Rasmussen joins 36ers as development player

Adelaide 36ers are thrilled to announce the signing of Keanu Rasmussen as a development player for the NBL24 season.

The 188cm guard returns to Adelaide after spending two seasons at California Baptist Lancers in the NCAA Division One College system and said the opportunity to be part of his hometown team was a dream come true.

“It’s a great feeling, I’m very excited and can’t wait to get to work,” Rasmussen said.

“I remember coming to games years ago and I thought ‘this is something I want to do’ and here it is now.”

Adelaide 36ers head coach CJ Bruton said the addition of Rasmussen to his squad is exciting.

“He’s a great young talent and he’s a local kid that’s come home and we are very happy to call Keanu a 36er,” Bruton said.

“A Sturt junior who went to the AIS and college and he’s come back, and I was super impressed with his workouts.”

Bruton said Rasmussen has the talent and skillset to go on a similar career pathway as Nick Marshall, who signed a three-year deal last month.

“I can see Keanu plying his trade as a development player and making his way into a roster spot down the track,” Bruton said.

“He has the basketball IQ and skillset that can transition into the NBL level.”

Rasmussen has returned to his junior club, Sturt Sabres, for the NBL1 Central season and is currently averaging 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

“I spent two years at college, I redshirted my first year and in that second year I didn’t get to play much,” Rasmussen said.

“It was a great spot to develop my game, but two years without playing much was a bit tough, so I thought coming back here to actually play was best for me and pick up an NBL contract.”

A product of Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence, where he graduated in 2020, the 2025 NBA Draft eligible guard is a scoring weapon.

“I’m an athletic guard who can shoot the ball and I love to get on the rim and setup my teammates as much as possible,” Rasmussen said.

“I will do whatever it takes to win, I like to model my game on Patty Mills.”

The South Australian product played at the under-18 and under-20 Australian National Championships and was a member of the under-20 NBA Global Team.

Rasmussen led the under-18 South Australia Metro side to a Silver Medal at the Australia Junior Nationals where he averaged 16.7 points per game and shot 65 per cent from the field.

“It’s great to be home again, see the family and be back in Adelaide,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen joins Mitch McCarron, Antonius Cleveland, Robert Franks, Isaac Humphries, Jason Cadee, Nick Marshall, Kyrin Galloway and Sunday Dech on the Adelaide 36ers NBL24 playing squad.