Point to prove: Olympic dream fuels Bannan

Josh Bannan is entering NBL26 with fresh motivation and a fire to match. Now part of the Tasmania JackJumpers, the 24-year-old forward is aiming high, with Olympic dreams and a hunger to prove himself on every possession.

That ambition was front and centre when Bannan accepted Tasmania’s offer. He wants to reach the Olympics, and that goal has become a shared mission between player and club. From day one, the coaching staff made it clear they are committed to helping him get there.

"I've always said I want to play for Australia in the Olympic Games. That's always been my number one motivation to play basketball. So I’ll continue working towards that and hopefully make the NBA one day as well," Bannan said.

"That was something we talked about in my recruitment, me becoming the best version of myself and how that's mutually beneficial for me and also for the club, and how I can help this club continue to have the success it's had and keep building."

The 6'10" forward debuted for the Boomers during the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, scoring 11 points against South Korea in a performance that further fuelled his Olympic ambition.

Bannan made his mark across two seasons with the Bullets, emerging as one of the league’s top young prospects. Now, he’s driven to take it to another level and prove he belongs among the best.

"It doesn't matter what position I'm playing, whether it's the four or the five, I'm going to impact the game and try and be dominant," he said.

"No matter who I'm going up against, I've got a point to prove. That's definitely something I’ll be trying to bring to this club and this organisation."

The JackJumpers begin their NBL26 journey on September 18 with a home showdown against Melbourne United.