Three of NBL free agency's most interesting signings so far, and why they make sense

Here's a look into some of the more intriguing signings that were reported in the opening hours.

After a whirlwind start to this NBL offseason’s free agency, here’s a look into some of the more intriguing signings that were reported in the opening hours, and how they fit into the respective teams.

Credit: May Bailey Photography

Jonah Bolden, New Zealand Breakers

The Sydney Kings came into NBL24 with a significantly retooled roster. While they added plenty of proven star power across the board, Jonah Bolden was something of a mystery. He joined the two-time defending champions after three years away from the game, making his return to the court following his sudden retirement from the NBA at the age of 25. 

“It is not an easy task returning from an extended absence,” Kings CEO Chris Pongrass admitted when Bolden’s signing was announced.

Fast forward to now, and any concerns around Bolden’s ability to return and compete have been emphatically squashed. While many of his star teammates struggled to make an impact and the Kings crashed out in the play-in games, he was a bright spot, averaging 8.5 points and 6.4 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game. By season’s end, he looked every bit the NBA prospect that he once was, flashing the high-level skills and athleticism that saw him drafted in the first place.

That earned him plenty of interest from abroad, with ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reporting that big-money offers were on the table from teams in multiple countries. With NBA pedigree and a successful season under his belt, it would have been no surprise to see him priced out of the NBL; instead, he has opted for a change of scenery while staying in the league, signing a one-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers. 

His signing is part of a larger reshuffle for the Breakers, who have kept All-NBL import Parker Jackson-Cartwright but shed much of the local core that was around him. Will McDowell-White is expected to depart, as is Finn Delany, while Izayah Le'afa has already found a new home in Sydney. The team was active early in free agency to fill those gaps; they have confirmed the signings of Bolden, Taipans big Sam Mennenga, and former Next Star Mojave King, and they will reportedly also add Mitch McCarron to that mix.

All of that turnover leaves a largely blank canvas around the team’s star guard, with scope for Bolden to take on a more significant role in his second NBL season. He was something of an afterthought at times with the Kings, a luxury off the bench for a team stacked with talent; even as he proved his worth, enjoying some eyecatching performances and ranking third on their roster for net rating differential, per SpatialJam, he remained stuck further back in the rotation.

In New Zealand, he will most likely have the chance to start, be put in better positions to succeed, and that starts with the basics.