NBL signing news: Aron Baynes to make basketball comeback at Brisbane Bullets

Aron Baynes isn’t sure how long he will be in the NBL, but he intends to make the most of his time with the Brisbane Bullets.

With his career having nearly been ended by a severe spinal injury, Boomers star Aron Baynes has a new perspective on basketball – and life – as he embarks on an NBL journey that will hopefully lead him back to the promised land of the NBA.

Baynes, 35, has signed a two-year deal with a Brisbane Bullets side desperate to become a legitimate NBL title threat.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Baynes, who was born in New Zealand but moved with his family to the Far North Queensland town of Mareeba as a toddler.

And while he’s delighted to be home, Baynes’ stay could be short-lived as he targets a return to the NBA, where he won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in a nine-year stint that also included spells with Detroit, Boston, Phoenix and Toronto.

But regardless of where he plays, Baynes is just happy to be on court again after suffering a serious injury during Australia’s bronze medal-winning Olympic Games campaign last year in Tokyo.

Baynes fell while in Tokyo, leading to what was described as a “freak spinal cord injury”. He was unable to walk and spent three months in hospital.

While reluctant to reflect in depth on the injury, Baynes said he was grateful for the support he had received on his road to recovery.

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Boomers star Aron Baynes is thrilled to have joined the Brisbane Bullets. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“Retrospectively, everything’s a little bit different in the moment – there’s definitely ups and downs,” the 208cm big man said on Friday.

“For the most part it’s great because my family is around as well and that alleviates any stress I do have about anything else.

“I’m just worried about what the next game is going to be or (whether) we are going to the ice-cream store, (which is) their biggest worry.

“I get a different perspective on my biggest worries as well. I know that my happy place is being on the basketball court and I can lose myself within the routine that I have going about doing my business daily.

“The foreseeable future for me and my family is here in Brisbane. Trying to build a community that my family is part of is definitely something big for me everywhere I go, let alone when it’s the long-term future for my family in where we’re going to be.

“I’m just trying to make an impact both on and off the court as much as I can while I’m here.”

BRISBAYNE.

The Brisbane Bullets are excited to officially announce NBA veteran and Australian Boomer, Aron Baynes has joined the club on a 2 year deal.https://t.co/HJ9u3mPsYi

We're building our team for NBL23, build yours with @technologypeople pic.twitter.com/fvuwfUVibX

— Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) July 28, 2022

And how long that is remains unknown, with Baynes having a clause in his Bullets contract that allows him to join an NBA club.

Bullets coach James Duncan said while the club would be “disappointed” to prematurely lose its star recruit, there would also be a sense of pride in providing Baynes with a pathway back to the NBA.

“We should be super excited about him potentially getting back into the NBA, but that’s something that’s down the line,” Duncan said.

Baynes promised not to put excess pressure on himself in his bid to return to the NBA.

“It’s just going out and doing what I’m known to do and how I play basketball. That’s what got me to the NBA to begin with,” he said.

“I didn’t go out there to try to do something that I’m not capable of. It’s about going out there and playing the right way every time I do hit the floor, showing that I can still do what I was able to do before.”

BAYNES’ NBL DEAL HAILED A ‘GAME CHANGER’ FOR AUSSIE HOOPS

A year after fearing he may never walk again, Boomers centre Aron Baynes will make a remarkable comeback via the NBL’s Brisbane Bullets.

In a signing coup labelled a “game changer” by Bullets general manager Sam Mackinnon, Baynes has signed a two-year deal with the Bullets, although the contract includes an NBA-out.

The signing comes twelve months after the big man suffered a career-threatening spinal injury at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Baynes slipped on the bathroom floor in the dressing room during Australia’s pool game against Italy.

He spent the next two months in hospitals in Japan and Australia before being able to return home and didn’t pick up a basketball until January.

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Aron Baynes is set to return to basketball with the Brisbane Bullets.

Baynes recently worked out with NBA teams in Las Vegas in an attempt to secure a 10th season in the world’s best league.

He impressed a host of scouts in attendance, but couldn’t land a deal.

Instead, Baynes will use Brisbane and the NBL as a platform back to the NBA.

The Bullets’ interest in the Boomers star was first revealed by News Corp in February.

Brisbane officials had reached out to Baynes about the possibility of suiting up for the Bullets, as early as the 2022/2023 season. He will link with Boomers teammate Nathan Sobey at the Bullets.

Baynes played 522 NBA games in nine seasons, winning the championship with San Antonio Spurs in 2014.

He scored a career high 37 points playing for the Suns in 2020 and along with former NBA MVP James Harden they are the only players in NBA history with 35+ points, 15+ rebounds and nine three-pointers in a game.

Baynes takes a shot at the Tokyo Olympics.

There had been fears Baynes would never walk again after a freak accident.

“Aron Baynes is a game changer in the NBL and we are ecstatic to get him for the Brisbane Bullets,” Mackinnon said.

“In the off season we identified that we wanted to bring in players who are professional and help redefine who we are as a basketball team and he fits that brief perfectly.

“Adding another Olympian, two imports plus the rest of our roster. We can’t wait for October 2nd to come around.”

NBL Commission Jeremy Loeliger hailed the signing of Baynes as a major moment for the domestic game and proof the NBL remains a legitimate pathway for players into the NBA.

“We’ve seen time and time again, players using the NBL as a springboard to get into, or back into, the NBA,” Loeliger said.

“This signing is further evidence of the recognition of the NBL’s strong standing in world basketball as a legitimate and proven pathway to the NBA.

“Aron is one of the most respected and successful figures in Australian basketball and has a lot of great basketball ahead of him.

“The world will be watching his comeback through the NBL and we believe signing with the Bullets gives Aron the best chance at returning to the NBA.

Aron Baynes’ return to Australia has been hailed a “game changer”.

“Our season enables Aron to progressively work back into shape and be primed for the end of the NBL season, which coincides with the final stages of the NBA season.

“We saw Andrew Bogut sign with the Golden State Warriors in 2019 after his MVP winning NBL season with the Sydney Kings, which provides the perfect model for Aron.

“Aron joins several Australian NBA players who have returned to the NBL, and we look forward to him dominating for the Bullets.”

Baynes joins a promising roster in Brisbane that includes fellow Boomer Sobey, Jason Cadee, Tyrrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, DJ Mitchell, Harry Froling, Kody Stattmann, Gorjok Gak and development player Lual Diing.

“Our strategy is very clear, we have a bold vision for the Club’s future, bringing in a Marquee player of Aron’s calibre and stature within Australian basketball aligns with the positive trajectory our Club is moving in,” Brisbane Bullets CEO Peter McLennan said.

“Having NBA talent here in Brisbane is a wonderful opportunity for the community and is testament that our owners are fully invested and supportive of the Club and our future direction.”

BRISBANE FAVOURITES TO SIGN $50 MILLION NBA GUARD

Matt Logue, Exclusive

The Brisbane Bullets have emerged as the frontrunners to sign NBA shooting guard Tyler Johnson.

Johnson, who has played 371 NBA games for five teams, looks set to link with the Bullets in a major coup for the club.

The 30-year-old spent the majority of his NBA career at the Miami Heat playing alongside big names like Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

Johnson signed a four-year, $US50 million deal with the Heat in the 2015-2016 season.

He has also played for Phoenix, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and San Antonio.

Johnson’s looming signing comes as the Bullets have secured Boomers big man Aron Baynes on a two-year deal.

It’s understood Johnson’s signature played a role in enticing Baynes to join Brisbane.

Johnson will form a potent back-court at the Bullets alongside the likes of Nathan Sobey and Jason Cadee.