Yusuf Qaafow
- Nationality: AUS
- Date of Birth: 19/06/87
- Place of Birth:
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 190
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc:
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 8/01/10
- AGE AT DEBUT: 22
- LAST NBL GAME: 2/04/11
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Melbourne 2010-11
- Championships: 0
- None
NBL EXPERIENCE
Yusuf Qaafow made his NBL debut with the Melbourne Tigers at 22 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.
2010/11
The 2010/11 campaign marked a difficult rebuilding phase for the Melbourne Tigers, who finished with their worst record since 1987. The retirements of club legends Andrew Gaze, Chris Anstey, and Sam MacKinnon, combined with significant player departures—Julius Hodge, Mark Worthington (Gold Coast), Luke Kendall (Gold Coast), and Daniel Johnson (Adelaide)—forced head coach Al Westover into a dramatic roster reshuffle. Import guards Eric Devendorf and TJ Campbell were signed alongside a stacked but imbalanced frontcourt including Luke Nevill, Cameron Tragardh (via Wollongong), Matt Burston (via Perth), and Wade Helliwell.
Melbourne opened the season in disastrous fashion, losing heavily to Sydney (84–68) and slumping to four consecutive defeats. Campbell (11.8 points and 2.8 assists) was quickly replaced by reigning NBL MVP Corey Williams (17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and a league-leading 6.1 assists), who returned from a brief stint in Greece. Westover lauded Williams’ addition, emphasising his veteran leadership and intensity to guide a youthful squad. Despite Williams’ immediate impact, internal tension escalated, with owner Seamus McPeake publicly confronting the team over their performances. This led to Devendorf’s mid-season release, the sacking of coach Westover, and the appointment of Darryl McDonald as interim head coach.
Luke Nevill (12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) requested a release late in the year to sign with BC Triumph Lyubertsy in Russia, placing greater responsibility on Tragardh (11.9 points and 4.5 rebounds) and Burston (8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds) in the frontcourt. Development player Yusuf Qaafow saw limited action, appearing in 12 games and contributing sparingly (1.3 points, 0.3 rebounds) but providing occasional bursts of defensive energy and athleticism off the bench.
Despite late-season wins over Sydney, Adelaide, and the Gold Coast Blaze, Melbourne never established consistency, ultimately finishing seventh with a 10–18 record and setting a new franchise mark for losses in a season.
Yusuf Qaafow played two seasons the Melbourne Tigers. He averaged 1.3 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 14 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 23 | Melbourne | 10-18 (7) | 12 | 58.0 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 33% | 2 | 8 | 25% | 1 | 2 | 50% | 40% | 39% | 6 |
| 2009-10 | 22 | Melbourne | 11-17 (6) | 2 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 67% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 67% | 0% | 2 | Totals | 14 | 62 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 38.1% | 2 | 9 | 22.2% | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | 43% | 43% | 6 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | 23 | Melbourne | 10-18 (7) | 12 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 33% | 0.2 | 0.7 | 25% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 40% | 39% | 6 |
| 2009-10 | 22 | Melbourne | 11-17 (6) | 2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 67% | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 67% | 0% | 2 | Total | 14 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 38.1% | 0.0 | 22.2% | 0.1 | 0.6 | 50.0% | 43% | 43% | 6 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
|---|
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com
-
Why Newcastle’s NBL Return Is Closer Than You Think
The conversation around NBL expansion has intensified in recent years, with the league publicly confirming discussions with potential markets such as Canberra, the Gold Coast, and Darwin. However, one city that continues to quietly build momentum as a realistic candidate for a future franchise is Newcastle. While it may not always dominate the expansion headlines, the pieces required for an NBL return are slowly aligning, and according to former owner of the Illawarra Hawks, Dorry Kordahi, the push for a Newcastle team is very real.…
READ MORE -
Why Luke Paul Said No to a $3 Million College Bag to Get “Beaten Up” in the NBL
Most 16-year-olds would take the bag. Luke Paul wants to take a beating. In an era where high school recruits are chasing six-figure Instagram followings and seven-figure NIL deals, Luke Paul just did the unthinkable. The 16-year-old Australian talent is a 6'6" point guard widely tipped as a future NBA lottery pick who reportedly turned down US college offers worth up to $3 million to stay home. He didn't do it for comfort. He didn't do it for safety. According to Paul, he did it…
READ MORE -
‘We need to play good basketball’ – South East Melbourne eye fine-tuning ahead of finals
With one game remaining in the regular season and finals seeding on the line, South East Melbourne moved a step closer to the top two with a 120–104 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena. The Phoenix overcame a career-high 36-point outing from Majok Deng, with Angus Glover leading the way with 21 points and seven three-pointers as the home side’s firepower proved too much. Despite the result, coach Josh King said his group still needs to produce a complete four-quarter performance, particularly…
READ MORE -
Inclusion Needs Outcomes, Not Pride Rounds
In recent weeks, NBL Pride Round has been accompanied by a wave of opinion pieces — including Michael Randall’s “Pride Round: Why the NBL should be proud it won’t ever ‘shut up and dribble’” — praising the initiative while dismissing its critics. This has been something I’ve been thinking about and discussing with people since Indigenous Round.I think we all need a little perspective sometimes. https://t.co/2D65bvtS5K — Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) February 3, 2026 But the argument that any criticism of the National Basketball League’s social-issue…
READ MORE -
Kings vs Hawks: Ep. 6 — LaMelo Ball, Spy-Gate and ‘The Hawks’ lose their Illawarra name
We continue diving deeper into one of Aussie hoops’ fiercest rivalries — Sydney vs Illawarra — picking things up as LaMelo Ball and his Rookie of the Year season in 2019 propelled the Hawks into the global spotlight, setting NBL viewership and attendance records, while the Kings reloaded under Will Weaver and pushed for a championship in a season that ended in chaos. Host Dan Boyce breaks down LaMelo’s viral debut, his back-to-back triple-doubles, and the impact of Aaron Brooks’ season-ending injury on Illawarra’s playoff…
READ MORE -
Keanu Pinder’s Japanese Stint Could Result In Boomers Selection
Keanu Pinder has hit a new gear in Japan. As Akita’s starting big, he is producing like a franchise option, and that level of form is putting him back in the Boomers conversation. Pinder is in the midst of a prime career stretch that has seen him exceed the 2 time NBL "Most Improved Player" form that first made him a star in Cairns.The primary storyline defining Pinder’s 2025-26 campaign is a shift in usage. In Perth, Pinder was often a secondary option behind heavy…
READ MORE -
NBL Free Agent Tracker
Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…
READ MORE -
Japan’s Emergence as a Major Destination for Australian Basketball Talent
Five to ten years ago, if an Australian headed to Japan, it was typically because of not making NBL roster spots. Players like Venky Jois, Daniel Dillon and Rhys Vague fit this profile. Now Australian basketballers looking to play overseas rarely viewed Japan as a serious career destination. The traditional pathways pointed elsewhere, but that perception has shifted rapidly. Today, Japan’s B.League has emerged as a legitimate and increasingly attractive option for Australian players seeking strong contracts, defined roles, and long-term professional stability.Today, that narrative…
READ MORE