Wiley Vows to 'Turn Adelaide Ship Around'

A former fan favourite is returning to Adelaide for NBL24, and he’s determined to help “turn the ship around”.

Jacob Wiley initially played for the 36ers in the 2018-19 season. After 28 games in the City of Churches, the athletic forward exercised his European out-clause to sign with Spanish team Gran Canaria.

He’s experienced stints in Montenegro, Puerto Rico and Japan since then – and has also turned out for Spanish sides Basket Zaragoza and Real Betis.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SIGNED ??<br><br>Former <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> Jacob Wiley has re-signed with the club for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> and beyond ?<br><br>Read more: <a href="https://t.co/sB3sJjYzCy">https://t.co/sB3sJjYzCy</a> <a href="https://t.co/HsjzZhnhef">pic.twitter.com/HsjzZhnhef</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1676720814287392769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“When I first played in Adelaide, that was my first real stint overseas,” Wiley told Adelaide 36ers Media. “I feel way more confident this time than I did the first time around.

“I told CJ (Bruton, head coach) ‘I want to come in and help’ and ‘I want to come in and turn this ship around’.

“I always said to myself ‘I want to come back’, and finally the stars aligned.

“We have a new venue now from last time. It’s going to be crazy, it’s going to be huge.

“I feel like there has been something missing since I left. I want to bring that energy.”

During his time away from Adelaide, Wiley added a Baloncesto Superior Nacional title to his cabinet – the same championship Mitch Creek is currently gunning for with Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico.

Plenty of the club’s personnel has changed since Wiley’s last stint in Adelaide – not a single player remains from the club’s roster from four seasons ago, although Daniel Johnson is currently an uncontracted free agent.

Despite the new-look side, Wiley says strong connections with the city helped bring about his return.

“My family and I are so excited. We know it’s going to be a great fit and we are going to have a great season,” he said.

“We have some good friends in Adelaide, a lot of people we keep in touch with.

“That’s one of the main reasons why we wanted to come back.

“It’s been a while, but we have a lot of connections here and we want to build on that.”

Adelaide’s opening game of the NBL24 season will come against the Brisbane Bullets on Friday, September 29.