Melbourne United documentary Behind the Blue: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr reveals why he returned to the NBL

In a revealing documentary that delves into Melbourne United’s rollercoaster off-season roster build, one NBA hopeful has detailed the moment he had no choice but to return to the NBL.

As Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, on an NBL gap year in China, slept, one of his former opponents franked back-to-back NBL championships into an NBA contract.

When the 29-year-old South Sudan-born centre woke to news Sydney Kings NBL MVP Xavier Cooks had signed a long term, multimillion-dollar deal with the Washington Wizards, his mind was made up.

In a revealing documentary that goes behind the scenes of Melbourne United’s pre-season roster build, Lual-Acuil Jr says seeing Cooks level up fuelled his desire to return to the NBL.

WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY ‘BEHIND THE BLUE’ IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

“I woke up and I saw Cooks signed for the league and I was like ‘I’m going back’,” Lual-Acuil Jr, in his return meeting with United coaches and front office, says.

“Once I saw that, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the only way I can get there, I have to go back’.”

And what does that look like for the long-limbed, ultra-skilled 211cm giant?

“One thing Cooks did do is win, so that’s above everything else — Let’s win,” the 2021 NBL champion says.

“I feel like that’s (making the NBA’s) going to take care of itself.”

Jo Lual-Acuil meets with Melbourne United assistant coach Rhys Carter and staff on his return to the club. Picture: Behind the Blue/Melbourne United

Behind the Blue delves into how the club dealt with news Lual-Acuil Jr would require wrist surgery that would leave him on the long-term injury list.

Coach Dean Vickerman and chief executive Nick Truelson reveal flashbacks to United’s torrid NBL23 campaign, when United was forced to scramble to find replacements for NBA-bound stars Matthew Dellavedova and Jack White, lost Ariel Hukporti to an Achilles rupture, was without Shea Ili for half the season as he battled concussion and inner-ear issues and replaced import Jordan Caroline, mid-season.

“I was trying to work out ‘what have we done wrong?’,” Vickerman says.

“You have those little moments to say ‘f***, we just went through the craziest year of injuries of certainly my career in the sport.”

Vickerman details why Matthew Dellavedova was a huge priority and reveals how the deal was done to bring Perth Wildcat Luke Travers to Hoop City.

The documentary touches on United’s thinking behind recruiting young Kiwi Flynn Cameron and how it pounced on Perth product Kyle Bowen.

Look out for United veteran-turned-assistant-coach David Barlow’s Nostradamus moment.

Watch Behind the Blue at heraldsun.com.au and codesports.com.au from noon on Thursday.