Reunited: Delly's Warning to NBL

We all know how NBL22 ended for Melbourne United and Matthew Dellavedova ... red-hot favourites after finishing top of the table and going one-nil up in the best-of-three Semi Final series against Tasmania, another Championship beckoned.

But the JackJumpers' fairytale was Melbourne's nightmare - star shooter Chris Goulding forced to watch on injured as Josh Adams, Scott Roth and the whole of Tasmania spoilt the party for the home team. 

Flash forward 12 months and United's NBL24 roster is looking remarkably similar to that of NBL22. Dellavedova has returned from a stint in the NBA, Jo Lual-Acuil, an MVP candidate, is back too, while Ariel Hukporti will be as fresh as ever following a season out with an achilles injury. 

Goulding is fighting fit, Shea Ili on the mend from a challenging run with concussion symptoms and Brad Newley is set to play a key role once again, at the tender age of 38. 

After missing the Finals last season, can United bounce back? One of Australia's greatest ever players thinks so.

“That chemistry won’t have gone anywhere, I think we’ll be able to pick up right where we left off with guys like Chris (Goulding), Shea (Ili),  Jo (Lual-Acuil Jr), (Brad) Newley and Ariel (Hukporti),” Dellavedova told the club's website. 

“Then having a guy like Luke Travers coming in, I’m familiar with his game having gone against him in Perth and have heard a lot of great things about him from the staff in Cleveland.

“We’ve got a great mix of talent and with Dean bringing us all together and playing in front of our great crowds, we can do something really special this season.”

Tanner Krebs, Flynn Cameron and Kyle Bowen, along with Development Players Zac Triplett and Campbell Blogg round out United's roster, with coach Dean Vickerman recently re-committing until the end of the 2028 season.

Vickerman, Dellavedova and Melbourne United will open proceedings in the new season against South East Melbourne on Thursday, September 28.