BIO: Mitchell Creek was born and raised in Horsham in country Victoria. He attended St Brigid’s College, where he earned induction into the school’s hall of fame.

In 2009, Creek played a leading role in Victoria Country’s campaign at the Under-18 National Championships, trained with the Australian under-19 squad, and earned a place at the prestigious Nike All-Asia Camp in Beijing, China. Between 2007 and 2009, Creek played 21 games for the Horsham Hornets in the Big V.

Creek also guided Victoria Country to a gold medal at the Under-20 National Championships, and had a fairytale international debut, leading the Australian under-19 team to its first gold medal at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany. Creek was subsequently crowned the tournament’s most valuable player after averaging 17 points per game and finishing second in efficiency on plus 20.

In 2011, Creek helped Victoria Country win back-to-back gold medals at the Under-20 National Championships, as they were victorious in defeating Queensland in the final, winning 77–70. He subsequently won the Bob Staunton Award for tournament MVP after averaging 19 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Creek received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2009. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Mitchell Creek made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 18 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

In 2010, Mitchell Creek began his NBL career with the Adelaide 36ers. As a rookie, Creek played 20 games, averaging 5.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. The 36ers were in a rebuilding phase after their worst-ever season, which saw head coach Scott Ninnis replaced by former AIS coach Marty Clarke. Clarke, a former NBL Grand Final champion with North Melbourne in 1989, had a background in developing young talent but had no prior experience coaching senior teams in the NBL or elsewhere.

Adelaide bolstered their squad by adding local talents Daniel Johnson (via Melbourne) and Rhys Carter (via Sweden), while team captain Adam Ballinger returned to lead the 36ers in scoring (15.3 points per game) and rebounding (6.0 rebounds per game). Clarke also brought in new imports Troy DeVries and Craig Winder, replacing John Gilchrist and Cortez Groves.

The 2010/11 season was marred by injuries for the 36ers. Nathan Herbert was the first casualty, suffering a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury before the season began. After defeating long-time rivals Perth in the season opener (74-69), Adelaide managed only two wins in their next seven games. In December, Rhys Carter suffered a significant injury, sidelining him for a third of the season. During Carter’s absence, Adelaide brought back former 36ers guard Aaron Bruce, who had taken a break from basketball to complete his studies in the US. When Carter returned to the lineup, Adelaide chose to retain Bruce as well.

Both imports, DeVries (10 points per game) and Winder (10.1 points per game from 35% shooting), struggled with fitness issues and were replaced after just nine games. Winder was replaced by Ron Howard, while DeVries was replaced by veteran Euroleague guard Eddie Shannon. Shannon, recommended by former teammate Chris Anstey, brought leadership and experience to the young squad despite playing with limited vision due to being blind in one eye.

Despite the roster changes, Adelaide’s season never gained momentum, and for the first time in the club’s history, they failed to win at least 10 games in a season, finishing with a 9-19 record. Creek finished the season with averages of 5.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Adelaide narrowly avoided a second consecutive last-place finish, thanks to the returning Sydney Kings, who, with a limited budget, ended with a worse 8-20 record.

2011/12
Unfortunately, things did not improve for the Adelaide 36ers or head coach Marty Clarke during the 2011/12 season. A complete roster overhaul saw only four players return from the previous season: Daniel Johnson, Darren Ng, Mitch Creek, and the injured Adam Ballinger. With Adelaide’s backcourt being a significant issue the prior season, the team brought in Nathan Crosswell (via Victoria) and Everard Bartlett (via NZNBL) to strengthen the guard rotation, while Nathan Herbert returned after missing the 2010/11 season with an ACL injury. Imports Chris Warren and John Williamson were signed to round out the roster, but a pre-season injury to Williamson left Adelaide with only one import for their season opener. This resulted in the largest opening night loss in team history, a 69-102 defeat to Perth.

Diamon Simpson, a former college teammate of Patty Mills, replaced Williamson in time for Adelaide’s second game. Simpson (14.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) would go on to lead the team in scoring and finish second in the league in rebounding.

