Cadee: Gold Coast primed for NBL return

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Former Blaze guard Jason Cadee believes the Gold Coast is primed for a return to the NBL.

Adelaide guard Jason Cadee believes the Gold Coast region is not only primed to host a successful pre-season Blitz, but is more than ready to find itself back in the NBL.

Cadee started his career alongside the likes of Chris Goulding and Adam Gibson at the Blaze, but moved to Adelaide once the side fell out of the competition.

Since then the local guard has pulled together a successful NBL career, and represents the Gold Coast Rollers in NBL1.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?? MVP MVP MVP<br><br>Courtney Woods and Jason Cadee walked away with all the trophies at the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1North?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL1North</a> Awards night ?<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL1NorthFinals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL1NorthFinals</a> this weekend Live & Free via <a href="https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG">https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG</a>, NBL1 App & <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/PtR5sBj1Rf">pic.twitter.com/PtR5sBj1Rf</a></p>— NBL1 (@NBL1) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL1/status/1681460721488629760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I started my career on the Gold Coast, and the biggest thing I’ve noticed going from my NBL career now to my NBL1 career is the population size has grown so much,” Cadee said.

“I look at the basketball, and I walk into stadiums and there’s 15 courts full of kids and adults playing. That wasn’t happening 12, 13 years ago.

“To see the size of the basketball population from, essentially, Logan all the way down to Byron – it’s really changed. It’s something that excites me for what the Gold Coast NBL team could look like if that was to come back in.

“I just think the size, the growth, and the people around who are really engaged in basketball have changed and I don’t see how it doesn’t work and would work really well.”

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Cadee’s return to the Gold Coast to play NBL basketball has coincided with his return to Adelaide, with the veteran guard preparing to suit up for his second stint at the club.

He initially played 61 games across 2013 and 2014 seasons with the side, before departing for the Sydney Kings, prior to a move to the Bullets.

“It was a hard one,” Cadee said of his decision to depart his former side. “Obviously, I’d been in Brisbane for five years and it had kind of become home for me and my family.

“The biggest link to going back to Adelaide was CJ Bruton. I was with him in Brisbane and speak to him all the time.

“CJ’s been smart in who he’s been trying to get. I think the biggest thing is our imports are really important to complement our group.

“It made a lot of sense for me and what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to win a championship – that’s all I’m trying to do – CJ’s trying to win one as well and my connection to him made it an easy decision to go back to Adelaide and help each other win.

For more information on the upcoming Blitz, click here.

Adelaide's NBL regular season tips off on Friday, September 29 against Brisbane.