New Season Anticipation Reaching Fever Pitch at Melbourne

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Although the NBL24 season is still months from tipping off, Melbourne's great expectations have the potential to send opposition clubs into a world of worry

Although the NBL24 season is still months from tipping off, Melbourne's great expectations have the potential to send opposition clubs into a world of worry when they take to the floor against this new look United side.

Free agency has seen Melbourne add high-profile stars Luke Travers and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr to the roster, alongside the returning Ariel Hukporti and a host of other talent.

Check out the NBL Free Agency Hub here.

Zac Triplett is set to enter his third season as a development player with Melbourne, and he says conversations within the group are only amping up the anticipation for the new season.

“[The] guys are super excited for next season already,” Triplett told MU Media.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With NBL24 just months away our players are buzzing with excitement about returning to the court.<br>DP <a href="https://twitter.com/zactriplett10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zactriplett10</a> is heading into his third season with the club and as he prepares for next year, said the conversations within the group have been ones of anticipation.<br>More ??</p>— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1658278241277468672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We’ve got a bunch of news guys coming in adding to all the guys that are coming back. Having 'CG' (Chris Goulding), Shea (Ili) and 'Newls' (Brad Newley) here, plus bringing back Jo (Lual-Acuil Jr) and being able to have 'Big A' (Ariel Hukporti) for all of next season, everyone is just so pumped up."

In addition to the returning Lual-Acuil Jr and Hukporti, United has added a raft of emerging talent to its roster as it looks to provide opportunity to the next generation.

WA-born forward and former Perth Wildcat Kyle Bowen joined from college basketball team Saint Mary’s.

UC Riverside guard and son on New Zealand basketball legend Pero Cameron, Flynn, has also joined up with the side.

Another Australian talent with NBL experience, Tanner Krebs, has transferred over from the Brisbane Bullets on a three-year deal.

Melbourne recruited Hoop City athlete Campbell Blogg as a Development Player for the team, a young leader as he captains the NBL1 South’s Sandringham Sabres.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let's go, Ariel ?<br><br>The German NBL Next Star will be back in action in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a>. Expect more swats, slams and silky skills from the seven footer ? <a href="https://t.co/lreOFZlWaU">pic.twitter.com/lreOFZlWaU</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1655017411039621121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

United’s first game of the NBL24 season tips-off on Thursday September 28. The team will host the first throwdown match of the year against their state rivals, the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 7:30pm AEST.

For the full story head to: Excitement levels sky-high within United playing group.