Injury troubles continued as Nathan Crosswell’s season was cut short due to an Achilles tendon injury in round 10 against New Zealand. Despite Adam Ballinger’s return for the latter half of the season, injuries limited him to a reduced role off the bench, a first in his career, as he averaged 5.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

Adelaide endured a rough season, finishing last with an 8–20 record, including a club-record eight-game losing streak. Mitch Creek averaged 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists during a difficult year, where the only bright spot was the continued development of Daniel Johnson. Johnson took a major leap, increasing his production from 10 points and 4 rebounds to leading the team with 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

The team’s imports did have standout performances during the season. Chris Warren shot an incredible 55% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line in a loss to Melbourne (87-81) on February 3, 2012, finishing with 31 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals in 35 minutes. Simpson, who posted 12 double-doubles in 27 games, had one of his best performances in a win over Perth in December, scoring 22 points (83% shooting) with 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 26 minutes. This was particularly impressive given the strong front-line defense of the Wildcats, a feat only four teams accomplished that season (with Adelaide responsible for two of those wins).

2012/13
With the Gold Coast Blaze unable to continue in 2012/13 Adelaide made the most of the situation, inking Adam Gibson (who had been close to signing with Melbourne), Anthony Petrie and Jason Cadee to multi-year deals. The 36ers also added young forward Stephen Weigh from Perth and in a move designed to give their young Aussie core the opportunity to develop further, the team decided to sign only one import, local state player CJ Massingale.

Despite the various roster changes the team saw little improvement, at one stage suffering through another eight-game losing streak, equalling the losing streak from last season. Marty Clarke and the 36ers would finish the season with a identical record to last (8–20) and a last place finish for the second year in a row.

Daniel Johnson continued his development into the team’s franchise player, leading the 36ers in scoring (16.2 ppg), and he led the entire NBL in rebounding (8.1 rpg). The emergence of exciting young Victorian swingman and crowd favourite Mitch Creek gave fans hope for the future before he suffered a season ending Achilles tendon injury mid-season. Prior to the injury, Creek was averaging 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, while coach Clarke was not re-signed for the coming season, the 36ers securing NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright as his replacement.

2013/14
In 2013, the 36ers secured NBL championship-winning coach Joey Wright, who took the team from two consecutive wooden spoons to the Grand Final against the Perth Wildcats. The team retained its core group of Aussie talent, including Daniel Johnson (19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds), who once again led the team in scoring, and rebounding, Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie and Jason Cadee.

The 36ers also received a boost with Mitchell Creek and Luke Schenscher back on the court after both having their previous campaigns ended prematurely due to injury. Creek overcoming a near career-ending Achilles injury, and Schenscher undergoing elbow surgery. The club also added BJ Anthony (via New Zealand) and 2011 NBL MVP Gary Ervin (via Townsville) to pair with new import Jarrid Frye in the backcourt.

After Round 7 of the season the 36ers, led by Ervin and Johnson, were sitting in second place on the NBL ladder with a 7–2 record, which also included a 5–0 run. This included the 36ers winning both of their games against the Breakers in Auckland, their first wins over the triple defending champions since 2009. Adelaide also took down the undefeated Perth Wildcats (91–86) in front of 6,585 fans at the Adelaide Arena. Perth had been sitting on a 7-0 record prior to that loss in front of the largest Adelaide home crowd since Brett Maher’s last home game in 2009.

By December, Adelaide (9-4) had already eclipsed last season’s eight-win total.

On February 12, 2014, due to underperforming play and a ankle injury suffered before the season started, the team released Jarrid Frye (8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists), who wasn’t able to deliver the production needed for the second-placed Adelaide outfit who were eyeing finals campaign. Adelaide replaced him with guard Rhys Carter, who had been playing in Sweden.

The 36ers finished the regular season in second place (18-10), with Creek averaging 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 assist.

The 36ers would face Melbourne in the semifinals and, behind Gary Ervin’s 27 points and 7 assists, claimed victory in game one, 101-85. Game two would be played in Melbourne, where Tigers guard Chris Goulding (37 points) exploded in a game two win for the Tigers (98-87), evening the series (1-1). In game three, Adelaide responded by demolishing Melbourne (102-63), holding them to a 27-point half-time score and winning every quarter by 7 points or more.

