BIO: Koen Sapwell was born in Adelaide (SA) and is the son of ex-NBL player Rupert Sapwell, who played for five NBL team’s across his career. He attended Trinity College (Adelaide) and represented his state in Under 16’s and 18’s, before moving to the United States to play college ball at Cal State Monterey Bay. He returned to Australia in 2021 sign on to play with the Hobart Chargers in the NBL1 South Season.

At the end of the 2021 NBL season Sapwell spent training with the Cairns Taipans and the Devonport Warriors in the 2021 NWBU state league competition before signing a development player deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

FAMILY: Koen Sapwell is the son of Rupert Sapwell who played 359 games in the NBL.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Koen Sapwell made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 22 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

After making their maiden Finals appearance the year prior, South East Melbourne looked to go one step further. The Phoenix’s first move was re-signing coach Simon Mitchell (one year deal), who then went about retaining the majority of the team’s local core, locking in Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa and Mitch Creek re-signing.

Although both Keifer Sykes (to NBA) and Yanni Wetzell (to New Zealand) would exit the club, they would be replaced by Tohi Smith-Milner (via Melbourne), Zhou Qi, a member of the Chinese national team and imports Zach Hankins and Xavier Munford.

South East Melbourne started the season on fire, winning three of its first four games, but after injuries to Qi and Ryan Broekhoff, a disappointing second half of the season saw the Phoenix manage to win only six out of their last 14 games and finish in sixth place (15-13). The only high in the second half of the season was a overtime win over Perth (102-100) that ended the Wildcat’s 35-year playoff streak.

With injuries and players missing games due to COVID-19 protocols, a number of players were brought in and out of the team’s main roster. Sapwell, who signed as a development player, managed to appear in two games as a result, scoring a total of two points.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2022/23
After the Bullets finished second last the season prior. Brisbane had loaded up by adding Boomers big man Aron Baynes and veteran guard Tyler Johnson who had been teammates while playing in the NBA with Phoenix.

Devondrick Walker (via NBL1) was signed as a second import and local talent Harry Froling (via Illawarra), Gorjok Gak (via Europe) and DJ Mitchell (via NBL1), son of former Bullets import Mike Mitchell, were also brought into the squad to complement the returning core of Jason Cadee, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs and captain Nathan Sobey.

The Bullets off-season recruiting saw many in the media pencil them in as a top four team but with the health of both Sobey coming back from a knee injury that had kept him on the sidelines for half of NBL22 and Baynes returning to the court after a neck injury suffered at the Olympics almost left him paralysed, many questioned their ability to stay healthy.

Six games into the season and the Bullets had yet to win a game. Baynes (11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) was far from the NBA player he was 12 months earlier and Sobey (15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists) recorded his lowest numbers for points and rebounds in five years.

Brisbane then recorded back-to-back wins, both against Illawarra. The first victory (82-56) on the back of a 17 point, 14 rebound effort from Baynes and the second (86-61) thanks to Sobey, scoring 14 first quarter points and 22 first half points, both career highs. The wins marking the first time Brisbane had won consecutive matches by at least 25-points since February 2007.

A two point victory over a strong Tasmanian team (74-72) gave them a three game winning streak, but just when things started to look positive, the decision was made to release underperforming import Walker (9.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) and fire head coach James Duncan.

Walker was replaced by Andrew White (7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) and Duncan was replaced by General Manager Sam Mackinnon as interim coach, a move that lasted just three games before assistant coach and former Townsville Crocodile Greg Vanderjagt took the reins for the remainder of the season but the best of the Bullets season was behind them. Sapwell would join the team in early December as an injury replacement player. He appeared in three games and scored a total of two points.

Brisbane finished second last again (8-20) with three of their eight wins coming against Illawarra, who recorded their worst season ever.

Diing appeared in only six games for the season, scoring a total of two points.

Koen Sapwell played two seasons in the NBL, playing for both the South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Brisbane Bullets..

Dan Boyce (815 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.