Ili Begins to Build

When Shea Ili played in NBL23, Melbourne United was a completely different team.

Dean Vickerman’s team won a little over 53 per cent of its games across the season, 15 of 28 in all, to just miss Finals. But when lli lined up, that winning record increased to almost 79 per cent, or 11 from 14. 

It shows the incredible importance of the 30-year-old’s return to the fold in NBL24, but more importantly, a return to good health.

Ili was sidelined with concussion symptoms on multiple occasions last season, but is now “in a great place”, according to his coach.  

“He’s symptom free and we want him symptom free for a long time before we put him in any kind of contact,” Vickerman told Newscorp. 

Vickerman said Ili would be able to handle heavy knocks like any other player moving forward, and was slowly increasing his program of running and lifting. 

Last week, United secured the signature of Next Star for Ariel Hukporti for another season, while David Okwera and Mason Peatling departed via Free Agency. 

Read the full story here >> NBL signing tracker: All the latest news and whispers out free agency