Fresh energy fuels Brisbane’s finals push

The Brisbane Bullets have a fresh look and a clear mission to end their long wait for a return to the post-season.

Veteran guard Mitch Norton says he is eager to see how this new chapter unfolds, embracing the challenge with confidence.

“It’s really amazing,” he told the Brisbane Bullets' website about the mix of fresh faces with the returning local core.

“Each guy that’s come through the door has had a really good energy about them.”

Brisbane turned heads last month by securing former MVP Jaylen Adams from Sydney. They followed that up with the signing of scoring guard Javon Freeman-Liberty, handing new coach Stu Lash a backcourt that could be one of the most explosive in the NBL.

The Bullets have had a head start on the rest of the competition, with the majority of their roster already in town and getting pre-season underway.

“It’s cool to bring in the high-level talent that we have,” Norton said. 

“We also bring back someone like Sam McDaniel who missed the majority of the season last year.

“It does get you excited. You got to try and reign it back in as well, because it’s very, very early.”

The Bullets haven’t reached the Finals since 2019 and their last Championship dates back to 2007.

Now though, the foundations for a turnaround are being laid both on and off the court. 

“Everyone starts out with the same goal and ours is a process in the works,” Norton said.

“At the end of the day we are all here to achieve success, and that’s including individual. If you celebrate each other’s success along the way, it makes for a fun time.”

The Bullets first taste of pre-season competition will come against Cairns on August 24.