REPORT: Bullets target European star

The Brisbane Bullets have reportedly set their sights targeted on a European star as one of their imports for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.

According to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, the Bullets are looking closely at Lithuanian point guard Arnas Velička.

The 26-year-old has an enviable resume of European exploits, which includes time in Lithuania (Žalgiris Kaunas, Rytas Vilnius and Neptūnas Klaipėda), Spain (FC Barcelona), France (Champagne Châlons-Reims), Germany (Löwen Braunschweig and Niners Chemnitz) and Italy (Napoli Basket).

Most notably, he took out the 2026 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (Lithuanian Basketball League) MVP while being named to the All-LKL Team (for the second time) and leading the EuroCup in assists (7.7 per game).

This comes after winning the LKL championship in 2024 and representing his country at the 2025 EuroBasket tournament.

“They [Brisbane] have a target in mind, and that's Arnas Velička,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“He's a Lithuanian point guard, 6’5, really skilled ... and is a really good shooter.

“He led the EuroCup in assists last season, so he's a high-quality point guard in the international space, and part of the Lithuanian national team.

“Now again, bringing in European imports is not something that we've seen historically. Vrenz Bleijenbergh was here last season for a cup of coffee. Velička is a different mould. He's got a little bit more runs on the board at a higher level.

“He's someone who can come in and be very intriguing under Will Weaver, who I'm told is the drawcard for Velička.

“He's got a EuroCup team that's offered him, and the Brisbane Bullets are the other team that's interested.

“It feels like the Bullets really want this guy, and he's looking at Weaver and thinking, ‘Do I want to play for this guy?’

“It would be a fascinating kind of player to have in there [at the Bullets].”

Fellow panellist Peter Hooley agrees that the guard’s addition to a core of Tyrell Harrison, Jacob Holt, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel, Harry Rouhliadeff, Lat Mayen and Rio Bruton would be interesting.

“Fascinating is the key word because I look at that and I always try and wonder, with a new face, how long is it going to take for them to adapt to the NBL for a variety of different reasons,” Hooley said.

“You can take the FIBA style out of it because he's dominated that, and he understands how to dominate in the FIBA style, so there will be no issues at all.

"But you look at some of the other import point guards we have around the League, and they're Americans who play a very different style of game.

"Look at the Championship Series MVP, Kendric Davis. They're very different point guards.

“How that goes, it probably all depends on the rest of the team makeup for the Brisbane Bullets.

“You’re in a good position with Tyrell Harrison and Jacob Holt down low as your twin towers, but outside of that, I would be fascinated to see how all the other pieces [including imports] complement them.”

The Bullets open their 2025-26 campaign on Tuesday, September 22, against the Breakers at Pat Rafter Arena from 7.30pm AEST.