The grand final would see second-ranked Adelaide face first-placed Perth with game one held in Perth. Wildcats star import James Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) would lead Perth in points, rebounds, and assists, resulting in Perth claiming the win (92-85) and taking a 1-0 series lead.

Game two would see 8,127 36ers fans (their largest crowd of the season) rally their team to a 89-84 win behind big games from Gary Ervin (23 points) and Adam Gibson (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) to even the series (1-1).

13,498 of Perth’s ‘red army’ would show up to see the Wildcat’s defeat Adelaide and win their sixth NBL title, with James Ennis subdued by foul trouble Perth’s most experienced duo, Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin were relied on to pick up the slack. Redhage, scored 10 of his 16 points in the first term to help his team settle into the contest, while Martin produced a superb defensive effort on 36ers star Gary Ervin, limiting the game two hero to just 4 points while adding 14 points and six rebounds of his own. Greg Hire (9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jermaine Beal (15 points) provided key contributions of their own to help Perth bury the demons of successive grand final defeats in the past two seasons.

Anthony Petrie (20 points) never stopped trying for the 36ers but lacked support from fellow starters Adam Gibson (8 points) and Daniel Johnson (9 points), both of whom had been influential in the first two games of the series.

Daniel Johnson won his third straight club MVP award and was also named to the All NBL First Team.

2014/15
In search of more consistent production at the point guard position, the Adelaide 36ers replaced Gary Ervin with former Cairns Taipans import Jamar Wilson. Daequon Montreal was signed as the team’s second import to bolster the second unit, while local talent Brock Motum, a member of the Australian national team, was brought in as the key acquisition for the season, expected to add significant scoring and rebounding.

Wilson (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) led the team in scoring and earned NBL Player of the Week honours twice during the season, with standout performances including a game-high 22 points against Melbourne on January 10, and another game-high 25 points against Townsville on February 1.

Motum was equally important, averaging 17.5 points and leading the team in rebounding with 7.1 boards per game. Under head coach Joey Wright, the 36ers continued to develop their young Australian core, with Mitch Creek stepping up to become the team’s third-leading scorer, increasing his output from 7.7 points per game the previous season to 11.2 points per game. Adelaide finished the regular season in third place with a 17-11 record.

The 36ers’ playoff run ended in the semifinals, where they were swept by eventual champions New Zealand. Despite the early exit, Wilson’s contributions were recognised as he was awarded the Mark Davis Trophy as the 36ers’ club MVP, and he earned All-NBL Second Team honours for the 2014/15 season.

2015/16
The Adelaide 36ers revamped their backcourt for the 2015/16 season by signing import guards Kenyon McNeail and two-time NBL champion Ebi Ere. With Brock Motum departing for Europe and Luke Schenscher joining Townsville, Adelaide added young talents in Melbourne Tigers forward Lucas Walker and guard Nathan Sobey, who had spent the previous season as a training player with Cairns. Coach Joey Wright noticed Sobey’s potential during warm-ups when they played Cairns and offered him a full-time roster spot.

Daniel Johnson (15.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game) continued to lead the team in scoring and rebounding, but the team faced a setback when McNeail left after just three games due to a pre-season shoulder injury. This led Wright to search for a new point guard, and he brought in Jerome Randle, a dynamic player who had spent five years in Europe after being considered “too small” for the NBA. Wright’s tough-love approach resonated with Randle, who found a renewed passion for the game under his leadership.

Randle quickly took over as the team’s leading scorer, averaging 23.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, including four games where he scored 30 or more points, highlighted by a 40-point performance against Perth on November 5. Mitch Creek averaged 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists alongside Randle and Johnson, helping Adelaide finish the season with a 14-14 record. Randle’s impressive season saw him named the league’s leading scorer and win the inaugural NBL Australia Post Fan’s MVP award. Despite his outstanding individual play, the 36ers finished in fifth place and missed the playoffs. Randle earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Johnson was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

2016/17
In the 2016 off-season, the 36ers retained star player Jerome Randle and added young prospects Anthony Drmic, Majok Deng, and import Eric Jacobsen to their roster. They also signed NBA Draft prospect, 18-year-old Terrance Ferguson, a move that would eventually lead to the creation of the NBL’s Next Stars Program. Ferguson chose to play professionally in the NBL rather than committing to college basketball.

