Family First for Free Agents?

There’s been an apparent philosophical shift in NBL Free Agency this year. Regardless of the fact player movement is at a near all-time high, there’s been a glut of NBL talent leaving former clubs to return to their home states and represent their hometown clubs.

Keanu Pinder and David Okwera have returned to Perth, while Hyrum Harris has a large pocket of family in Kalgoorlie in southern WA – a few hundred kilometres from his new club.

Ben Ayre turned down reported interest from across the NBL to sign with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, while one of the most exciting Australian talents in the world – Klairus Amir – has returned to his hometown of Sydney after playing high school basketball in the USA.

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The list goes on with players including Keanu Rasmussen heading to Adelaide, Mitch Norton returning to Queensland, and Makuach Maluach moving back to New South Wales.

Former Perth Wildcat Damian Martin was forced to leave his home state of New South Wales when the Sydney Spirit folded in 2009, but set himself up in Perth, after spending 11 seasons at the club.

“Because the max length of deal you can have is three years you’re seeing a lot of players sign one and two-year deals,” Martin told NBL Media. “There’s almost been a change in ideology from going to the best contract – whether that’s the highest paying or the best club – to prioritising how often you’ll see family. 

“Whether that’s something that happened with Covid, and what we all experienced with lockdowns and things and not being able to spend time with loved ones, I love the idea of players being able to showcase their skillsets with their loved ones in the stands.

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— South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) May 3, 2023

“They’re probably the ones that got them to that level and made all the sacrifices during those younger years.”

Having represented the Western Sydney Razorbacks/Sydney Spirit for two seasons prior to the organisation's collapse, Martin was never afforded the opportunity to represent his favourite NBL side growing up.

With a number of sides across the NBL becoming defunct in the immediate years before Martin started his career, the six-time Defensive Player of the Year believes the extended amount of homecomings are due to the unprecedented success and stability of the league as a whole.

“The teams I grew up wanting to play for had folded by the time I got to the NBL,” Martin reflected. “I dreamt of being a Newcastle Falcon but that was never a possibility.

Damian Martin started his career with two seasons and the West Sydney Razorbacks/Sydney Spirit before spending 11 trophy-laden seasons with Perth.

“Someone like David Okwera wanted to be a Perth Wildcat and now gets to live out that dream. Hopefully he’ll get to play his best basketball for the club and do something special with them.

“In an ideal world you’re winning championships, and you have plenty of local talents on that championship winning team.

“From a West Australian perspective, we’ve got players coming into the prime and are in their prime, and Danny Mills and John Rillie are targeting those guys.”