28
Jul
NBL27 Signing
Mays, the two-way force Phoenix has been looking for
South East Melbourne Phoenix recruit Skylar Mays #50 of the Iowa Wolves dribbles against the Memphis Hustle during an NBA G League game at Landers Center on February 6, 2025 (AEDT) in Southaven, Mississippi. Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Press Conferences
Skylar Mays was a top-four SEC guard for steals three years running. Josh King wants him up and in
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Point guard Skylar Mays put up 15.3 points and 8.3 assists in the only six games he started in his 105-game NBA career.
American Mays, 28, carved out those numbers in 31.5 minutes back in 2022-23.
He signed today with the South East Melbourne Phoenix for NBL27.
The one-year deal makes Mays the club's second import behind forward D'Shawn Schwartz.
Phoenix general manager of basketball operations Simon Mitchell said Mays had an impacted on both sides of the ball.
"He's a dynamic guard who can create his own shot, make plays for teammates, and defend multiple positions," Mitchell said.
"Those qualities are invaluable in our league, and we're confident our fans will enjoy watching him compete every night.
"Skylar has competed against the best players in the world in both the NBA and Europe, and we're excited to see him bring that experience to the NBL."
Mays played four NBA seasons across Atlanta, Portland and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The minutes were mostly short. He got eight a night across 61 games in two years with the Hawks, and four and a half across 17 games with the Lakers in 2023-24.
Portland gave him more. Those six starts came in 2022-23, and he shot 50 per cent from the field and 46.2 per cent from three in them.
Across two Portland seasons he averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 assists in 20.2 minutes.
Mays left the NBA after 2023-24 and went to Europe, first the Turkish league, then KK Buducnost in Montenegro.
Defence first
Schwartz signed a week before Mays. He pointed to King's system when he did.
"I think he's bringing a different brand of basketball, really fast, picking up full court. A lot of threes," Schwartz said.
"Here the big thing will really be defence. That's the identity of this team."
Mays has the record for it. He finished second in the Southeastern Conference for steals per game as a junior at LSU, averaging 1.9. He was fourth as a sophomore and fourth again as a senior.
His 66 steals in 2018-19 ranked third in the conference. His 213 career steals sit 19th in SEC history.
The scoring came later. As a senior in 2019-20 he put up 16.7 points, five rebounds and 3.2 assists, shooting 49.1 per cent from the field, 39.4 from three and 85.4 from the line.
He ranked fifth in the SEC for field-goal percentage that season, fourth for effective field-goal percentage and fifth for true shooting at 62.2 per cent.
Mays made First Team All-SEC as a senior after Second Team as a junior.
He left LSU with 1,613 points, 470 rebounds, 382 assists and 213 steals from 130 games. He started 121 of them.
Atlanta drafted him 50th overall in 2020. He debuted on December 23 that year.
The roster
Mays joins Nathan Sobey, Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter, Tanner Krebs, Dash Daniels, Akech Aliir, Ellis Biggar, Daniel Foster, Patrick Ryan, Hunter Goodrick and Schwartz under Josh King.
The Phoenix have one local and one import spot left.
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