South East Melbourne Phoenix

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.

South East Melbourne Phoenix
2020–21 South East Melbourne Phoenix season
LeagueNBL
Founded2018 (2018)
HistorySouth East Melbourne Phoenix
2019–present
ArenaJohn Cain Arena
State Basketball Centre
Capacity10,500 (JC)
3,200 (SBC)
LocationMelbourne, Victoria
Team coloursDark grey, Green, Ash Grey
     
General managerTommy Greer
Head coachSimon Mitchell
Team captainKyle Adnam
Mitch Creek
Adam Gibson
OwnershipRomie Chaudhari
WebsiteSEMPhoenix.com.au

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] 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 in the Melbourne Arena

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 their home games at Melbourne Arena, which is known as "The Fire Pit", and there are plans to play two regular season games at the State Basketball Centre each season once the planned expansion has been completed.[3]

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
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
G 1 Gibson, Adam (C) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
G 3 Gliddon, Cameron 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 94 kg (207 lb)
G 4 Adnam, Kyle (C) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 83 kg (183 lb)
G/F 7 Te Rangi, Reuben 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 105 kg (231 lb)
G 8 Mauriohooho-Le'afa, Izayah (DP) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
F 10 Wetzell, Yanni 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 109 kg (240 lb)
G 21 Stephens, Kendall 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
C 22 Pineau, Dane  2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
F/C 26 Moore, Ben (I) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 100 kg (220 lb)
G 28 Sykes, Keifer (I) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 80 kg (176 lb)
F/C 30 Forsyth, Tristan (DP) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 107 kg (236 lb)
C 50 Karena, Mike 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 122 kg (269 lb)
G/F 55 Creek, Mitch (C) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 98 kg (216 lb)
Head coach
  • Simon Mitchell
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured
Updated: 15 January 2021

Season by season
Season Division League Regular season Post-season Head Coach Captain Club MVP
FinishPlayedWinsLossesWin %
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 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD Kyle Adnam
Mitch Creek
Adam Gibson		 TBD
Regular season record28919.321
Playoff record000–

As of the end of the 2019–20 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. "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.
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