BIO: Brendan Teys was born in Brisbane (QLD) and began playing basketball as a junior with the South West Metro basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Brendan Teys made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Blaze at 19 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Following a junior basketball career with the South West Metro Pirates in the Queensland Basketball League, Brendan Teys signed with the Brisbane Bullets as a development player in 2008. Unfortunately, the Bullets folded before the season commenced.

GOLD COAST BLAZE
2009/10
Teys followed former Bullets coach Joey Wright to the Gold Coast Blaze, where he saw limited playing time as a rookie, appearing in just three games.

2010/11
In the 2010/11 season, Teys averaged 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.1 assists, contributing to the Blaze’s sixth-place finish (13-15).

2011/12
During the 2011/12 season, Teys played a slightly bigger role, averaging 1.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.1 assists, as the Blaze secured third place (17-11) in the regular season.

TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES
2012/13
After the Blaze folded before the start of the 2012/13 NBL season, Teys signed with the Townsville Crocodiles and played two games. The Crocodiles finished the season in seventh place with a 10-18 record.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2013/14
In 2013, the Adelaide 36ers secured NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright, who transformed the team from back-to-back wooden spoons to a Grand Final appearance against the Perth Wildcats. The 36ers retained key players, including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds), who led the team in both scoring and rebounding once again, alongside stalwarts Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee.

The team also benefited from the return of Mitchell Creek and Luke Schenscher, both of whom had missed much of the previous season due to injury. Creek overcame a near career-ending Achilles injury, while Schenscher recovered from elbow surgery. Adelaide added BJ Anthony (via New Zealand) and 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville) to bolster their roster, along with import Jarrid Frye to strengthen the backcourt.

By Round 7, the 36ers, led by Ervin and Johnson, sat in second place on the NBL ladder with a 7–2 record, which included a 5-game winning streak. This run saw Adelaide win both of their games against the defending champion New Zealand Breakers in Auckland, their first victories over the Breakers since 2009. The 36ers also handed the previously undefeated Perth Wildcats (7-0) their first loss of the season, defeating them 91–86 in front of 6,585 fans at the Adelaide Arena—their largest home crowd since Brett Maher’s farewell in 2009.

By December, Adelaide (9-4) had already surpassed the previous season’s total of eight wins. In February, the team released Jarrid Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) due to an ankle injury and underwhelming performance, replacing him with local guard Rhys Carter, who had been playing as an import in Sweden.

Adelaide finished the regular season in second place (18-10), with Brendan Teys playing a key role off the bench, appearing in 29 games and contributing 3.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.

In the semifinals, Adelaide faced Melbourne, where Gary Ervin led the 36ers with 27 points and 7 assists to win game one (101-85). Melbourne evened the series in game two behind a 37-point performance from Chris Goulding (98-87). However, Adelaide responded in dominant fashion in game three, blowing out the Tigers (102-63) to advance to the Grand Final.

Adelaide faced first-placed Perth in the Grand Final. In game one, Perth star James Ennis led his team with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, guiding the Wildcats to a 92–85 victory. Game two saw Adelaide bounce back, with 8,127 fans at Adelaide Arena witnessing a thrilling 89-84 win, led by Gary Ervin’s 23 points and Adam Gibson’s near triple-double (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists).

In the decisive game three, Perth’s experience came to the fore. Despite James Ennis being subdued by foul trouble, veterans Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin stepped up. Redhage scored 10 of his 16 points in the first quarter, and Martin delivered a superb defensive performance, holding Ervin to just 4 points while contributing 14 points and 6 rebounds. Perth ultimately clinched their sixth NBL title with a 93-59 victory.

Anthony Petrie fought valiantly for the 36ers with 20 points in the final, but Adam Gibson (8 points) and Daniel Johnson (9 points) struggled, unable to replicate their earlier performances.

Daniel Johnson won his third consecutive club MVP award and was named to the All-NBL First Team, capping a remarkable season for Adelaide despite falling just short of the championship.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2013/14
In 2013, the Adelaide 36ers brought in NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright, who turned the team around from two consecutive last-place finishes to a Grand Final appearance against the Perth Wildcats. Adelaide kept key players, including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points, 6.8 rebounds), who led the team in scoring and rebounding, along with Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie, and Jason Cadee.

