Best import trios of the past decade

In 2016, the NBL made a landmark move to raise the standard of talent across the league by bringing back a third import slot for teams and adding the ‘Marquee Player’ designation.

The aim was to bring more of the world's top players to Australia, while encouraging elite local talent to return home with their contracts excluded from the salary cap.

Over the past decade, we have seen a host of remarkably talented teams hit the floor. With NBL26 continuing that trend, we've looked back through the archives to identify your team’s best import trio since the rule was brought back.

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2018 - Shannon Shorter, Ramone Moore, Josh Childress

While it would be easy to argue that last season’s import trio for the 36ers was more talented on an individual level, there’s no denying that the 2018 Adelaide team had everything it needed to win it all.

The 36ers fell agonisingly short in the Championship Series against Melbourne United, pushing the contest all the way to five games. With Daniel Johnson and Mitch Creek leading the scoring, it was the complementary trio of Shannon Shorter, Ramone Moore and Josh Childress that made this squad a genuine powerhouse.

Remarkably, that Adelaide team had six players average double-figures in scoring, with Nathan Sobey joining the list of offensive contributors. Moore went on to win the NBL’s Best Sixth Man award, providing energy and production off the bench all season, and stepping up even further in the Championship Series after Childress went down with injury.

2025 - James Batemon, Casey Prather, Keandre Cook

The Bullets are a tricky one when it comes to identifying their best import trio, as the seasons they made the Finals often featured more than three imports throughout the year.

If you put aside the unfortunate injury circumstances last season, it becomes clear that James Batemon, Casey Prather and Keandre Cook formed one of the strongest import groups in the league. Prather’s second half of the season launched him into late MVP contention, Batemon delivered a historic 50-point game after a slow start, and Cook was as consistent as anyone in the competition.

It’s hard not to wonder what this group could have achieved with a clean bill of health, but their gutsy win in Adelaide while heavily undermanned was a strong indicator that they had the talent to cause serious problems.

‍2020 - Scott Machado, DJ Newbill, Cam Oliver

The Cairns Taipans trio of Scott Machado, DJ Newbill and Cam Oliver was one of the most exciting groups of the past decade. While their highlight reel alone was enough to create buzz, they also led the Taipans from a wooden spoon finish the season prior to an impressive third place in 2020.

All three stars averaged over 16 points per game that season, with Machado also dishing out nearly eight assists per night. The dynamic point guard earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Newbill and Oliver were both named to the Second Team.

Newbill capped off his outstanding year by taking home the NBL’s Best Defensive Player award. While the trio ultimately fell short of a Championship, their impact and chemistry ensure they will be remembered as one of the league’s best import combinations of the past ten years.

‍2025 - Trey Kell III, Tyler Harvey, Darius Days

If winning Championships is the ultimate measure of greatness, then the Hawks trio from last season have as strong a case as any.

Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey were both named to the All-NBL First Team after outstanding individual regular seasons. The dynamic backcourt duo elevated their play even further in the post-season, delivering clutch performances that helped drag the Hawks to their first title in over 20 years.

Darius Days proved to be an ideal complementary piece under Justin Tatum, stepping up in key moments and making big plays when the offence stalled.

Looking back on this Illawarra team in years to come, what will stand out is how complete the roster was from top to bottom. Every player played their part.

‍2018 - Casper Ware, Casey Prather, Josh Boone

Similar to the Hawks, this United trio carved out their own place in history by delivering the club’s first Championship in 2018.

An asterisk on this list is the role of Carrick Felix, who became a key contributor when Casey Prather missed significant time with an elbow injury. However, when Prather returned for the post-season, he joined Casper Ware, Josh Boone and Chris Goulding to form a group that proved too much for the Adelaide 36ers in the Championship Series.

While Ware and Prather both averaged over 16 points per game, it was Ware’s crafty playmaking and Boone’s work on the glass, as he pulled down nine rebounds per game, that earned them All-NBL First Team honours that season.

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2023 - Barry Brown Jr, Jarrell Brantley, Dererk Pardon

In 2023, the New Zealand Breakers delivered a remarkable season after two years of COVID disruptions that had left them anchored to the bottom of the standings.

