Will Magnay Signs With New Orleans Pelicans

Will Magnay has achieved his NBA dream after signing a two-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Magnay had an outstanding 2019/20 Hungry Jack’s NBL season with the Bullets, leading to significant interest from NBA teams over the past 12 months.

The 22-year-old Queenslander broke the Bullets club record for most blocks in a regular season in 2019/20, eclipsing the previous record set by Leroy Loggins in 1985. He won the NBL’s Most Improved Player award and was nominated for Best Defensive Player and Best Sixth Man.

Magnay returned to Brisbane in 2017 and signed a three-year deal with the Bullets, after spending a season at the University of Tulsa. He will now join the Pelicans immediately.

Magnay said: “I’m really excited to start the next chapter of my career with the Pelicans. It’s a dream come true and I’m very thankful for the opportunity they’ve given me.

“I would like to thank my teammates and the basketball fans who have been amazing in supporting and encouraging me. I hope they can continue to do so, despite the time difference at the Pelicans.”

Brisbane Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis said: “We are thrilled for Will to be rewarded with this well deserved opportunity.

“As a club, we’re extremely proud of Will who has proven that with hard work, the right attitude and strong values you can get to the NBA. All young basketballers in Queensland should take heart from this and be inspired to follow their basketball dream.

“Will is the second player in four years, along with Torrey Craig, to go from the Bullets to the NBA. This is a tremendous endorsement of our club and the quality of the NBL. We wish Will every success with the next part of his journey.”

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger congratulated Magnay: “Will is an outstanding young talent and thoroughly deserves this opportunity in New Orleans after a fantastic breakout season with the Bullets. His signing is a further endorsement of the NBL and follows last week’s NBA Draft where NBL Next Stars LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton were selected in the first round and shows the NBL is a legitimate pathway to the NBA.”