Sobey signing impact "overlooked"?

Has the significance of Nathan Sobey’s confirmed move to the South East Melbourne Phoenix been underestimated? According to Liam Santamaria, that answer is a resounding yes.

Sobey’s move to the Phoenix from the Brisbane Bullets was confirmed on Monday – the opening day of the free agency period – but has been somewhat overshadowed by the extensive number of reported signings by the Sydney Kings.

The former MVP candidate and All-NBL24 Second Team nominee is the first piece of the puzzle to land in place in the Phoenix’s rebuild ahead of NBL25, and Santamaria says it’s a move South East Melbourne has been chasing for a significant period of time.

“The South East Melbourne Phoenix are very excited to have him,” Santamaria said on NBL Now. “They wanted Nathan Sobey when he left Adelaide a number of years ago and went to Brisbane, and now they finally get their man.

“I think it’s a little overlooked how big a move that is. That’s a guy who was in the All-NBL Second Team this past season, that’s a guy who has been an All-NBL First Team performer in previous years, he was 20 points per game and top five in scoring last year, and he played 27 games.

“He was fit and healthy throughout that year, a bronze medalist in that Boomers team in 2021.

“There’s a lot of focus on who said what and he said this and she said, but this guy is a flat out baller and he’s coming home to Victoria, which if you look at his socials he’s excited about.”

Sobey’s departure from the Bullets has paved the way for Justin Schueller’s side to make a big splash in this free agency period, and Damon Lowery has praised Brisbane’s head coach for making a stand on how he wants to build the team.

Schueller told SENQ he didn’t believe Sobey fit the Bullets’ new direction and culture, comments which Sobey told News Corp he disagreed with.

“[It’s a] gutsy, gutsy call by Justin Schuelller and his staff to plant their feet in the sand and say ‘we’re about to stand on something’,” Lowery said.

“Sometimes you have to break the egg to make an omelette and make some very unpopular decisions.

“I credit him for that and we’ll see if it works out in the long run, but at least he’s shown he’s not messing around.”

The Phoenix have also reportedly agreed a deal to bring Angus Glover to the club, as per ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.