Cadee gears up for second 36ers debut

Incoming Adelaide guard Jason Cadee says there’s no secret to his ability to suit up every single week in the NBL, and has cited ‘good fortune’ as a key reason behind his remarkable consecutive games record.

Prior to missing three games last season due to concussion, Cadee had piled on a decade’s worth of NBL hoops without sitting out a single night. 

He returns to Adelaide for NBL24 following his departure from the club in 2014.

“I still feel really good,” Cadee said. “I am getting to the back end of my career, but I’ve also only just turned 32.

“I’ve only missed three games since I left Adelaide, so I still feel really healthy and I’m just looking forward to getting into training.

“The three games I missed at the back end of last season we all concussion based and I had to be smart. It was pretty dangerous and scary for a little bit.

“My body has really held up. I have a knack of being able to play through things and just stick with it.”

Cadee is one of a group of familiar faces coming back to the 36ers organisation, with the hopes of turning around the fortunes of the club.

Former centre and Atlanta Hawk Isaac Humphries has returned following one season with Melbourne United, while import forward Jacob Wiley is back after an impressive sole campaign with the side in the 2018-19 season.

“It’s early days but I’m excited. I think we’ve got the right people and right pieces involved,” Cadee continued.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge, and I know what Adelaide wants. Adelaide wants to see a winner.

“I think with CJ (Bruton) in there trying to build, and the people we’ve brought in with still a spot to go, there’s a lot of opportunity for us to really step forward and take our place in the finals.

“The work starts now, and we’ll see how we go.”

That final piece Cadee is alluding to is the club’s final import position – however, consistent rumours reportedly linking Antonius Cleveland with a move away means the team, may in fact, be searching for two more international players to join Wiley on the roster.

Head coach Bruton has remained bullish on the type of player, specifically a guard, he wants to bring in to help take the team to the next level, and the returning Cadee has offered his two cents on what he would like to see the club recruit.

“Just someone really good,” he said. “I’ve said to CJ I don’t care when they get here, as long as they’re really good.

“I think we need that piece to really be our closer. Someone like a Bryce Cotton or a Jaylen Adams, someone like that who can really be our piece we all know and can play around.”

Adelaide’s opening game of the NBL24 season commences on Friday, September 29 against Cadee’s former side Brisbane.