United signs respected dual Olympian

NBL champions Melbourne United have signed veteran swingman and dual Olympian Brad Newley on a one-year deal.

Newley has played 250 NBL games, including the past five seasons with the Sydney Kings.

The 198cm small forward has experience from across the globe, representing Australia at both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics.

He has competed in three World Championships (2006, 2010, 2014) and won two Commonwealth Games gold medals (2006, 2018).

Newley was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 54th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and has also enjoyed successful stints in Greece, Turkey, Lithuania, and Spain.

Newley has played the past five seasons with the Sydney Kings. Picture: Michael Dodge / AAPSource:AAP

Recognised for his ultra-competitive attitude, Newley is known as an elite-level threat in transition, with an uncanny ability to finish plays and score the basketball.

United coach Dean Vickerman believes Newley’s extensive experience will be invaluable in the club’s quest for consecutive championships.

“Newley is a true veteran of basketball in our country,” Vickerman said.

“He has achieved success throughout the course of his career, but an NBL championship still eludes him, so we’re hoping to help him there when we make our charge to go back-to-back.

“With experienced players such as Newley, Goulding and Barlow, together with our young up and coming guys, Melbourne United fans should now be getting really excited about this roster we are building. We’re doing everything we can to put us right back up there in the mix to contest for yet another championship.”

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