Head coach Mody Maor went out and found three key imports to revitalise the squad, Barry Brown Jr, Jarrell Brantley and Dererk Pardon, leading the Breakers to a second-place finish and a berth in the Championship Series.

Brown Jr. was one of the league’s most prolific scorers all season, earning Best Sixth Man honours and a spot on the All-NBL Second Team.

Big man Pardon also received second-team recognition and was a finalist for the league’s Best Defensive Player Award.

Unfortunately for this trio, they came up against a star-studded Sydney Kings side in the Championship Series and fell just short of the ultimate prize.

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2020 - Bryce Cotton, Terrico White, Miles Plumlee

There’s a case to be made for several of the Bryce Cotton-led Wildcats teams when it comes to the most prolific import trio, but their 2020 squad stands out as a title-winning group powered by three key stars - Cotton, Terrico White and Miles Plumlee.

Cotton was at his brilliant best, taking home both the league MVP and Finals MVP awards, and finishing as the season’s leading scorer.

While the team also received a major contribution from Nick Kay, it was White who stepped up in a big way during their Game Three Semi-Final against Cairns, pouring in 26 points.

If you were to argue for the 2016–17 season instead, there’s certainly a case to be made, though it comes with some complications. That season marked Cotton’s introduction to the Red Army and was filled with twists.

Jaron Johnson started the year with the team but was released and replaced by Andre Ingram. After just two games, Ingram had to return home, prompting Johnson’s return. Eventually, the Wildcats uncovered a gem in Cotton, who went on to average 23 points per game across 16 appearances.

Alongside Casey Prather, Cotton led an unlikely yet unforgettable run to the Championship.

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2023 - Gary Browne, Trey Kell III, Alan Williams

What became a season plagued by injuries ultimately prevented this Phoenix team from reaching its full potential.

While Mitch Creek continued to lead from the front, their import trio of Gary Browne, Trey Kell III and Alan Williams each averaged over 12 points per game and did everything they could to push the team into the post-season.

Browne averaged nearly seven assists per game, and Williams turned into a double-double machine, falling just short of averaging that mark for the entire season.

There’s also a strong case to be made for last season’s trio of Derrick Walton Jr, Joe Wieskamp and Matt Hurt as their most complete import combination.

Again, injuries played a major role in derailing the campaign, but the team still managed to reach a game three Playoff, eventually falling to the champion Illawarra Hawks.

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2022 - Jaylen Adams, Ian Clark, Jarell Martin

Take your pick between the 2022 Kings trio and the 2023 group, with both leading Sydney to a Championship.

It’s hard to look past the 2022 title-winning trio, which marked the league’s introduction to MVP Jaylen Adams. He delivered a dominant debut season, averaging nearly 21 points and six assists per game. It was his clutch game-winners, though, that truly cemented him as the best player in the league that year.

Jarell Martin also played a vital role in the Championship run, averaging close to 16 points and nine rebounds per game. The versatile forward was a nightmare on the low block, with his ability to put the ball on the floor and score in a variety of ways.

Then came Ian Clark. Fresh off winning an NBA title, he embraced the sixth man role and quickly became a star in the NBL. His presence and poise were major reasons why Sydney lifted the trophy that season.

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2024 - Jordon Crawford, Milton Doyle, Marcus Lee

No sports fan will forget Tasmania’s historic Championship run in 2024.

It’s easy to overlook the adversity this JackJumpers team had to overcome that season, battling through untimely injuries and a mid-season scoring slump that threatened to derail their campaign.

Their import trio each of Jordon Crawford, Milton Doyle and Marcus Lee had stretches where they looked like the most important piece of the puzzle.

It was Crawford's Game 5 heroics that stood above the rest though. The scoring machine exploded for 19 first-quarter points on the road, putting the JackJumpers in prime position to claim their first-ever Championship.

Doyle was named to the All-NBL Second Team that year, following a First Team selection the season before. While his production dipped slightly, the silent assassin remained a clutch performer, delivering in key moments when it mattered most.

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