours of Wright calling him while he was working out in the US.

“It’s with excitement I welcome Jerome back to lead this already star-studded group. After such a great response to our first pre-season game at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, we wanted to reward the fans with the return of one of the biggest fan favourites in recent history. Jerome will replace Deshon Taylor who played exactly as we thought he would, just an opportunity came along to sign a fan favourite,” said Wright.

Days after signing, Randle joined Adelaide in Utah for its NBLxNBA game against the Jazz, leading the 36ers with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in a 133-81 loss. Game highlights

Adelaide opened its season against Randle’s former team Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on October 12, where Randle (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Johnson (26 points and 7 rebounds) led the 36ers, while Drmic (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) provided support. Newley (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Sydney to a 102-80 win.

Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 28 games) again became Adelaide’s leading scorer and primary playmaker, improving on the 17.9 points he averaged during an injury-affected final season in Sydney, although his production remained below his first stint with the 36ers. After battling a lingering glute injury the previous season, Randle appeared in all 28 games for Adelaide and did not miss a game through injury. The 36ers responded to their opening loss by winning three straight games to improve to 3-1 before four consecutive defeats dropped them to 3-5.

Randle helped end that losing streak against South East Melbourne at Melbourne Arena on November 18, scoring 15 points in the first quarter and making five three-pointers on his way to 27 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Drmic (21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Griffin (17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) provided support as Adelaide led throughout and defeated the Phoenix 103-91, while Creek (22 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) led South East Melbourne.

With Adelaide attempting to remain in the playoff race, Randle delivered another strong performance against Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 11. Randle (23 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Griffin (21 points and 11 rebounds) and Johnson (19 points and 7 rebounds) led Adelaide to a 100-86 victory, while Goulding (26 points) led Melbourne. The win came in front of 9,034 fans, the largest crowd to attend an NBL game in Adelaide, and improved the 36ers to 11-11, level on wins with fourth-placed Melbourne with six games remaining.

Randle’s best game of the season came against South East Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on February 2, where he scored 20 points in the first half and finished with a season-high 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists on 14-of-24 shooting. The Phoenix recovered from 17 points down to take the lead during the fourth quarter, but Randle scored 11 points and added two assists over the final six minutes as Adelaide regained control. Johnson (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Griffin (13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) provided support, while Creek (27 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) led South East Melbourne as Adelaide won 100-93. Randle was hindered by a groin complaint late in the game but remained on court to help close out the victory and did not miss either of Adelaide’s remaining games.

Johnson (18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds), Griffin (14 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks), Drmic (10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds), Moore (7.8 points), Froling (7.3 points and 3.5 rebounds), McVeigh (6 points) and Teys (5.2 points) were Adelaide’s other major contributors. After reaching 11-11, the 36ers lost five of their final six games to fall out of the playoff race, with Moore missing the final seven games because of a shoulder injury.

Adelaide later opted out of the second year of Randle’s contract, ending his return to the club after one season. Randle (to Fuenlabrada) signed in Spain following the NBL season but tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during his debut after recording 7 points and 3 assists in 12 minutes, an injury which occurred after his Adelaide season and therefore did not cause him to miss any NBL games.

Already out of playoff contention, Adelaide finished its season against Perth at RAC Arena on February 15 in Wright’s 500th NBL game as a head coach. Randle (7 points) played 18 minutes, while Johnson (18 points and 11 rebounds) and McVeigh (16 points and 6 rebounds) led Adelaide and Kay (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth to a 94-79 win as the 36ers finished seventh with a 12-16 record.

Jerome Randle played five seasons in the NBL. He averaged 20.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 130 NBL games.