Loe finishes United stint

Thursday, November 23, 2023

NBL veteran Rob Loe has finished his stint with Melbourne as a Nominated Replacement Player, but he hasn't ruled out a return to the side this season if the need arises.

Rob Loe’s initial stint as a Nominated Replacement Player (NRP) with Melbourne is over, and following an eight-game run where United went 7-1, the Kiwi big has left a lasting impression on the club’s NBL24 title charge.

Loe initially retired from the NBL following the NBL23 season with New Zealand in order to spend more time with family, but an immense NZNBL campaign saw Melbourne reach out to the 32-year-old in the hopes of covering for the loss of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr in the early stages of the season.

Lual-Acuil Jr returned to fitness ahead of schedule, but concussion and calf issues then sidelined Luke Travers and Matthew Dellavedova, and Loe was called upon to play in tandem with both the returned JLA, and Next Star Ariel Hukporti – who he had initially been backing up at the center position.

“When we signed Rob, we wanted to ensure we had someone that could come in and help us have a winning record while Jo was out,” head coach Dean Vickerman said.

“Rob was magnificent in that – both in his teaching of Ariel who was playing ahead of him – and in his threat as an elite player on the floor.

“His biggest impact was his ability to help others. When Jo came back he was willing to take a step back and not play as much, and play a different position while LT was out.”

Melbourne United assistant coach and five-time NBL champion David Barlow says Loe fit into the culture at United perfectly during his tenure.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Barlow joined The Extra Pass podcast team this week to chat through our most recent on-court performances, speak on how the team are feeling amidst the FIBA Break & more. <br>Listen: <a href="https://t.co/SeQ6z8hJ98">https://t.co/SeQ6z8hJ98</a> (Or on Spotify/Apple & Google Podcasts)<br>Watch: <a href="https://t.co/MAmJxjl48D">https://t.co/MAmJxjl48D</a> <a href="https://t.co/mZvHwP3hQG">pic.twitter.com/mZvHwP3hQG</a></p>— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1727089599649067114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Rob’s 10-1 in the games he’s played, we went up to the Blitz and went 3-0, so Rob’s had a hell of a run here at Melbourne United,” Barlow said on United’s The Extra Pass Podcast.

“For starters he’s really good at basketball. We talk about CG – elite at basketball, but you go down the list of our roster and go ‘that guy’s really good at basketball’, and Rob definitely falls into that category.

“Possibly more importantly he’s an awesome guy and he’s fit in so brilliantly … everyone got around him. [He’s] brilliant teammate, great guy to have in addition to being really good at basketball.”

Loe’s status as an NRP means should Untied require his services again, they could call upon the reigning NZNBL MVP to come back into the squad to provide the steadying influence he has over the opening stanza of the season.

“I’d hope you don’t have to see me again, because that would mean someone has got hurt,” Loe said.

“There’s still a chance I could be back with the group if the situation requires it, but I’m hoping I can just support the boys from here and celebrate their success as they chase the goal of a championship.”