BIO: Travis Leslie was born in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) where he attended Columbia High School, in Decatur, Georgia.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Travis Leslie made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 27 years of age. He scored 12 points in his first game.

After missing the playoffs the previous season, Sydney parted ways with Julian Khazzouh (to Lebanon), Jeromie Hill (to Sunshine Coast), Greg Whittington (to Sioux Falls), Aleks Maric (to Bahrain), Craig Moller (to Melbourne) and Josh Powell (to Venezuela). Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp, captain Kevin Lisch and Brad Newley returned under head coach Andrew Gaze, who added Todd Blanchfield (via Melbourne), Perry Ellis (via Greensboro), Travis Leslie (via Fort Wayne), Isaac Humphries (via Kentucky), Dane Pineau (via Saint Mary’s), Amritpal Singh (via Pune), Sam Daly (via Chaminade) and Adam Thoseby (via Knox).

Sydney signed the former NBA guard on August 10 after Gaze had watched him closely while working as a guest assistant with the Indiana Pacers during NBA Summer League, where the athletic swingman scored at least 20 points twice. He had spent the previous season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, averaging 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds, and was expected to provide athleticism and versatility across several positions. Gaze said, “He’s a talented player, athletic and strong and brings a versatility that we think is really valuable.” The new import said, “I’m very excited to be a part of the Kings family and can’t wait to put on that purple and gold.”

Before the NBL season, Sydney became the first NBL team to play an official NBA preseason game, facing the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2. Leslie (4 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) started as Ellis (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Newley (14 points) led Sydney, while Rodney Hood (20 points) was Utah’s leading scorer in a 108-83 Jazz win.

Sydney opened the regular season against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on October 7, where Leslie (12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) started in his NBL debut. Newley (24 points and 4 assists) and Lisch (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Sydney, while Ramone Moore (22 points and 2 steals) led Adelaide to a 105-96 win.

Leslie (12.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 8 games) started all eight games he played for Sydney and did not miss a game through injury before being released. Despite the Kings’ difficult start, early media coverage had him ninth on an NBL MVP ladder after three games and described his performances as “admirable.”

Leslie’s best game came against Adelaide at Titanium Security Arena on October 21, where Leslie (25 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) made 10 of 18 shots from the field and four of five three-pointers. Newley (15 points) and Ellis (13 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while Nathan Sobey (25 points) led Adelaide to a 114-84 win.

Only days later Gaze spoke publicly about Sydney’s need to improve its rebounding, bringing former NBL great Mark Bradtke into the program to work with the team, while management acknowledged it was searching for an import centre and had deliberately waited until later in the year when a stronger pool of players would become available.

Leslie’s final game came against Illawarra at Qudos Bank Arena on November 5, where Leslie (6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) shot 2-of-11 from the field as Sydney fell to 2-6 following a 93-83 loss. Ellis (19 points and 10 rebounds) and Newley (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Kings, while Rotnei Clarke (29 points and 5 assists) led Illawarra.

Four days later Sydney released Leslie (to Levallois Metropolitans), with Lisch (11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 11 games) already facing an extended absence after tearing his right calf. The Kings said their poor start, heavy upcoming road schedule and Lisch’s injury had forced them to rebalance the roster, with the club prioritising rebounding, shot-blocking and an import centre. Managing director Jeff Van Groningen said, “It’s unfortunate that we have had to release Travis, who is a quality individual and contributed to our team and organisation.” He added that Sydney needed “an impact player in the frontcourt” and said the decision to use an import spot on a centre had led to Leslie’s release.

Sydney simultaneously reshaped the roster by adding reigning NBL MVP Jerome Randle (via Bahçeşehir) and former NBA centre Jeremy Tyler (via China). Randle had returned from Turkey after delayed salary payments and initially explored returning to Adelaide, but with the 36ers roster already finalised he joined Sydney instead. Tyler was the big man Sydney had been seeking when it decided to move on from Leslie.

The Tyler experiment ultimately created further problems. Tyler (13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds across 11 games) produced on the court, but contemporary coverage later described him as “a clear distraction” and reported claims that he had missed numerous training sessions and struggled to control his emotions during games. Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across 19 games) later publicly discussed the difficulties of playing alongside him. Sydney released Tyler with eight games remaining, officially choosing to give greater opportunities to Humphries (6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds across 26 games) and Pineau (2.9 points across 24 games).

Three days after leaving Sydney, Leslie joined Levallois Metropolitans in France for the remainder of the season, replacing Dan Nwaelele. Sydney eventually recovered following Lisch’s return, winning six of its final seven games but finishing seventh with an 11-17 record.

Travis Leslie played one season in the NBL. He averaged 12.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 8 NBL games.