Phoenix set to add familiar face in final import spot

• The South East Melbourne Phoenix have reportedly signed defensive stopper John Brown III as their third and final import
• Brown III almost played for the Perth Wildcats in 2022
• South East Melbourne have one roster spot left for NBL26

A “positionless” dynamo who broke a record held by the legendary hall-of-famer Manu Ginobili is set to join South East Melbourne as its third and final import for NBL26, according to Michael Randall from Code Sports Basketball.

Code Sports has learned the Phoenix have locked in well-travelled American John Brown III — more than three years after a bid to join Perth was rejected by the league.

The 33-year-old will arrive back in Australia with a bulging resume that will make him an early Defensive Player of the Year favourite.

Brown III is a name that should be familiar to NBL fans — the league, in 2022, knocked back Perth’s request for the utility to join the Wildcats without playing the seven games necessary for finals qualification.

The man who could lay claim to unearthing Brown in Europe, current Treviso basketball boss Simone Giofre, said Brown was like no other player he’d seen on a court.

His arrival completes SEM’s import triumvirate with Hunter Maldonado and Vrens Bleijenbergh.

For the full story, visit Code Sports here.