New, returning faces intrigue Hooley ahead of Blitz

THE return of an Australian basketball icon, the arrival of a former G League star and of course the start of an new chapter for an exciting homegrown talent.

These storylines head a long list of things NBL analyst and broadcaster Peter Hooley is most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Code Sports NBL Blitz in Bendigo in just over a month.

The league’s official pre-season tournament will bring all 10 teams together in Bendigo for five days at the Red Energy Arena.

Each, including home state teams Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix, will play two games apiece.

Having cemented itself as a key fixture on the NBL calendar, giving fans the chance to see every team in action while clubs make their final preparations for the season ahead, Hooley insists there is plenty to be enthusiastic about.

“I’m really excited to see some of the new faces that are coming down,” he said.

“Brisbane Bullets just signed a guy out of the G League, Nate Hinton. Seeing Joe Ingles running around in a jersey for the first time at Melbourne United.

“I think with every year, teams are starting to change a little bit on how they go about approaching the Blitz.

“In years gone by, the timing of it hasn’t been great as it’s right before the season now, whereas if it’s too early, you don’t always see teams roll out the best roster.

“Now we are at a point where they only play a couple of games and these are the last hit-outs before it’s real.

“So teams are thinking, let’s get our rotations right, let’s get our starting five out there, albeit if everyone is healthy, and let’s make a couple of these games as in-season as possible, so when round one hits, we’re already flying and we don’t have to catch up to anybody else.”

An obvious boon for the league. Ingles return to where it all started in the NBL in Melbourne was confirmed in May.

The 38-year-old veteran called time on his 12-year NBA career following his Minnesota Timberwolves round two playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

It brought down the curtain on an 810-game career in the NBA, most notably at Utah Jazz, but with stops at the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic and the Timberwolves.

United hope his signing can help reinvigorate a team, which finished fifth in the regular season, then lost to Perth Wildcats in the elimination round of the playoffs.

As the recruiting moves and roster changes continue to come, Hooley believed two teams stood out as having noticeably strengthened.

No surprises, both finished at the tail end of the 2025-26 season ladder.

“Brisbane, obviously. When you are talking about improving form last year … it’s hard to go backwards, as they were rock bottom,” Hooley said.

“Seeing them put together this roster together, very slowly, they have some fun pieces.

 

“Their point guard Arnas Velička (from Lithuania) is going to be fun to watch, the same Tyrell Harrison, their starting big man.

“They still have a couple of pieces to add, and I think Cairns (Taipans) will be a whole lot better than last year as well.

“The two Queensland teams had a good off-season.

“The Perth Wildcats are just rolling around the same squad they had last year, with a key piece to add, so I am high on what they can achieve.

“And the Tasmania JackJumpers. If you had to say who’s won the off-season, it’s them for me.

“I think they have a really good squad. They’ve just got to stay healthy.”

An extra layer of intrigue has been added to the Blitz by way of hometown hero Dash Daniels’ move to the South East Melbourne Phoenix from crosstown rival United.

The 18-year old’s signing through the NBL Next Stars program was unveiled last week, ahead of a crucial season in which the dynamic guard hopes to make his mark of in time for the 2027 NBA Draft.

If successful, he will join older brother and Atlanta Hawks star Dyson in the world’s premier basketball competition.

Hooley is anticipating wonderful things from Daniels at the Blitz and beyond, as he looks to back a solid NBL rookie campaign, in which he averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, starting 11 contests for United.

“He showed glimpses of how good he could be and we’ve seen a lot of the Next Star players in their second year really take leaps and strides forward,” he said.

“I expect him to do the same.

“Phoenix still have some key pieces they need to add, but I think the bones are there.

“They have some really good locals, but the imports will determine how their season goes.

“But you can trust (coach) Josh King to get them right.”

Hooley feels the signing of Ingles, a return to health for Chris Goulding from niggling injuries and the addition of New Zealand international Sam Waardenburg have United well placed to be a contender.

“They will go and get three imports and majority owner Travis Knipe says they are not going to hold back in spending, so I expect them to be right around the mark,” said Hooley, who spent two seasons with United in the late 2010s and also played for Ballarat Miners in then then SEABL (now NBL1) competition.

Just over a month before the Blitz hits Bendigo, Hooley is predicting a win-win for basketball fans and the local economy.

“It will be awesome. We know that Melbourne United play down there every single year, and you talk about regional stadiums that have the proper vibe and atmosphere of professional sports teams, going down to Bendigo you see it,” he said.

“Fans get around it and it’s just an awesome experience.

“(The Blitz) is a really exciting time for people to see the teams they normally wouldn’t.

“Not everyone in Victoria is a fan of the Melbourne teams, so if you are a Cairns fan, or an Illawarra or Sydney fan, all of a sudden they are in your backyard.

“I feel like we are going to blink and it’s going to be the second of September, which is scary, but it’s also exciting because it means the season is just around the corner.”

For tickets, visit nblblitz.com.au/#ticketing-options

The full schedule of games includes:

Wednesday, September 2: Cairns Taipans v Perth Wildcats – 5.30pm.Sydney Kings v South East Melbourne Phoenix – 8pm.

Thursday, September 3: Brisbane Bullets v Tasmania JackJumpers – 5.30pm.Illawarra Hawks v Adelaide 36ers – 8pm.

Friday, September 4: New Zealand Breakers v Sydney Kings – 5.30pm.Perth Wildcats v Melbourne United – 8pm.

Saturday, September 5: South East Melbourne Phoenix v Brisbane Bullets – 5.30pm.Adelaide 36ers v Cairns Taipans – 8pm.

Sunday, September 6: Melbourne United v Illawarra Hawks – 2.30pm.Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers – 5pm.