Despite low expectations from experts, the young and relatively inexperienced Adelaide team emerged as contenders by mid-season. Early injuries to captain Mitch Creek (ankle) and Daniel Johnson (hamstring) led to a slow start (3-6), but the team quickly rebounded with a healthy lineup, defeating Brisbane (101-83) and going on an eight-game winning streak. By Round 11, Adelaide had risen from last place to first, and by Round 16, they had won 14 of their last 15 games, securing the minor premiership with three rounds remaining. Even after losing their final four regular-season games, the 36ers finished two games ahead of the competition with a 17-11 record.

With Creek (12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists), Johnson (15.1 points and 7.1 rebounds), and Randle (21.3 points and 5.4 assists) leading the way, along with Nathan Sobey’s breakout season (15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists), the 36ers were a formidable force. Sobey was named the NBL’s Most Improved Player after significantly increasing his production from the previous year.

Adelaide faced fourth-placed Illawarra in the semifinals, winning Game 1 comfortably (93-78) behind Randle’s 26 points and 4 assists. However, the Hawks pulled off an upset by winning Games 2 (100–94) and 3 (106-98), ending the 36ers’ season prematurely and dashing their championship hopes.

2017/18
Following the 36ers’ strong 2016/17 campaign, coach Joey Wright retained all eight Australian players, including Mitch Creek, Nathan Sobey, Daniel Johnson, and Matthew Hodgson. However, they faced a significant loss with star import Jerome Randle departing for Turkey after reportedly asking for $300k per season, a figure out of reach for Adelaide and most NBL teams. Randle’s replacement was experienced guard Shannon Shorter, while Philadelphian shooting guard Ramone Moore and athletic forward Ronald Roberts rounded out the import trio.

Ahead of the season, the 36ers traveled to Singapore to compete in the Merlion Cup, where they remained undefeated and claimed the title by defeating the Shanghai Sharks in the final. However, the team’s import situation quickly became unstable. Roberts was released a week before the season opener due to what the club cited as a knee injury, though Roberts refuted this on Twitter, claiming he was “100 percent fine.” Adelaide brought in veteran forward Alan Wiggins, but Wiggins suffered a broken arm in his NBL debut against the Sydney Kings, requiring surgery that sidelined him for eight weeks. The team then signed former Sydney Kings star Josh Childress to cover the gap.

Despite the early-season import drama, Adelaide found some success on the road but struggled with consistency, winning just half of their first 16 games. During this stretch, Mitch Creek was ruled out for three weeks in December after suffering a hamstring injury, further compounding their challenges. A disheartening 19-point loss to the Cairns Taipans on Christmas Eve marked a low point for the team, but it also served as a turning point. The 36ers responded with a strong run, winning 10 of their last 12 games, including seven straight, securing second place on the ladder at the end of the regular season.

Creek finished the season with averages of 14.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, playing a crucial role in the team’s success.

In the semifinals, Adelaide dominated third-placed Perth, winning Game 1 by a commanding 35 points (109–74), the second-largest finals loss in Wildcats history. Josh Childress led the charge with 22 points in Game 1 and followed it up with 25 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, as the 36ers secured a narrow 89–88 victory to sweep the series.

Adelaide then faced Melbourne United in the Grand Final series. In Game 1, United’s Casper Ware erupted for 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in the first half before leaving with a hip injury. Chris Goulding stepped up, scoring 26 points, and Melbourne took the game (107-96). Daniel Johnson (18 points) and Mitch Creek (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Adelaide’s top performers.

In Game 2, Adelaide responded with a 15-point win (110-95), led by Majok Deng (18 points), Mitch Creek (17 points), and Ramone Moore (17 points). Melbourne’s best performers were Casey Prather (20 points) and Chris Goulding (19 points). Unfortunately for Adelaide, Josh Childress suffered a shoulder injury late in the game, ruling him out for the remainder of the series.

Game 3 in Melbourne saw tensions flare, with Adelaide’s Nathan Sobey and Casey Prather clashing heads after Prather hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer. Sobey was ejected for a disqualifying foul, and after a tightly contested game, Melbourne edged out a 101-98 victory. Casper Ware (25 points), Prather (23 points), and Chris Goulding (15 points) led United, with Goulding hitting crucial three-pointers down the stretch.

