Could JLA return to the NBL?

Rumours of a parting of ways with his Chinese club have seen speculation mount around Jo Lual-Acuil Jr potentially returning to the NBL, but ESPN’s Olgun Uluc says it’s unlikely he’ll be back anytime soon.

Speaking on NBL Overtime, Uluc reported Lual-Acuil Jr was still rostered at Liaoning Flying Leopards, and even if he did make a move, he’d likely end up elsewhere.

“As of today, he is still with that team,” Uluc said.

“Things can change moving forward. There’s a possibility for either of those parties to ultimately back out of that contract, but as of today he’s still with them.

“In the hypothetical that he is no longer with that team, the NBL would be an option, but the overwhelming frontrunner for Jo Lual-Acuil Jr’s services would be somewhere like Japan, somewhere like the Euroleague.”

Lual-Acuil Jr averaged 15.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks across NBL24, before joining Liaoning in September.

He has played 10 games in the Chinese Basketball Association this season, averaging 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2 blocks a game.

Lual-Acuil Jr has played a total of four years in the NBL, all with Melbourne United, winning All-NBL First Team recognition in 2022 and All-NBL Second Team honours in 2024.

“As of this very moment, there has been zero communication with any NBL team with regard to a potential JLA signing this season,” Uluc continued.

Asked if the star big man could be back in Australia by Christmas, Uluc responded: “It would shock me if he’s on an NBL team.”