The team also welcomed back Mitchell Creek and Luke Schenscher, both returning from season-ending injuries. Creek had recovered from a serious Achilles injury, while Schenscher had undergone elbow surgery. Adelaide added BJ Anthony (via New Zealand) and 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville) to bolster their lineup, alongside import Jarrid Frye in the backcourt.

By Round 7, the 36ers, led by Ervin and Johnson, were in second place with a 7–2 record, which included a five-game winning streak. The run saw Adelaide secure their first wins over the New Zealand Breakers since 2009 and hand the previously undefeated Perth Wildcats their first loss of the season (91–86). Adelaide’s strong start put them well ahead of their previous season’s win total by December (9-4).

Jarrid Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists) was released mid-season due to inconsistent play and injury, replaced by Rhys Carter, who had been playing in Sweden. The 36ers finished the regular season in second place (18-10), with Brendan Teys contributing solid minutes off the bench, averaging 3.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists across 29 games.

In the semifinals, Adelaide faced Melbourne. Ervin (27 points and 7 assists) led the way in a Game 1 victory (101-85), but Melbourne forced a Game 3 with a win behind Chris Goulding’s 37 points (98-87). Adelaide responded by routing the Tigers in the deciding game (102-63) to advance to the Grand Final.

In the Grand Final series against Perth, the Wildcats claimed Game 1 (92–85) behind James Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds). Game 2 saw Adelaide bounce back with an 89-84 win in front of their largest crowd of the season (8,127), evening the series. However, Perth’s experience came to the fore in Game 3, where Redhage and Martin helped the Wildcats secure the title (93-59).

Daniel Johnson was named to the All-NBL First Team and won his third consecutive club MVP award. Although Teys contributed reliable minutes throughout the season, Adelaide ultimately fell short of winning the championship.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2015/16
The Adelaide 36ers revamped their backcourt ahead of the 2015/16 season, signing import guards Kenyon McNeail and two-time NBL champion Ebi Ere. With Brock Motum departing for Europe and Luke Schenscher moving to Townsville, the team added young talent, including Melbourne Tigers forward Lucas Walker and guard Nathan Sobey, who had impressed coach Joey Wright during a training session with Cairns. Sobey secured a full roster spot with the 36ers and brought energy to the squad.

Daniel Johnson (15.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game) continued to lead Adelaide in both scoring and rebounding, but just three games into the season, McNeail left the team due to a shoulder injury. Wright quickly sought a replacement and unearthed point guard Jerome Randle, a former NBA hopeful who had spent several years in Europe. Despite initial doubts about his size, Randle quickly proved himself under Wright’s tough love and rediscovered his passion for basketball.

Randle (23.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists) lit up the league, scoring 30 points or more in four games, including a 40-point outburst against Perth. He finished the season as the NBL’s leading scorer, becoming the first 36er to achieve this feat, and was also awarded the inaugural NBL Australia Post Fan’s MVP.

Brendan Teys contributed 3.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, working alongside Randle and Johnson as Adelaide finished the season with a 14-14 record, missing out on the playoffs and placing fifth. Despite the team’s failure to reach the postseason, Randle was named to the All-NBL First Team, with Johnson making the All-NBL Second Team.

2016/17
In the 2016 NBL off-season, Adelaide retained their star player Jerome Randle and added promising young talent to the roster, including Anthony Drmic, Majok Deng, and import forward/center Eric Jacobsen. The team also signed 18-year-old high school star Terrance Ferguson from Tulsa, Oklahoma, a top NBA prospect who chose to play in the NBL instead of attending college. Ferguson’s decision would pave the way for the NBL’s Next Stars Program.

Despite low expectations, Adelaide quickly emerged as a contender. Early season injuries to Mitch Creek (ankle) and Daniel Johnson (hamstring) led to a slow start, with the 36ers dropping to the bottom of the ladder after a heavy loss to Brisbane (87-105) in Round 7. However, a fully fit squad saw Adelaide surge back, winning eight consecutive games and rising to the top of the standings by mid-season. By Round 16, the 36ers had locked in first place, having won 14 of their last 15 games. Despite losing their last four games of the regular season, Adelaide finished in first place with a 17-11 record.

