BIO: Tristan Forsyth was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Waverly basketball program. He also has represented Waverley, Knox, Dandenong, and Frankston basketball associations as a junior player.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Tristan Forsyth made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 23 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Tristian Forsyth joined South East Melbourne Phoenix as a development player for the 2021 season, providing additional depth to a roster built around franchise player Mitch Creek. The Phoenix strengthened their lineup with key signings, including Cam Gliddon and Reuben Te Rangi (both via Brisbane), and rookie Kiwi duo Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa and Mike Karena as development players.

The delayed season start due to COVID-19 allowed Yanni Wetzell, initially bound for Germany, to rejoin the Phoenix after passport complications. Wetzell (11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) quickly became a standout young big, complementing Creek (18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists). Together, they formed a dominant inside-out duo. Keifer Sykes (14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists) and Kyle Adnam (12.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) added firepower, while Ben Moore (10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds) and Cameron Gliddon (10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds) provided consistent production.

Mid-season, Australian Boomers forward Ryan Broekhoff (7.0 points, 3.8 rebounds) joined as an injury replacement for Dane Pineau, pushing development player Mike Karena out of the rotation. Broekhoff’s addition bolstered the Phoenix as they finished the regular season fourth (19-17), reaching the playoffs for the first time.

In the semifinals, the Phoenix faced Melbourne United in Sydney due to COVID-19 restrictions. After splitting the first two games, South East Melbourne took an early 15-point lead in the decider but ultimately fell short (84-74). Jock Landale’s dominant performance (27 points, 8 rebounds) and the Phoenix’s rebounding struggles sealed their fate. Creek (19 points) and Te Rangi (22 points) led the team in their final game.

Forsyth saw limited action, appearing in four games and scoring a total of two points.

2021/22
After playing four games in his debut season, Forsyth returned to South East Melbourne on a second development contract for the 2021/22 campaign. The Phoenix, coming off their first Finals appearance, re-signed head coach Simon Mitchell to a one-year deal and retained key players Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa, and Mitch Creek.

Keifer Sykes and Yanni Wetzell departed, replaced by Tohi Smith-Milner, Chinese national Zhou Qi, and imports Zach Hankins and Xavier Munford. The Phoenix started strong, winning three of their first four games, but injuries to Qi and Broekhoff derailed their momentum. South East Melbourne won just six of their final 14 games, finishing in sixth place (15-13). A season highlight was their thrilling overtime win over Perth (102-100), which ended the Wildcats’ 35-year playoff streak.

Forsyth appeared in four games but failed to score, matching his output from the previous season.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
2022/23
In the 2022/23 season, Tristan Forsyth played a limited role for the Tasmania JackJumpers, appearing in five games and averaging 0.4 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0 assists. Despite his minimal impact statistically, Forsyth was part of a team that enjoyed significant success, finishing in fourth place with a 16-12 record and securing a spot in the NBL’s inaugural play-in tournament.

The JackJumpers, under head coach Scott Roth, showcased a balanced roster led by standout performances from Milton Doyle (17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) and Jack McVeigh (14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds). Doyle emerged as the team’s MVP and was named to the All-NBL First Team, becoming the first JackJumper to achieve this accolade.

Tasmania opened the season with challenges, including injuries to key players like Will Magnay and captain Clint Steindl. They began with three consecutive losses before a thrilling overtime victory against Brisbane (90-86), powered by Doyle’s 32 points, set them on a four-game winning streak. The team’s resilience throughout the season kept them in playoff contention, highlighted by wins over top teams like Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings.

Entering the playoffs through the play-in tournament, the JackJumpers defeated the Cairns Taipans (87-79) to advance to the semifinals. However, they faced the New Zealand Breakers in a challenging series. After a low-scoring Game 1 loss (68-77), Tasmania bounced back with a Game 2 home win (89-78), led by Doyle’s 23 points. In the deciding Game 3, the Breakers’ dominance on their home floor ended the JackJumpers’ playoff run with a 92-77 victory.

Although Forsyth’s contributions were limited on the court, his involvement in a successful season reflects the depth and development focus of the JackJumpers.

Tristan Forsyth played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Tasmania JackJumpers..

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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.