Australian Boomers star Ryan Broekhoff has agreed to a one year deal with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Media confirmed the South East Melbourne was offering a home to Broekhoff if he was unable to find an NBA team two weeks ago and with the swingman still without an NBA team a deal was struck today for him to play the rest of the NBL season in a Phoenix jersey.
Broekhoff played the last two seasons in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks but this year was unable to stick with an NBA squad. Broekhoff fractured his leg in January before being waived by Dallas mid-season in 2020. He signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in the pre-season but was released prior to the regular season.
Ryan Broekhoff is coming home. 🔒💚 @RBroekhoff45
We’ve signed the Boomers star, former NBA wing and South East Melbourne native for the remainder of the #NBL21 season.
Become a Phoenix member: https://t.co/783pVL2NR3
Details ⤵️
— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) February 15, 2021
The 30-year-old has been waiting for an NBA opportunity or a spot with a Euroleague team (Broekhoff played five years in Turkey before signing with the Mavericks in 2018) but with neither insight and COVID-19 impacting Euroleague the safe decision to return home was made.
“I’ve got a lot of connections with the Phoenix – with Simon Mitchell (Head Coach), who I spent time with down at Frankston, Rohan Short (Head of Operations) used to work me out basically every time I came home during the off-season.
“It’s been ongoing communication and the timing and everything just seems to fit this year. This is the closest team to Frankston so it’s the home team in the NBL for me” Broekhoff said.
Broekhoff played in 59 games for Dallas over two seasons, shooting 40.3 per cent from three-point range.
Broekhoff’s decision to play in the Melbourne allows him to continue playing basketball in league with NBA eyeballs on it and the added benefit of being close to family now he and wife Katie have a one-year-old son.
Hailing from Frankston, southeast of Melbourne, Broekhoff would immediately become the homegrown face of the franchise.
“I’m really excited to get back, see my family, get back playing, and obviously give back to Australian basketball and the Australian community. I’ve had such great support through my junior program and the Olympics and everything like that, so it’s time to come back and start giving back.” said Broekhoff.
It’s believed Broekhoff will sign an NBL deal similar to Jock Landale which allows him the luxury of developing his game here but allowing him to take up an NBA offer if one becomes available mid-season.
The Phoenix currently sit fourth on the NBL ladder with a record of 4-4 but securing Broekhoff’s signature would undoubtedly boost them into title favourites alongside Melbourne United and create the prospect of a Melbourne Derby Finals series. When Andrew Gaze’s Tigers faced off against Brian Goorjian’s Magic in 1996 15,000 fans turned out to attend each game of the Finals, replicating a series of that magnitude would no doubt be a huge boost to NBL basketball.
LET’S. GET. ROWDY.
We’ve got another HUGE #NBL21 signing, with @SEMelbPhoenix securing the sharp-shooting services of Ryan Broekhoff (@RBroekhoff45) for the remainder of the season.
More at: https://t.co/Ps9qxx5NDG
— The NBL (@NBL) February 15, 2021
Signing a player of Broekhoff’s calibre is almost unheard of with Andrew Bogut’s signing with the Kings in 2018 and Patty Mills playing in 2011 (during an NBA lockout season) the only two comparable in NBL history. Phoenix CEO Tommy Greer was ecstatic about being able to have Broekhoff a part of the team’s run to the finals.
“This is one of the most exciting announcements in our club’s short history and one that further embeds us in the local region. Ryan is an inspiration to all hoopers growing up in the South-East and just an incredible role model to our community” said Greer.
Broekhoff will be listed as a nominated replacement player under NBL rules and will take the position of Mike Karena when he arrives.
“A lot of those people (in South East Melbourne) haven’t seen me play in person or in Australia for such a long time so hopefully that’ll encourage them to get to some games. I’ll be spreading the word as best I can to try and get the fans in the stands, build the excitement, and help build the club and the culture from grass-roots level.” said Broekhoff.
The Australian Boomers shooting guard is expected to fly to Australia from the USA this week, undertake a two-week quarantine and make his debut at the back end of the inaugural NBL Cup in February.