Nathan Sobey (15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals) made a massive leap in his second year with Adelaide, filling in for Creek during his absence and remaining in the starting lineup upon Creek’s return. Sobey’s breakthrough earned him the NBL’s Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-NBL Second Team. Randle (21.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists) led the team in scoring once again and was named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player, only the second player in 36ers history to earn the honour, joining Mark Davis.

Daniel Johnson (15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds) was also selected to the All-NBL First Team, while Creek continued to improve, averaging 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. Teys averaged 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, playing a key supporting role for the 36ers.

Adelaide entered the playoffs as the top seed and faced Illawarra in the semifinals. After winning game one (93-78), led by a stellar 26-point effort from Randle, the 36ers were upset by Illawarra in games two (100–94) and three (106-98), bringing an abrupt end to their season despite high expectations.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2017/18
With their roster showing championship potential, coach Joey Wright retained the core of the Adelaide 36ers, including Mitch Creek, Nathan Sobey, Daniel Johnson, Matthew Hodgson, Brendan Teys, Majok Deng, Anthony Drmic, and Adam Doyle. However, star import Jerome Randle left the team after reportedly asking for a salary the NBL couldn’t afford. He was replaced by Shannon Shorter, and the team signed Ramone Moore (via Melbourne) and Ronald Roberts as their other imports.

In September, the 36ers competed in the Merlion Cup in Singapore, winning the tournament by defeating the Shanghai Sharks in the final.

However, import issues plagued Adelaide before the season began, with Ronald Roberts released due to a knee injury, though Roberts claimed he was fit. Alan Wiggins was signed as his replacement but broke his arm in his NBL debut. The 36ers then brought in former Kings star Josh Childress.

Despite these setbacks, Adelaide managed to win half of their first 16 games. During this time, Randle, having left Turkey due to unpaid wages, enquired about returning to Adelaide but ultimately signed with the Sydney Kings.

The 36ers were hit by injuries, with Creek tearing a muscle from his hamstring and Drmic suffering an MCL sprain, both sidelining them for weeks. Adelaide’s season took a turn after a 19-point loss to Cairns on Christmas Eve, sparking a 10-2 run that secured second place at the end of the regular season.

Brendan Teys contributed 1.9 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists during the season.

In the semifinals, Adelaide dominated third-ranked Perth, winning Game 1 (109-74) and Game 2 (89-88), with Childress leading the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

In the Grand Final series against Melbourne, Casper Ware’s strong first half led United to a Game 1 victory (107-96). Adelaide responded in Game 2 with Majok Deng scoring 18 points in a win (110-95) to even the series, but Childress suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the series.

Game 3 was marked by Sobey’s ejection following a confrontation with Prather, and despite Adelaide’s comeback effort, United held on for a 101-98 win. In Game 4, Sobey led Adelaide early, but United won (90-81), setting up a decisive Game 5.

Melbourne clinched the championship in Game 5 (100-82), with Chris Goulding named Finals MVP. Prather made history, becoming the first player to win three consecutive NBL titles with different teams.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2018/19
After coming close to winning the NBL championship the previous season, Adelaide entered a rebuilding phase, losing several key players, including Mitch Creek, who left to pursue his NBA dream. The 36ers filed an injunction against Basketball Australia in an attempt to receive compensation for Creek’s departure, but after initial backlash, a resolution was reached, allowing Creek to pursue his aspirations.

Other notable departures included Shannon Shorter (to Japan), Josh Childress (retired), and Matthew Hodgson (to Brisbane). To fill the gaps, Adelaide signed Jacob Wiley (via Germany) and added point guard Adris De León for scoring and playmaking duties. College stars Harry Froling and Jack McVeigh were also added, bringing youthful energy to the squad.

Despite the roster overhaul, Adelaide retained key players Nathan Sobey, Majok Deng, Adam Doyle, Brendan Teys, and team captain Daniel Johnson, who replaced Creek.

