Chance encounter sparks Doyle’s mainland move

Melbourne United’s newest star Milton Doyle says a familiar face from his JackJumpers days helped pave the way for his off-season.

Jacob Chance, who served as associate head coach during Doyle’s first two NBL seasons, has since made the switch to United.

Now, the pair are set to reunite.
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“We had some talks in the beginning, a couple of chats. I’m close with Chancey, so he always kind of said something about it every now and then when I would see him,” Doyle told Melbourne United’s website.
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“I think in the last month or so, that’s when it really became an idea and I really had to think about it. I thought it was a good situation for me.”
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A championship winner at the JackJumpers across three seasons and 96 games, Doyle reunites with Chance in Melbourne—a team he has faced in some famous battles in recent years.
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That includes the NBL24 Championship Series, where the JackJumpers defied all odds to win their maiden title.
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“Playing against Melbourne throughout my career in the NBL, it’s been great. A lot of rivalries going on, so getting a chance to play with these guys that I’ve been going against, it’s going to be fun to get on the court,” Doyle said.
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“The one thing I wanted to do was stay in Australia. So just being in the NBL, and then being with a team that I know makes a push every season to go deep in the playoffs. And professionalism and just the grind, and just being in a winning mentality.
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“Melbourne has all that, and it was exciting to get a call.”

Doyle is confident he’ll thrive in United’s system, teaming up with the likes of Chris Goulding, Shea Ili and fellow recruit Finn Delany.
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“I think you’ll get to see a different part of my game in a different system,” he said.
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“Basketball systems kind of make the player a little bit, and sometimes it shows the best of a player. Sometimes it kind of holds something back. So I think being in a new situation always sheds light on something new in my game. I think you’ll get to see a different part of my game and go from there.
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“It’s going to be fun not getting picked up full court by Ili and CG not hitting tough threes in my face all the time. Now I get to be on the same team as them and facilitate a little bit to CG, and pick up the pace a little bit with Ili, and get some open looks too. Just play a different pace of basketball.”
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Doyle has averaged 15.8 points, 5 rebounds and 4.3 assists during his time in the NBL.
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He will be looking to replicate the form of his first two seasons in the league, where he was an All-NBL First Team and Second Team member in back-to-back campaigns.
The 31-year-old will also go into the new campaign with a new look, donning the number 35 jersey.
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“Kobe (Bryant) was my favourite player growing up, so the three and five represent Kobe’s number eight. Then as I grew and got older, Kevin Durant came into the league and he’s also one of my favourite players. So wearing that number after him and just trying to idolise what those guys bring to the table with their scoring and skill set and just mentality of winning and making shots,” Doyle added.
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“I wanted to get back to that and get back to wearing my old number. I’m just back to something I’m used to and back to getting to myself.”
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Doyle spent the off-season in Puerto Rico and says he took plenty from the experience to start strong with a new club.
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“It’s helped me a lot. First off, staying in shape, playing a lot of minutes, getting the reps up, and doing things that I don’t usually get to do in Australia,” he said.
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“I kind of use that league as a time to sharpen the tools and work on things that I don’t really get to work on out there in the NBL, so I think it’s helping me a lot.”

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