Phoenix Add Four-Time NBL Champion

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have added some serious championship pedigree to their side for NBL24, with four-time NBL champion and former Perth Wildcat Rhys Vague committing to the club for two seasons.

Vague made 79 appearances across six seasons for the Wildcats, where he averaged 1.9 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, before departing for the Kagawa Red Arrows in the Japanese B. League.

During his spell in Japan, the 27-year-old has established himself as one of the premier local talents plying their trade in the international market.

In his most recent season, Vague averaged 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game.

“The decision to join the Phoenix, a big part of that was Mike (Kelly) being the head coach. I have a really good relationship with Mike through the Boomers series and World Uni games,” Vague said.

“Also just being back in Melbourne a couple of months ago and that sort of atmosphere for basketball, and that was just really cool. It was one of those things you don’t know what you got until it’s gone and feeling that again was quite surreal. My agency saw what was there in the NBL and then it aligned with the Phoenix. I am just stoked to be onboard.”

Vague was a member of the title-winning Australian 2022 FIBA Asia Cup squad, alongside NBL stars Keanu Pinder, Will McDowell-White and Mitch McCarron, and has since become a near mainstay in the Boomers setup.

He's hoping to bring valuable experience to South East Melbourne.

“I spent six years with Perth, the biggest things I learnt because I started so young at 18, just how to be professional from an early age. I was playing around guys like Shawn Redhage, Greg Hire, Damian Martin, Bryce Cotton, Jesse Wagstaff, those sorts of guys,” Vague added.

“They taught me how to go about business in the right way. I felt like I have carried that through the rest of my career and hopefully imparted that with some of the young guys I have played with.

“Being part of four championships there helped (in Perth) me realise what it takes to grow a winning culture and be a part of that, even though I wasn’t at the forefront of that, but being around that and absorbing that was huge for me.

“What I have seen from the Phoenix - the culture’s there, people are getting around the fan base, the guys, I don’t really want to mess with it, more than anything I just want to slot myself in there and help out in any way I can.”

New Phoenix coach Mike Kelly says Vague will be a welcome addition to the squad.

“I think he is going to be great in that four spot, backing up Mitch (Creek) and occasionally being able to play a little bit of that five,” Kelly said.

“He's a great teammate, and great team player. I’m super excited to be around him, he just has a great energy about him and loves to play the game and loves his teammate … definitely want that vibe here.”

Vague joins rostered players Alan Williams, Gorjok Gak, Matt Kenyon, Mitch Creek, Owen Foxwell, Reuben Te Rangi, and development player Anzac Rissetto for the Phoenix in NBL24.