Is Bullets Signing Next Nick Kay?

Photo by: Kyle Hansen/MTN Sports

The Brisbane Bullets have won the race for one of the most highly touted local collegiate talents ahead of NBL24, and have signed a player ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc has described as ‘Nick Kay-lite’.

Montana Grizzlies forward Josh Bannan is a defensive-minded forward, and after three seasons representing the Grizzlies – a program that boasts former number four NBA Draft pick ‘Sugar’ Ray Richardson amongst its alumni – in the NCAA, has returned back to Australia to commence his professional career.

“He was someone a lot of teams around the league were not just prepared to roster, but to sign to that long-term deal,” ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc said of Bannan on The Marketplace. “There is a sense he could maybe be the cornerstone of a franchise going forward.

“It was Justin Schueller who made that a priority.

“He’s really versatile, he’s a versatile defender as well who could probably guard threes, fours and fives, and he’s got this wide-ranging skillset.”

While Bullets fans will welcome any comparisons of Bannan to Nick Kay, those comparisons are not made lightly.

The former Perth Wildcat and current Boomers mainstay boasts two NBL titles, two All-NBL First Team selections and an NBL Rookie of the Year win from his time in the NBL, and was a part of the Boomers’ Olympic bronze medal winning team.

Despite Bannan having only recently turned 22, Uluc believes the Melbourne-born prospect is primed to make an immediate impact in the NBL.

“He’ll obviously be a rookie, so he’ll come in and may have to work his way up and work his way into his minutes and learn the league a little bit, but his frame is really solid for where he is in his career,” Uluc said.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they end up starting him alongside an Aron Baynes and whoever they bring in at the three spot.

“I think you can have a really defensive-minded guy like Bannan there and not lose too much.”

The Bullets opened NBL Free Agency by signing former Tasmanian pair Isaac White and Sam McDaniel to the club, and have also re-signed frontcourt pair DJ Mitchell and Tyrell Harrison to new deals.