Euro Vision: How Phoenix could land best imports

Josh King’s experience in the top-tier European leagues could be key to landing the best available imports at the South East Melbourne Phoenix. 

King has significant coaching experience in Germany, Turkey and the Czech Republic, meaning his network is almost unrivalled in NBL circles. 

Those relationships are key when it comes to attracting talent. 

“Can he get those high level imports who’ve been playing over in Europe and can he lure him – can he sell the lifestyle here? The play style here?,” ESPN’s Olgun Uluc pondered on The Marketplace. 

“We forget the talent of the Americans in Europe right now … there are four or five imports per team who are high, high level.

“If he can go and lure a couple of those, then I think the Phoenix can be a really cool situation.”

Derrick Walton Jr. is unlikely to return to the Phoenix for NBL26, according to Uluc, while MVP finalist Matt Hurt could be headed to Illawarra. Joe Wieskamp is yet to sign for a new season.

Pete Hooley said the NBL offered a unique selling point, which would only be strengthened by King’s existing relationships.

“He’s going to be at Summer League with Simon Mitchell, but I think he’s going to be using that trip more for connections, because all the agents are around to talk to, not necessarily players who are playing, but the representation that’s there from key guys in Europe,” he said. 

“A lot of clubs who are talking to imports who are potentially getting paid a lot more overseas now are using different selling points. 

“One I’m hearing now is, ‘if you want to make the NBA, all the eyes are on the NBL right now as a launching pad to do that’.

“We might not be able to pay what you can get elsewhere, but if you come down and perform at this high level here in a five or six-month season, we can then line you up in China to fill your pockets for the rest of that season or in Puerto Rico which is paying unbelievable money right now. 

“You can do that and all of a sudden 12 months’ round, your money looks really good and you’ve also got NBA eyes on you in the NBL and that can start to a package point to bring back some of that elite talent.” 

The Phoenix have locked in Jordan Hunter and Nathan Sobey as their key pieces so far for NB26, alongside Owen Foxwell, Angus Glover and Akech Aliir, with plenty of spots still to fill.