CEO Note: FIBA Break

Dear 36ers Family

Incredibly, we’re already nearly halfway through the season and I thought this week’s FIBA break would provide an opportunity to touch base and thank you for your support on behalf of everyone involved with the club.

We’re well placed both on and off the court after 14 games and I want to take this opportunity to highlight the hard work done over the last few months.

For the first time in club history, we have more than 8,200 members and many more on our membership waitlist. That we achieved that mark before we even played our first home game back in September is simply remarkable.

Our first eight home games this season have been sold out, making it 29 straight home sell-outs. A great deal of work goes into making sure the stands are full, but I would like to remind you that tickets are still available to most of our remaining home games including to our next home game against Brisbane on Friday, 5 December. Be sure to check our ticketing site for more information.

While we continue to enjoy fantastic support from our corporate and hospitality partners, I would like to make special mention of major partners MegaRewards, SKG Services, Tyrepower, Apex Steel, Foodland and Revo Fitness.  All have been connected with our club for many seasons, and each have elevated their partnerships this season.

On the court there have been some real highlights this season including some incredible team and individual performances. Bryce’s 53 point game on the road in Cairns, Isaac Humphries having arguably the best season of his career, Zylan Cheatham stacking the highlights reel and continue to deliver on both ends and DJ Vasiljevic’s 17-point last quarter v South East Melbourne including 6/9 from the three-point arc.  We are well placed to continue to develop as a team in the send half of the season.

We pause now for the FIBA international break with an 11-3 record after 14 games. This gives Head Coach Mike Wells and the playing group an excellent platform to build on for the rest of the season, and excitingly we still think our side is capable of so much more.

If you needed any indication that we are set on bringing Championship success to this club, we recently bolstered the squad with the signing of Troy Brown Jnr. We think in Troy we have someone who will improve us defensively and give us another proven scoring option. He has settled into life in Adelaide nicely and is quickly getting up to speed after three games in the six days after he landed.

We’ve had some important moments in recent weeks with our Indigenous Round and ADF Appreciation Round and our work continues in the community. Through our club’s not-for-profit community arm Shooting Hoops Foundation, we have been running two separate pilots for new programs we have launched this year. Our Harmony Hoops eight-week pilot has just wrapped up with a student graduation. This program is centred on cultural and social cohesion, helping newly settled migrants, refugees and other young people facing social isolation to be active and learn life skills. We are excited to build on this going forward with an exciting announcement to come.  Beyond the Baseline is another program we are piloting this term in selected schools. This is an innovative program aimed at helping young people strengthen their self-belief and resilience using the journey of professional athletes as a powerful metaphor for life. We’re extremely proud of the work we do in the community and the positive impact we are having.

Before I wrap up, I wanted to acknowledge the recent 150-game milestones celebrated by our players Isaac White and our co-captain DJ Vasiljevic. It was brilliant that we could pay tribute to both players with wins.

I look forward to seeing you back at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for our Space Jam Round game on Friday week. If you haven’t seen the fun jersey the players will be wearing, check it out at our 36ers Store.

Nic Barbato
Adelaide 36ers CEO