In Game 4, Sobey bounced back with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, leading Adelaide to a dominant first-half performance, outscoring Melbourne 55-31. The 36ers held on for a 90-81 win, with Daniel Johnson (29 points, 10 rebounds) and Prather (23 points) being the standouts for their respective teams.

The deciding Game 5 saw Melbourne claim the championship with a 100-82 victory in front of a sold-out crowd at Hisense Arena. Goulding, Ware (both 23 points), and Prather (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 steals) led the way for United, while Shannon Shorter (20 points) was Adelaide’s top scorer. Chris Goulding was named Finals MVP after averaging 16.6 points and 3.6 rebounds over the five-game series. Prather made history by becoming the first player to win three consecutive NBL championships in his first three seasons in the league.

During the 2018 NBL off-season, Mitch Creek played in Germany with an agreement that he would return to the Adelaide 36ers for the 2018/19 season. However, before his return, Creek caught the attention of several NBA scouts and instead opted to join the Long Island Nets, where he would be coached by Will Weaver, who also coached Creek as part of the Australian national team.

The Adelaide 36ers responded by filing an injunction to prevent Basketball Australia from approving any NBA deal without compensation for Creek’s contract and the time the 36ers had spent developing him as a player. This decision sparked significant criticism, but a resolution was eventually reached, allowing Creek to pursue his NBA dream.

On 20 August 2018, Creek signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal with the Brooklyn Nets. Creek had spent eight seasons with the 36ers, leading them to two grand finals and securing one minor premiership. In his final season with Adelaide, he was named to the All-NBL Second Team.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
2019/20
The Phoenix appointed Simon Mitchell as their inaugural head coach and soon after made Mitch Creek their first player signing on December 4, 2018. Creek signed a two-year deal with a player option for a third year and an NBA-out clause.

In their debut game, the Phoenix faced cross-town rivals Melbourne, triumphing 91-88 in a closely contested match dubbed ‘The Throwdown.’ The team showcased their high-octane perimeter shooting, making 12 of 23 three-point attempts, and establishing themselves as the league’s top-scoring team with an average of 95.4 points per game.

However, the victory came at a cost as Tai Wesley suffered a hamstring injury just five minutes into the match, sidelining him for the next ten weeks. To fill the gap, import Jaye Crockett (8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals) was signed as an injury replacement.

After their Round 1 success, the Phoenix continued their strong start, securing wins against the Bullets (113-93) and the Hawks (106-102), reaching a commendable 3-0 record. Their first major test came in Round 4 against the Perth Wildcats, where they suffered their first loss of the season (79-110), ending their winning streak.

Following the defeat in Western Australia, victories became harder to come by, as the Phoenix faced losses against the 36ers, Kings, and twice against United. By the midway point of the season, their record stood at six wins and six losses, positioning them just outside the top four. During this period, the team decided to part ways with import Devondrick Walker (7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), who struggled to regain his pre-injury form after a fracture in his left foot sustained during a Perth pre-season game two years earlier. Keith Benson (5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks) was brought in as his replacement but failed to make a significant impact on the stat sheet.

As the team leaned heavily on Creek (20.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals) and star import John Roberson (20.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists), the following ten rounds were anything but smooth. The Phoenix struggled, managing just three wins and 13 losses over their next 16 games, culminating in an eight-game losing streak to finish the season.

Creek had standout performances throughout the season, with his best game occurring against Cairns, where he scored a career-high 32 points on January 26, 2020. His consistent scoring and rebounding made him a pivotal player for the Phoenix.

On February 6, 2020, Creek received a $500 fine from the NBL for comments directed at Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley following a game against Adelaide on February 2. Unfortunately, he missed the last two games of the season due to a hyperextended knee sustained against the Sydney Kings on February 9. The Phoenix concluded their inaugural season with a record of 9-19, finishing in second last place.

2020/21
Looking to improve on their inaugural season, South East Melbourne head coach Simon Mitchell enhanced the roster by adding talented players around franchise player Mitch Creek. Cam Gliddon and Reuben Te Rangi (both acquired from Brisbane) were brought in to help stretch the floor, creating more space for Creek to operate in the paint. Additionally, rookie Kiwi duo Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa and Mike Karena joined as development players.

