Barlow's Back for NBL23

After announcing his playing retirement just weeks ago, Melbourne United veteran David Barlow is set to re-join the playing group for NBL23. He's signed a one-year deal to take his place as the team's final rostered player.

Barlow, who operated in a player/coach role for the Sandringham Sabres in the recent NBL1 South season, was still involved in training with United as he began to transition into a coaching role with the club. His performances were impressive enough to garner another season playing at the top level.

Although Barlow never ruled out a return to the court, stating he was prepared to do what was best in the interests of the club, his re-signing comes after a long and involved evaluation from head coach Dean Vickerman.

“We wanted someone to help solidify our interior presence and the more we looked at it, the more we came back to Barlow,” Vickerman told the Melbourne United website. 

“He’s been practicing and playing with the team all offseason and remains one of the strongest, smartest players in our league, while being able to stretch the floor at an elite level.

“We as a coaching staff had a feeling that despite the retirement he would end up playing some games for us this season, so we kind of just sped up the process, because he still has so much to give this team on the court.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Barlow is BACK!<br>Club legend David Barlow is set to re-join the playing group, signing as our final rostered player.<br><br>Coaches have determined DB to be the best player available to help our team contend for another championship.<br>Full story: <a href="https://t.co/GH1M3WcVpU">https://t.co/GH1M3WcVpU</a> <a href="https://t.co/iD7cObBr3A">pic.twitter.com/iD7cObBr3A</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1570600869850382337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Barlow will now prepare to suit up for his ninth season in United colours, and his 19th as a professional player, after initially beginning his NBL career with the Sydney Kings in 2003.

“I’m really thankful for all the people that reached out and touched base with me after the initial announcement,” Barlow said.

“Considering my career and all the people who have helped me, especially my family and the journey that we’ve been on, it was definitely an emotional time.

“Situations change, and it just so happens that there was hole that I could fill as a player, rather than a coach.

“Like I had always said, I was always going to do whatever I could to help the club compete for a championship. I’m thankful for the opportunity to get to do that as a player for another season with United.”