McDaniel out for season

He was one of the key pieces in the Brisbane Bullets' NBL25 aspirations, but Sam McDaniel will now be sidelined for the entire season, the club has confirmed. 

McDaniel aggravated a shoulder issue during practice earlier this week, an injury originally sustained during his 2024 NBL1 season with the Brisbane Capitals.

The 2021 NBL champion's recovery could take up to six months. 

“Sam has been an integral part of our team, and it’s devastating to see him sidelined. The health and wellbeing of our players are our top priority, and we are committed to supporting him through his recovery process,” Brisbane CEO, Mal Watts said. 

“This is a setback for the team and for Sam, but one we are ready to tackle head on, Sam will now impact winning in a
different way for us,” head coach Justin Schueller added.

“The unique part in our prep without Sam is that we had to do this for the full pre-season, so it’s something we are ready for. While you can’t replace Sam and the way he plays, we believe in our depth and know the group is ready to fill the void. 

“Nothing changes in our goal and mindset as we move forward this season.”

The Bullets next play the Illawarra Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday night at 7:30pm AEST.

The game will broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo.