How Abdel Nader could help the South East Melbourne Phoenix to survive and thrive

Injuries and inconsistency have plagued South East Melbourne once again this season. Can their newest signing help them to finally reach the next level?

Throughout their short history in the NBL, the South East Melbourne Phoenix have been teased by glimpses of greatness. They’ve finished above .500 in three of four seasons, but never advanced past the first round of the postseason. They’ve had MVP candidates and elite top-level talent, but struggled to built the depth to contend; and every time things have trended upwards, they’ve been derailed by injuries, inconsistency, and other misfortunes.

The first half of NBL24 has been no different, with the Phoenix rollercoaster taking fans on a wild ride once again. It started with star centre Alan Williams’ injury in the preseason, and since then, only two players on their roster – Mitch Creek and Matt Kenyon – have played in every game. After reeling off four straight wins to sit second on the ladder at the end of round five, they’ve now slipped and sit in the mid-table logjam. Even the last week or so has been hard to read – a supremely impressive win over Sydney was followed by back-to-back blowout losses to local rival Melbourne United and then the resurgent Illawarra Hawks.

It’s already been a lot in half a season of basketball, and the gut punches have just kept on coming. First came a devastating injury to forward Craig Moller, who returned to the court this season after an 18-month absence, only to suffer a ruptured patellar tendon that has prematurely ended his season. That was one key player lost, and another followed just days later when import guard Will Cummings was suddenly and surprisingly released by the team after failing to meet several off-court standards.

With the margins in the playoff race razor thin in recent years, and with this season shaping up to be no different, those latest blows could prove to be catastrophic. The Phoenix reacted accordingly, though, and wasted no time in finding a replacement for Cummings. Former NBA journeyman Abdel Nader has all the makings of an NBL star – skill, athleticism, and a resume that includes a trip to the NBA Finals in his 200-plus games – but a spotty injury history also brings plenty of questions.