Adnam arrives in Japan for NBL Select games

He was meant to have a quiet off-season, but after an unexpected stint in the NBL1 Kyle Adnam is next taking his talents to Japan, joining the NBL Select Team for their first international trip since 2019.

Preparing to compete across this weekend, the NBL and Japanese B.League have selected a team each ahead of two games at the Open House Arena Ota in Gunma, Japan.

Adding his experience and leadership from 12 seasons in the league, the Taipans guard is making his first trip to the island country with top talent from across the league also making the trip.

Joined by fellow NBL champions Angus Glover, Mitch Norton, Sam McDaniel, Mason Peatling and Sunday Dech – with the seven champions contributing 53 NBL seasons of experience to the side – the league is also sending a series of returning imports and new talent on the trip.

Less than two months after signing with the SE Melbourne Phoenix, DJ Mitchell has joined the lineup ahead of his return to the league alongside Todd Withers after his own return season.

Heading up the upcoming talent contingent of the group are Josh Bannan, Jason Spurgin and Akech Aliir.

Making his return to coaching is inaugural Phoenix Head Coach Simon Mitchell, who will lead the Select Team’s return with Taipans stalwart and new Adelaide assistant coach Kerry Williams alongside him.

Whilst the B.League United lineup features an advisor, Head Coach, three assistant coaches and a series of support staff, the two Australian coaches on the trip share a wealth of knowledge having started their involvement in the league from 2003 and 2006 respectively.

Fielding a side built from talent spread across Japan’s premier leagues (including the B.League, B2.League and B3.League), the local’s lineup also features Jonivius Smith from the University of Texas and Will Baker from the NBA G League.

Joining the lineup after receiving special invites, Smith will play his first game in a professional environment after playing just shy of 100 games in the NCAA where he achieved a double-double in eight games across 2022-2024.

Alongside him, Baker will play his first game in Asia having spent the past 12 months competing in Europe and the G League, having finished his college career a year earlier at LSU.

Joining the two Americans are a mix of longer-term players like Kazuki Hosokawa, Takuto Nakamura and Yuichi Ikeda who have established professional careers in the country, with the side also including future Japanese talent coming out of their rookie seasons.

With the last NBL Select Team competing in China in 2019, this 2025 visit marks the first international tour for the team outside of China and will be the second trip for the NBL to Japan after Perth’s visit last year.

Completing a three-game visit to the country against Nagoya, Chiba and Yokohama, the eventual third-placed Wildcats swept the series against sides featuring former NBL stars, including Vic Law, John Mooney and Trevor Gleeson.

Launched in 2019, this will also be the second trip under the NBL Select banner with previous trips to China dating back to 2016 when All-Australian teams completed the trip.

The NBL Select Team and B.League United teams will compete on Saturday and Sunday nights at 8pm AEST, with both games live streamed on basketball.com.au.