A Starling's Born for NBL24

The Adelaide 36ers have signed reigning NBL1 Central Defensive Player of the Year Alex Starling to a one-year deal.

Starling, 34, initially arrived in Australia in 2011 to pursue a career in Australian Rules Football following a four-year collegiate basketball career in the NCAA, but returned to basketball in 2014 following stints with the Sydney Swans in the AFL and Frankston Dolphins in the VFL.

The two-time NBL1 Central Grand Final MVP and three-time Defensive Player of the Year’s South Adelaide Panthers currently sit third on the NBL1 Central ladder, with seven wins from ten games. 

Across five games this season he’s averaged 22.3 points on 42.8 per cent shooting, 12.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

"Alex has been dominating for a number of years at the local level and now he has a chance to take that next step," Adelaide head coach CJ Bruton said.

"When everyone talks about Alex, he’s a proven winner, he can play both ends of the floor at a high-level and it’s fantastic he’s become an Australian citizen.

"The energy and the athleticism Alex bring will make us better."

The signing of Starling means he will make his professional sporting debut, an opportunity he is keen to take with "both hands".

“It feels great to finally be an NBL player,” he said.

"Coming out to Australia in 2012 I thought I could play at that level.

"Over the course of the years, the opportunities just weren’t there, but now the citizenship has opened a few doors."

Starling has joined Keanu Rasmussen, Isaac Humphries and Jason Cadee in signing for the 36ers ahead of NBL24, alongside Mitch McCarron, Antonius Cleveland, Robert Franks, Nick Marshall, Sunday Dech and Kyrin Galloway.