South East Melbourne Phoenix

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South East Melbourne Phoenix
2021–22 South East Melbourne Phoenix season
South East Melbourne Phoenix logo
LeagueNBL
Founded2018; 4 years ago (2018)
HistorySouth East Melbourne Phoenix
2019–present
ArenaJohn Cain Arena
State Basketball Centre
Capacity10,500 (JC)
3,200 (SBC)
LocationMelbourne, Victoria
Team coloursBlack, Green, Grey
     
General managerTommy Greer
Head coachSimon Mitchell
Team captainKyle Adnam
OwnershipRomie Chaudhari
WebsiteSEMPhoenix.com.au

The South East Melbourne Phoenix are an Australian professional basketball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. The Phoenix entered the National Basketball League (NBL) in the 2019–20 season. The team play the majority their home games at John Cain Arena, which they share with fellow NBL team Melbourne United, with some games being played at the State Basketball Centre.

Franchise history[]

With plans to expand the National Basketball League (NBL) beginning with the 2019–20 season, the league sold a franchise licence to Swansea City co-owner Romie Chaudhari in July 2018.[1] In August 2018, former Melbourne Tigers player Tommy Greer was appointed general manager of the new franchise, with this appointment at the time indicating the franchise would likely be Melbourne-based.[2] On 2 September 2018, the NBL announced that the league's ninth franchise for the 2019–20 season will be based in South-East Melbourne.[3][4][5] On 18 October 2018, Simon Mitchell was appointed as the inaugural head coach of the team.[6] On 17 November 2018, the team's name was announced as South East Melbourne Phoenix.[7] The team logo and colours were also revealed.[8][9] On 4 December 2018, former Adelaide 36ers forward Mitch Creek was announced as the team's first marquee signing.[10][11]

First Season (2019–20)[]

The Phoenix debuted in the 2019–20 season opener on 3 October 2019, when they were hosted by cross-town rivals Melbourne United at Melbourne Arena. In front of a sold-out crowd of 10,300, the Phoenix won 91–88.[12] The Phoenix played their first home game at Melbourne Arena on 13 October 2019 against the Brisbane Bullets, winning 113–93.[13] The crowd of 6,019 was the highest recorded for an expansion franchise's first home game in league history.[14][non-primary source needed] Despite losing import forward Tai Wesley to injury on opening night, the Phoenix sat in second place with a 5–2 record after the season's first six rounds. From that point, however, they won just four more games to finish their inaugural season in eighth place with a 9–19 record.[15] The Phoenix averaged the highest crowd figures ever for a first year start up club in Australian Basketball, with a total of 75,179 fans attending their fourteen home games at an average of 5,369 fans per game.[16][17]

Home arena[]

Home game of the Phoenix during their 2019–20 debut season at Melbourne Arena
The State Basketball Centre before Phoenix vs The Hawks - 7 Feb 2021

The Phoenix are headquartered and train at the State Basketball Centre, located in Wantirna South, part of the South-Eastern City of Knox region that forms part of the club's strategic engagement area. The Phoenix play most of their home games at John Cain Arena, which is known as "The Fire Pit" during Phoenix Games. The Phoenix also play a select number of regular season games at the State Basketball Centre each season.[3] During the 2020–21 NBL season, COVID-19 border closures meant that the Phoenix had to relocate their last two home games against the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets to Cairns Pop-Up Arena. They also hosted their semi-final home game at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

On 25 January 2022, the Phoenix played a regular season game against the Cairns Taipans at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium in Traralgon.[18][19]

Players[]

All-time roster[]

Main article: South East Melbourne Phoenix all-time roster

Current roster[]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

South East Melbourne Phoenix roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
G 3 Australia Gliddon, Cameron 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 94 kg (207 lb)
G 4 Australia Adnam, Kyle (C) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 83 kg (183 lb)
G 5 United States Munford, Xavier (I) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 78 kg (172 lb)
G/F 7 New Zealand Te Rangi, Reuben 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 105 kg (231 lb)
G 8 New Zealand 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
G 9 Australia  (DP) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 13 United States Ashley, Brandon (I) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 104 kg (229 lb)
F 14 New Zealand Smith-Milner, Tohi 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 112 kg (247 lb)
C 22 Australia Pineau, Dane 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
C 26 China Zhou Qi (SRP) 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) 113 kg (249 lb)
G 30 Australia  (DP) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
F/C 34 Australia  (DP) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 107 kg (236 lb)
G 38 Australia 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 83 kg (183 lb)
G/F 45 Australia Broekhoff, Ryan 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 98 kg (216 lb)
G/F 55 Australia Creek, Mitch 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 98 kg (216 lb)
Head coach
  • Australia Simon Mitchell
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • (SRP) Special Restricted Player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 25 January 2022

Season by season[]

Season Division League Regular season Post-season Head Coach Captain Club MVP
Finish Played Wins Losses Win %
South East Melbourne Phoenix
2019–20 1 NBL 8th 28 9 19 .321 Did Not Qualify Simon Mitchell Mitch Creek
Adam Gibson 		Mitch Creek
2020–21 1 NBL 4th 36 19 17 .528 Lost Semi-Finals (Melbourne, 1–2) Simon Mitchell Kyle Adnam
Adam Gibson 		not awarded
2021–22 1 NBL TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD Simon Mitchell Kyle Adnam TBD
Regular season record 64 28 36 .438 0 Minor premiers
Playoff record 3 1 2 .333 0 NBL Championships

As of the end of the 2020–21 season

References[]

  1. ^ Ward, Roy (13 July 2018). "Swansea owner wins NBL expansion team, but Melbourne could miss out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Ball bouncing: Tommy gun as new GM". BotiNagy.com. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "South East Melbourne to Become NBL's Ninth Team". NBL.com.au. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  4. ^ Uluc, Olgun (2 September 2018). "NBL's ninth team to be based in South East Melbourne, Victorian Government commits to multimillion-dollar investment". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  5. ^ "NBL expansion: Ninth team confirmed for Melbourne's south east". TheWest.com.au. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  6. ^ "South East Melbourne Appoint Head Coach". NBL.com.au. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  7. ^ "South East Melbourne Phoenix Set To Rise". NBL.com.au. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  8. ^ Uluc, Olgun (17 November 2018). "Introducing the South East Melbourne Phoenix, the NBL's newest franchise". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  9. ^ Arsenis, Damian (17 November 2018). "NBL's ninth team to be the South East Melbourne Phoenix". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  10. ^ Uluc, Olgun (4 December 2018). "Mitch Creek signs with South East Melbourne Phoenix as first marquee player". FoxSports.com.au. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  11. ^ Arsenis, Damian (4 December 2018). "Phoenix secure prized signature of Mitch Creek". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  12. ^ "SEM at MEL boxscore". nbl.com.au. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  13. ^ "BNE at SEM boxscore". nbl.com.au. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  14. ^ "NBL on Twitter". Twitter. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  15. ^ Santamaria, Liam (7 February 2020). "Tommy Greer on SEM's First Season, Roster Building and Pen Pals". nbl.com.au. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  16. ^ Santamaria, Liam (9 April 2020). "Big Jump in Attendances For Hungry Jacks NBL". nbl.com.au. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Big Jump in Attendances for Hungry Jack's NBL". nbl.com.au. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Phoenix Return to Latrobe City". semphoenix.com.au. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Phoenix Beat Returning Snakes in Gippsland". NBL.com.au. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.

External links[]

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