Although it seems he hasn’t put pen to paper as yet, Shawn Long has agreed to play with Melbourne United in 2019-20.
Iight. Everyone is blowing me up. I’ll just go ahead and say I’m excited to sign with @MelbUnitedHQ ! Thank you @NZBreakers for the opportunity and support last season. I look forward to joining one of my good friends @_STAYMELO this upcoming @NBL season. Let’s go!!!!!
— TwoOne. (@shawnlong21) April 28, 2019
It seems the ink is yet to set on paper however, with Long noting he hasn’t signed a contract but it was a done deal.
In doing so, Melbourne have signed the two biggest import free agents from last years NBL competition having also signed former Cairns Taipans guard Melo Trimble two days prior.
Long and Trimble are long time friends who played together for Team USA at the 2015 Pan American games where they won a bronze medal. In fact it was only after discussing the quality of the NBL with Trimble, who was already a part of the Cairns Taipans, that he decided to sign with the New Zealand Breakers.
“Thanks everyone for the support. Hoping I can help the club reach every goal it wishes to achieve this year” Long said via Twitter.
The 206 cm centre, alongside Andrew Bogut, was clearly one of the two best big men in the league. In 28 games Long averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, earning him a spot of the All-NBL second team alongside Melo Trimble.
Originally from Louisiana, 26-year-old Long played his college ball at Lousiana-Layfayette alongside NBA star Elfrid Payton where he was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2016.
After graduating college he went undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft but managed to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers and played seven preseason games for the club before being released and sent to play for Philadelphia’s G-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers.
Long would get his NBA opportunity however when he was called-up by the 76ers on a 10-day contact mid-season while the team were dealing with a number of injuries which impacted the roster.
He had a number of impressive games in the NBA, he had an 18 point, 6 rebound game in 17 minutes against Brooklyn and an 18 point, 7 rebound effort in 19 minutes against Chicago but it wasn’t enough to be offered a full contract for the remainder of the year.
Long has been focused on winning an NBL championship since he arrived in Australia. When he first arrived for the Breakers he made it known that his belief they had a chance to win the championship was a big part of why he signed with the club.
“Most importantly it came down to a chance to win a championship and be a part of a club with a winning culture” Long said when the Breakers announced his signing.
The same mindset was echoed today after Long made it known he was set to play for United next season.
“Excited for this upcoming season for real. Turning my game up however I have to. Championship mindset!”
Long’s departure creates a huge void for the New Zealand Breakers who now lost their entire starting front court with power forward Tai Wesley also leaving for Melbourne, signing with the newly launched South East Melbourne Phoenix franchise last month.