United Re-Sign Championship Winning Star

Thursday, April 13, 2023

Melbourne United has officially re-signed one of its most impactful players of the past half-decade

Melbourne United has officially re-signed one of its most impactful players of the past half-decade, with former All-NBL First Team member and championship winning centre Jo Lual-Acuil Jr agreeing to a two-year deal with the club.

Lual-Acuil Jr departed United at the end of the 2022 season for the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings of the Chinese CBA, following a successful three-year stint in the NBL.

After earning All-Defensive and All-Newcomer Team honours while playing college basketball for Baylor, Lual-Acuil Jr won the NBL’s Sixth Man of the Year award and a championship in 2021, before earning a league MVP nomination in 2022.

He also represented the Phoenix Suns in the 2022 NBA Summer League.

"I always said that if I was going to come back to the NBL, it would be to play for Melbourne United," Lual-Acuil Jr said. "I’m happy and excited to be back home and I can’t wait to play in front of the best fans in the league."

Lual-Acuil Jr set the club record for both rebounds (21) and blocks (7) in a game during his last stint at the club, and Melbourne head coach Dean Vickerman is confident in the star centre's ability to keep improving.

"He thrives in our system. We give him the freedom to handle the basketball, play on the perimeter, shoot the ball and he takes that freedom and makes everyone around him better," Vickerman said.

"The opportunity for him to come home, be with his family and showcase himself to have another shot at the NBA and win another Championship with United is what he has in front of him."

"Bringing Jo back is a great signing for the culture of Melbourne United and I’m sure the fans are excited to see him back," United captain Chris Goulding added.

"We know what he can do on the floor but he’s also a guy that sets high standards and holds teammates accountable to the standards we expect."

Lual-Acuil Jr has joined Flynn Cameron and Tanner Krebs in signing for United in the NBL24 Free Agency period.

The trio has joined Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Zac Triplett and Josh Duach on the roster for NBL24.