NBL22: News, stories and signings from around the NBL

His new teammates gave it up on the ‘gram, but South East Melbourne Phoenix has secured a former NBA player as its import guard for season 2021-22.

South East Melbourne star Mitch Creek let the cat out of the bag with an early follow on Instagram, but the Phoenix have got their man in new import Xavier Munford.

Excitement at his signing, though, has been tempered by news American centre Zach Hankins won’t make the trip down under after he suffered a knee injury during NBA Summer League.

Munford, a former Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks combo guard, is a proven bucket-getter who tore up the NBA G-League in 2017-18, averaging 24.4 points, 5.2 assists and 5 rebounds on elite shooting percentages.

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Xavier Munford has signed a deal to play with the South East Melbourne Phoenix this season. Picture: NBAE/Getty Images

“I’m very excited. I talked to a lot of my friends who play in the NBL and they told me all great things,” Munford said.

“I talked to Scott Machado, Cam Oliver, Jarrell Martin and Mitch Creek – these guys all gave me great feedback about the country, the city and the basketball.

“I was looking at opportunities that fit my game and my style of play and thought coming to the NBL would be a perfect place to showcase that with the style of play and pace of the game really suiting my type of play.”

Eagle-eyed social media users noticed Creek, along with teammates Kyle Adnam and Dane Pineau, had followed Munford on the ‘gram before the Phoenix made it official Wednesday.

Munford battles Boomers legend Patty Mills during the 2016 NBA playoffs. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

“We’re pretty excited to have Xavier on board,” Phoenix boss Tommy Greer said.

Greer said the 193cm New Jersey native would be the team’s primary ball handler and added size to the position.

“He’s just a pro’s pro,” Greer said of the 29-year-old journeyman, who comes to the club from Bursaspor in Turkey.

“He’s seen Australia as a great platform for him, he wants to come out here, win a championship and put up a really big season.

“He’s a great creator, he can score from the perimeter, mid-range (and) at the basket, which is going to open up a lot more opportunities for those shooters we have on the wings.

“We think he’s going to be a real handful for opposition teams.”

The Phoenix have high expectations of their former NBA man. Picture: NBAE/Getty Images

Hankins was last month unveiled as the club’s first import for 2021-22, but a knee cartilage injury has forced Phoenix to search for another big man.

Greer said the pandemic had complicated pre-season training efforts, with the full group not expected to be together until October 1, ahead of a mid-November season tip-off.

“It’s condensed, but it’s the parameters we’ve been dealt,” Greer said.

Worn down during a tough NBL initiation, sharpshooter Ryan Broekhoff looms as a talisman for the Phoenix.

“The team is saying he’s looking in incredible nick, he’s moving really well and he’s primed for a big year,” Greer said.

“You get that pre-season under your belt and you get a bit more comfortable in your surroundings and I think being settled is a real big factor there for Rowdy.”