Cheatham joins 36ers

The Adelaide 36ers have signed their final import for NBL26 with the addition of athletic forward Zylan Cheatham.

Capable of playing multiple roles, Cheatham is no stranger to the NBL, having lined up with the New Zealand Breakers in NBL24, averaging 15.2 points and 6.8 rebounds.

The 6’8 forward has an impressive resume that includes stints with Bayern Munich in Germany and most recently Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in Japan.

He has five NBA games to his name after short-term contracts with the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans along with more than 100 NBA G-League appearances for Birmingham, Salt Lake City and Iowa.

“With our final roster spot, we wanted to find a player who could work in well with the players we had already recruited, and we think Zylan ticks a lot of boxes,” said 36ers Head of Basketball Operations Matt Weston.

“Importantly, he has NBL experience and is proven in this league.

“He plays well above the rim, has a real energy and aggression to him and will offer us some depth and versatility with his ability to play a number of roles.”

36ers Head Coach Mike Wells worked with Cheatham during their time together at Utah and says the 29-year-old will be a good fit for the Adelaide side.

“Zylan is a player I had a chance to coach with the Jazz three or four years ago, so I know how he is as a person and how he plays,” said Wells.

“He’s a guy who is an ultimate professional who fits the direction that Matt (Weston) and I have been trying to take – a group of guys who fit together on and off the court.

“He can defend multiple positions, protect the rim at both ends and rebound. He’s a high IQ player and we think his athleticism will stand out in the NBL.

“It’ll be an interesting mix of big guys for us with Zylan, Trez (Montrezl Harrell) and Ice (Isaac Humphries). He plays different to the other two but will be complementary to them and the rest of our roster.”

Cheatham is coming off a 60-game season for Nagoya where he averaged 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

He will join his new 36ers teammates when pre-season training kicks off in August.