High IQ, High character White checking the boxes ahead of game 150

Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells has paid tribute to Isaac White’s character and energy as the guard prepares for his 150^th NBL game on Thursday night.

White returned home to Adelaide and joined the Sixers in the off-season after five seasons in the NBL with Illawarra (55 games 2020-22), Tasmania (28 games 2022-23) and Brisbane (56 games 2023-25).

He will return to Tasmania on Thursday night in Sixers colours to take on his former JackJumpers side in game 150 in the competition.

So far this season White is just short of career best numbers for points and rebounds and at career-best figures for assists.

In his 10 games this season, White is averaging 18.08 minutes off the bench and scoring 6.2 points to go with 1.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

Wells said White was a key target in the off-season as the club looked to rebuild culturally on and off the court.

“Part of the plan kind of changing this team and our culture and how the 36ers looked was bringing in high IQ and high character guys,” Wells said.

“He checks the box in both of those.

“I think we know who he is, and he's an Adelaide kid, which was another bonus for me.

“Everything we found on Isaac White, man, glowing reports about his character, about his work ethic, about who he is, and I just felt like he was the right piece for us coming in and kind of doing what he's doing.”

White is a Sacred Heart College and Stanford University graduate and played his junior basketball with the Sturt Sabres.

The 27-year-old has settled into the NBL26 season well with his 15 points and two rebound performance against Perth on Sunday coming after a 12-point, three rebound and four assist game against New Zealand three days earlier when he was the highest rated player on the court.

“You want to see you want to see those things happen so I'm glad that he's kind of settled into the role,” Wells explained.

“I kind of felt like he could be a guy that could really bring points and also bring a defensive toughness and an ability to switch with different guys, and, you know, I just think we're seeing that finally.

“I's taken him a little while to settle into a consistent role, and then there's different playing combinations with Bryce (Cotton) and with DJ (Vasiljevic) or with Flynn (Cameron) and, you know what the big package is, but you know, he's been outstanding, as good as I was hoping, and (as good as) everybody sort of advertised.

“I'm just glad that we got a chance to get him back in Adelaide and get him home and playing in front of the hometown fans.”

While game 150 won’t be in front of those hometown fans, White will be hoping for a positive result in his return to Hobart.

Thursday night’s game gets underway at 7pm ACDT. If you can’t be there, you can watch live on ESPN on Kayo or Disney+.