Adelaide’s season began with a loss to Perth (91-99), but they bounced back with a road win against Sydney (94-83). Sobey delivered a standout performance in Round 3 with a triple-double (22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) in a victory over Cairns (91-83).

Adelaide then endured a four-game losing streak, disrupted by a calf injury to Ramone Moore. Following their fourth loss, De León, who had been moved into the starting lineup, was released after averaging 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. The 36ers replaced him with Demitrius Conger, while Shaun Bruce was signed to fill in for Moore.

Despite finding some rhythm later in the season, including a four-game winning streak in Round 14, Adelaide’s inconsistency cost them. Brendan Teys averaged 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists and had several key performances, including a 14-point, 2-rebound, and 4-assist game against Sydney, and a 14-point effort against New Zealand.

The 36ers hovered between fourth and fifth place before finishing tied with Brisbane at 14-14. Brisbane advanced to the playoffs due to a higher points percentage, ending Adelaide’s season in fifth place. Alongside Teys, Daniel Johnson (17.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) and Nathan Sobey (16.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists) were named to the All-NBL Second Team.

2019/20
The 2019/20 season was a challenging one for the Adelaide 36ers, as Brendan Teys averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, contributing to the team’s seventh-place finish (12-16). Despite flashes of brilliance from stars like Daniel Johnson and Jerome Randle, Adelaide struggled with consistency and failed to make the playoffs. Teys, who served as co-captain alongside Kevin White this season, was a key figure in the rotation, but the team’s efforts fell short of success, and they finished the season on a disappointing note.

2020/21
The offseason saw a significant change for the 36ers, starting with the release of longtime coach Joey Wright. Up to this point, Teys had played 207 of his 261 NBL games under Wright (79% of his NBL career). Teys, who captained the team to the 2018 Grand Final and co-captained the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons alongside Daniel Johnson and Daniel Dillon, now faced a new leadership structure.

Wright’s release came amidst player conflicts, and former Perth Wildcats assistant coach Conner Henry was brought in as the new head coach. This transition also led to co-captain Kevin White being granted a release from his contract, while Nathan Sobey and Harry Froling moved to Brisbane. Obi Kyei also requested a release, stating a desire to focus on his clothing business.

Adelaide managed to retain Jack McVeigh, Obi Kyei, Brendan Teys, Daniel Dillon, and Alex Mudronja. They then signed rising star Josh Giddey on a Next Stars contract, while Sunday Dech (via Illawarra) and former NBA guard Donald Sloan were brought in to boost the backcourt. In the frontcourt, five-time club MVP Daniel Johnson was re-signed, alongside Isaac Humphries (via the NBA), and Keanu Pinder (via Europe). The final piece of the puzzle was veteran forward Tony Crocker as the team’s second import, completing the main roster.

Adelaide’s season started with an experimental lineup featuring young guns Giddey and Humphries, but they suffered a heavy opening loss to Melbourne (65-89). After a tactical change, Adelaide bounced back with an eight-point win over South East Melbourne (116-108) in their second game. Despite some strong performances from Sloan, who posted a season-high 20 points, his discontent with coming off the bench led to a mutual release.

With Dech elevated into the starting lineup and Jeremy Kendle signed as an interim replacement, Adelaide’s season began positively (4-2). However, the NBL season was disrupted by COVID-19, and the introduction of the NBL Cup in Melbourne saw the 36ers’ form plummet. They struggled to find wins in the bubble, dropping from third on the ladder to seventh.

Although Adelaide brought in NBA talent Brandon Paul and continued to rely on Daniel Johnson (19.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists) for offensive production, they were hit with the loss of Isaac Humphries for the remainder of the season. Jack Purchase was signed as an injury replacement, but the 36ers couldn’t regain their early momentum. Johnson, who notched career-high scoring numbers, was named the co-MVP of the 36ers alongside Giddey (10.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists), who also earned NBL Rookie of the Year honors.

Teys averaged 2.5 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists as the 36ers finished in seventh place with a 13-23 record.

Brendan Teys played twelve seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Gold Coast Blaze, Townsville Crocodiles and Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 3.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 258 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (815 Posts)

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.