Fans celebrated the potential signing of Yanni Wetzell, who had caught the attention of several NBA scouts after a stellar college career at San Diego State. However, he opted to exercise his European out clause, signing with German team Riesen Ludwigsburg. The roster was ultimately finalized with the addition of imports Ben Moore and Keifer Sykes.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBL season was postponed, and the league eventually started in January 2021. Players were also asked to reduce their salaries due to financial strains from the pandemic. Amid these challenges, Wetzell faced passport complications but ultimately returned to play for the Phoenix, adding depth to their lineup.

Wetzell (11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) quickly emerged as one of the league’s top young big men. He teamed up with Creek (18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists), who led the team in scoring and rebounding, creating a formidable one-two punch for the Phoenix.

The Phoenix developed into the league’s highest-scoring team, receiving substantial contributions from Keifer Sykes (14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists), Kyle Adnam (12.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), Cameron Gliddon (10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals), and Moore (10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists), all of whom stepped up as key scorers at different times throughout the season.

Creek had an impressive season, scoring 20 points or more on 15 occasions, highlighted by a season-high 31 points in a thrilling victory over Melbourne. However, he faced challenges mid-season when police charges related to assault were brought against him. As a result, Creek was stripped of his captaincy and was barred from community activities. The charges were later dropped, allowing him to return to the Phoenix just before the playoffs, and he was subsequently named to the All-NBL Second Team at the end-of-season awards.

The Phoenix had the opportunity to add Australian Boomers forward Ryan Broekhoff during this time. Broekhoff, who had been sidelined with a fractured leg, joined the team as an injury replacement for Dane Pineau, leading to the exclusion of development player Mike Karena from the regular rotation.

Finishing the season with a record of 19-17, South East Melbourne secured fourth place and reached the NBL playoffs for the first time in their second season. They faced Melbourne (28-8) in a semifinal series played in empty arenas in Sydney due to COVID-19 restrictions preventing both teams from playing in Melbourne.

The teams split the first two games of the series at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, with Creek (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) leading the team in scoring in game two. The deciding game took place back at home, where the Phoenix initially led United by as much as 15 points in the second quarter (32-15) but ultimately fell short, losing by ten points (84-74). The team’s rebounding issues (ranking second last in the league for rebounds) were a significant factor in their defeat, compounded by a stellar scoring performance from United’s big man Jock Landale, who tallied 27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks while shooting 11-13 from the floor and a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc.

In their final game of the season, Creek (19 points) and Reuben Te Rangi (with a season-high 22 points) were the standout contributors for South East Melbourne.

2021/22
Following their inaugural Finals appearance the previous season, South East Melbourne aimed to take the next step forward. The Phoenix’s first move was to re-sign head coach Simon Mitchell on a one-year deal, subsequently retaining the majority of the local core, including Kyle Adnam, Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Le’Afa, and Mitch Creek.

With both Keifer Sykes departing for the NBA and Yanni Wetzell signing with a team in New Zealand, the club added Tohi Smith-Milner (via Melbourne), Zhou Qi, a member of the Chinese national team, and imports Zach Hankins and Xavier Munford to bolster the roster.

The Phoenix kicked off the season with a bang, winning three of their first four games. Zhou Qi (11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks) proved to be a formidable presence in the paint, while Munford (16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) stepped up admirably in place of Sykes.

In a twist of fate, a short-term injury to Qi and Hankins dealing with a knee cartilage injury prompted coach Simon Mitchell to bring in import Brandon Ashley (8.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists) as a replacement for Hankins.

South East Melbourne displayed impressive scoring ability throughout the season, with Mitch Creek leading the team at an average of 20.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals. The Phoenix ranked among the top three highest-scoring teams in the league, averaging 87.7 points per game. Creek showcased his scoring prowess with a career-high 36 points in a victory over New Zealand (95–88) on December 10, 2021.

However, the season took a challenging turn due to COVID-related interruptions, resulting in several postponed games that forced the team into a 28-day hiatus. Upon returning to action, they suffered a blowout loss to Brisbane (84-100), indicating a need to regain their rhythm.

