Rolling the Dice: Japan-bound Harry back to his best

• Love of the game freed Harry Froling from his darkest days
• 'Means the world': Harry Froling is back in the NBL
• Inside Froling family's emotional roller-coaster

"I believe in myself again."

The Japanese B.League one is getting a scary version of 2019 NBL Rookie of the Year Harry Froling with the big man finding his trademark "delusional confidence" which allowed him to burst onto the scene with the Adelaide 36ers almost a decade ago.

Froling has made the big decision to take his talents overseas this upcoming professional season, signing with the Tachikawa Dice in Japan's second-tier competition behind the top-tier B.League Premier.

The move comes after he returned to the NBL last season as an injury replacement player with the Illawarra Hawks just more than two years since doctors told him he may never play again after he suffered serious brain injuries as a result of being coward punched while playing for the Brisbane Bullets in January, 2023.

"Japan came about from NBL preseason," Froling told basketball.com.au.

"We played the Singapore tournament and I played the last game against Brex and had a good game, I think 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists and one of the assistant coaches messaged me and let me know that I would be a good player in Japan and that he will ask around for me.

"It went on the back burner and about four months ago he hit me up and told me a team is super keen on me, but I didn’t have much tape from NBL as I didn’t play much at the Hawks so they were hesitant to pull the trigger.

"After I played (South East Melbourne Phoenix big man) Jordi Hunter in one of the first NBL1 games of the year I think I had 38, and obviously him being a premier big in the NBL, that was enough for them to pull the trigger.

"So in a way I probably owe a shoutout to Jordi."

Froling, who showed signs of getting back to his best in the 2025 NBL1 season with the Melbourne Tigers, went to another level with the Dandenong Rangers this year, helping lead them to the playoffs.

The 28-year-old was one of the leading candidates for NBL1 South MVP after averaging 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 35.5% from the three-point line.

Froling said he felt he found what made him successful in his younger years with the Rangers in 2026.

"I think I’ve got a bit of that delusional confidence and trash talk I had early in my career as a rookie, and sort of believed in myself again to the point it’s translating to how I play," he said.

"I definitely was still getting my legs under me the last 12 months but this offseason I took a big leap in my play I think, especially at the NBL1 level.

"NBL was more about the foot in the door and year round training as they didn’t think I helped them much last year, so to come out and kill NBL1 and now have a great opportunity in Japan I’m super excited.

"I think the game has really slowed down for me, and I get to my spots and have sort of taken my scoring to another level."

Deciding to play in another country is a big move for Froling. whose parents are based in Townsville while his brother still plays for Illawarra and sisters both play in the WNBL.

But it's a move he said was the right one for his career and there were several former NBL stars who helped him make it.

"I think the main thing is just the opportunity to play. I didn’t want to be a 10th or 11th man and wanted to go somewhere I have opportunity and a team that believes in me," Froling said.

"I think that’s been the biggest thing, obviously I do what I do at the NBL1 level, but 786 days away from the game, and now being 28 I needed to go somewhere I have a potential to earn good money, and build my career in an upwards trajectory.

"I think the NBL although it’s a great league, it still has a long way to go for the bottom end of the rosters. Guys on minimum wage only make $82,000 a year and from that you pay 10% to your agent, 10% to super, 36% to tax and then pay your own rent and car, it doesn’t end up being a lot of money.

"So for me, even this year it’s a lot more money then I would have earned in the NBL, I’m an import so my accomodation is covered, taxes are different and I have a way bigger opportunity where I’m going to have a lot more responsibility to perform and play well, and although I love Australia and the league, and being around the boys, I think for me Japan and playing at the highest level over in Asia has always been a dream.

"I’m always in contact with guys like Vic Law, and Brock Motum and they have always preached to me I should try my best to get over there and now the stars have aligned the ball is in my court and it’s kind of revitalised the trajectory of my career I would say.

"If one day the opportunity to be a focal point on an NBL team comes up I would consider it, but I am 100% focused on playing and winning at the highest level in Japan, and the ability to earn a living there outweighs the NBL, you just have to be comfortable being a bit off grid and away from family and friends."

As Froling makes his career-altering move, the former Marquette and SMU college big man reflected on his NBL1 South season and believed the league had to review how their awards were decided after several stars, including him, missed out on significant accolades.

"I think I had a good individual NBL1 year, but we didn’t win so I count it as a fail," he said.

"Obviously I had good statistics, but I think I did the best I could with the situation at Dandenong this season.

"I don’t want to take away from the award winners but I think it definitely needs a review. I just think winning should hold more weight than putting up statistics on a bad team.

"The fact the Knox women’s team finished first had no one in the First Team is bizarre and Maddy Rocci damn near averaged a triple-double on a top four team and she didn’t make it either.

"To me as someone who respects the game, and respects competitors and winning, it doesn’t pass the eye test to me."