The modern NBL is ushering in a new trend with imports – one that has little precedent. Club owners are prioritising championships and showing a willingness to cut underperforming players mid-season if it improves their title chances.
Is the 2025–26 season the beginning of a new normal, or a one-off anomaly?
With Round 15 already underway, the NBL has already seen nine players released this season – some later returning under different circumstances – marking a significant jump on recent years.
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Through the upheaval, one thing has become clear: clubs are firmly in win-now mode and increasingly prepared to move on from imports after only a handful of games.
Foxsports.com.au spoke with NBL media figures and former players to gauge whether this spike in turnover is a one-off, or a sign of a broader shift across the league.
Two-time Olympian and NBL champion Mark Worthington believes the competition is entering a new era when it comes to imports, driven by mounting pressure on decision-makers to deliver results immediately.
“We’ve seen more teams go all-in this season than ever before,” Worthington said.
“All owners want to win it, all general managers are tasked with making it happen. When you see teams in winning positions still making changes, it tells you everything you need to know about the stakes right now.”
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By comparison, last season saw just three players released – Craig Sword, Roman Siulepa and Lamonte Turner – all under very different circumstances.
This season has already tripled that figure, something Worthington believes reflects the league’s increasingly ruthless, results-driven business model.
“It’s a testament to how strong the league is, but also a reminder that this is a business built on wins and losses,” he said.
“Teams that believe they’re genuine title contenders aren’t waiting around anymore. If something isn’t working, they’ll change it. This is the new norm we should get used to.”
Few teams illustrate that trend more clearly than South East Melbourne Phoenix, who have been responsible for three player departures already this season – each under unique circumstances.
It began with Omari Moore, who signed with the club in June but was released just a month later after receiving a more lucrative offer in Europe with Valencia.
That decision set off a chain reaction, with the Phoenix signing Vrenz Bleijenberg to a one-year deal in July. However, ongoing chemistry issues saw Bleijenberg released two months later, before the season had even begun – a move that ultimately proved beneficial and increasingly familiar across the league.
The third and most recent departure came in December, when Hunter Maldonado was released after 16 games. He has since signed with the Brisbane Bullets.
Former Sydney Kings guard and current NBL commentator Brad Rosen believes the Phoenix’s approach is emblematic of a wider league shift – and, like Worthington, sees no sign of it slowing down.
“In my view, the answer is unequivocally yes — this will become the norm moving forward,” Rosen told Foxsports.com.au.
“The calibre of teams and the standard of play in the NBL is so high now, and with players being paid at a premium level, there’s an expectation that imports must be elite to compete.”
He added: “As a result, tolerance levels are much lower.
“If an import or a team isn’t meeting expectations, changes will be made far quicker than they were in the past.”
The Perth Wildcats are another club that moved swiftly to address perceived issues. Mason Jones, who signed just 11 days before the opening round, was released after five appearances – a decision that raised eyebrows given his limited time to adjust to Australia and the league.
Jones averaged 11.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists, numbers considered well below expectations for a player coming off an NBA G-League Finals MVP award.
Perth replaced him with David Duke Jr, who has since appeared a more natural fit for the roster, while Jones went on to sign with the Hong Kong Bulls.
The Brisbane Bullets soon followed suit, releasing former MVP Jaylen Adams after 13 appearances.
While the move surprised few due to ongoing off-court tensions, it marked a sharp end to what was one of the league’s biggest signings when Adams returned for a fourth NBL season in July.
Despite flashes of his former brilliance – including a 29-point performance against Melbourne United – the relationship ultimately proved untenable. Adams played his final game on November 12, scoring just two points, and remains a free agent.
Even reigning champions Illawarra Hawks showed a willingness to act early if it meant improving their title defence.
They were among the first clubs to make a change, releasing JaQuori McLaughlin just weeks after he signed in early September.
McLaughlin played only three games for the Hawks, averaging 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 20.7 per cent from the field. The signing initially raised questions, with Illawarra tasked with replacing championship guard Trey Kell – no easy feat – but McLaughlin’s prior relationship with head coach Justin Tatum offered some hope of a smoother transition.
That transition never materialised, and McLaughlin has since landed in the NBA G-League with the Valley Suns.
As Worthington and Rosen both suggest, the message across the NBL is clear: patience is becoming a luxury few contenders feel they can afford.
With several rounds still remaining and a number of imports yet to hit their stride, further changes appear inevitable. The standard now being set by clubs has also put future imports on notice: if they want to succeed in one of the world’s best leagues, they must adapt quickly and embrace the demands of the NBL.
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