It didn’t take long for the Phoenix to bounce back, as they won eight of their next eleven games, positioning themselves second on the ladder with an 11-5 record at the halfway point of the season. Unfortunately, their fortunes took a downturn as they experienced a four-game losing streak against the Hawks twice, the Kings, and United. This decline coincided with a season-ending shoulder injury to Ryan Broekhoff (11.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals), further complicating their playoff aspirations.

Despite a favorable schedule in the final month, South East Melbourne struggled to secure wins, suffering defeats against Adelaide, Cairns, and Melbourne that dashed their playoff hopes. The second half of the season was disappointing for the Phoenix, as they managed to win only six out of their last 14 games. The sole highlight was an overtime victory over Perth (102-100), which ended the Wildcats’ remarkable 35-year playoff streak.

2022/23
On May 18, 2022, Mitch Creek re-signed with the Phoenix on a three-year deal, aiming to move past the injury-riddled 2021/22 season. The team’s core group of Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Cameron Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi, and Kyle Adnam all returned, with Creek continuing as co-captain alongside Adnam. To strengthen the backcourt, imports Trey Kell III and Gary Browne were added, while big man Alan Williams was signed to replace Zhou Qi.

Initially expected to return to China, Qi ultimately re-signed, creating a ‘twin towers’ dynamic alongside Williams that sparked curiosity among fans and analysts alike.

The Phoenix’s season opener saw them missing key players Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne due to pre-season injuries, while Qi’s arrival was delayed by two weeks. As a result, Adnam stepped into the starting five and had a career-high night against Tasmania. The efforts of Adnam (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Mitch Creek (23 points and 6 rebounds), and Alan Williams (12 points and 7 rebounds) propelled South East Melbourne to a 84-79 victory, generating excitement for the season ahead.

When South East Melbourne managed to field their full starting lineup, they looked formidable. Unfortunately, this was a rarity, as Qi (6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists) played only nine games before returning home for family reasons, Kell (12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists) missed five games due to broken ribs, and Broekhoff (10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) was sidelined for a third of the season due to a persistent hamstring issue.

Creek (23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists), the only starter to appear in every game, reached new heights, becoming an MVP candidate. Notable performances included a thrilling game against Brisbane, where Creek scored 31 points, and a dominant display in his 300th NBL game, recording 27 points and 6 rebounds in a win over Illawarra (112-78). Additionally, during a fierce matchup against Melbourne, he scored 16 points in a pivotal 12-minute stretch when the game was tied at 32-32, helping the Phoenix outscore United 37-14 and secure their largest win against Melbourne (84-69).

One of Creek’s most memorable performances came in a battle against the ladder-leading Sydney Kings. Creek poured in 46 points while Sydney’s Derrick Walton Jr. responded with 45. Both players delivered the first 40-point games of the season, in a double-overtime classic that saw South East Melbourne edge out Sydney (113-112). Creek shot 15/27 from the field, 4/11 from beyond the arc, and 12/13 from the free-throw line, adding 10 rebounds to his stat line in a performance that will be remembered for years.

Qi’s early departure opened up opportunities for first-year players Grant Anticevich and Anzac Rissetto. Meanwhile, injuries to Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne (12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists) — who played just 61 of 84 possible games — led to Adnam (8.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and Te Rangi (5.1 points, 3.0 rebounds) stepping into the starting lineup more frequently.

Injuries also provided significant minutes to lesser-known players like Junior Madut (4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), both of whom made key contributions when called upon.

Despite their shaky start, South East Melbourne managed to climb to second on the ladder at one point, but injuries derailed their season. The team eventually slipped to fifth place (15-13) and faced Perth in the Play-In Tournament.

Even though they entered the Play-In qualifier as favorites, the Phoenix were without sharpshooter Broekhoff. Perth’s import duo of Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals) and Brady Manek (24 points) delivered explosive performances, ending the Phoenix’s playoff hopes with a 106-99 defeat. Once again, Phoenix fans were left lamenting another “almost” season.

2023/24
At the end of NBL24, Creek and South East Melbourne would mutually agree to a release. Creek left the Phoenix as the team’s all-time leader in points and rebounds.

Mitchell Creek played thirteen seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Adelaide 36ers and the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He averaged 14 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2 assists in 338 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.