# 2021–22 Melbourne United season

The 2021–22 NBL season was the 39th season for Melbourne United in the NBL, and their 8th under the banner of Melbourne United.

## Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

## Standings
### Ladder

| Pos | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte | 2021–22 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Melbourne United | 28 | 20 | 8 | 71.43% | 4–1 | L1 | 9–5 | 11–3 | 2455 | 2244 | 109.40% |
| 2 | Illawarra Hawks | 28 | 19 | 9 | 67.86% | 4–1 | W2 | 8–6 | 11–3 | 2498 | 2345 | 106.52% |
| 3 | Sydney Kings | 28 | 19 | 9 | 67.86% | 3–2 | L1 | 9–5 | 10–4 | 2397 | 2313 | 103.63% |
| 4 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 28 | 17 | 11 | 60.71% | 4–1 | W4 | 8–6 | 9–5 | 2230 | 2220 | 100.45% |
| 5 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 16 | 12 | 57.14% | 2–3 | L2 | 7–7 | 9–5 | 2495 | 2377 | 104.96% |
| 6 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 28 | 15 | 13 | 53.57% | 3–2 | W2 | 7–7 | 8–6 | 2456 | 2424 | 101.32% |
| 7 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 10 | 18 | 35.71% | 3–2 | W1 | 6–8 | 4–10 | 2283 | 2346 | 97.31% |
| 8 | Brisbane Bullets | 28 | 10 | 18 | 35.71% | 2–3 | L2 | 6–8 | 4–10 | 2379 | 2500 | 95.16% |
| 9 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 9 | 19 | 32.14% | 1–4 | W1 | 5–9 | 4–10 | 2228 | 2408 | 92.52% |
| 10 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 5 | 23 | 17.86% | 0–5 | L10 | 2–12 | 3–11 | 2234 | 2478 | 90.15% |
Updated to match(es) played on 24 April 2022. Source: NBL.com.au
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top four.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
2021–22 NBL season vte :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Cairns Taipans | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Melbourne United | 6 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Perth Wildcats | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Sydney Kings | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Tasmania JackJumpers | 4 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |

## Game log
### Ladder

2021 NBL Blitz game log Total: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2) :
November: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
13 November
New Zealand
W 90–84
Jo Lual-Acuil (37)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre closed event
1–0
2
15 November
@ Sydney
L 80–75
Jo Lual-Acuil (13)
Mason Peatling (8)
Caleb Agada (4)
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre closed event
1–1
3
20 November
Illawarra
L 90–97
Jo Lual-Acuil (20)
Jo Lual-Acuil (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre closed event
1–2
4
28 November
@ S.E. Melbourne
L 89–87
Chris Goulding (26)
Jo Lual-Acuil (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (9)
Melbourne Sports Centre closed event
1–3 :

### Regular season

2021–22 game log Total: 20–8 (home: 9–5; road: 11–3) :
December: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
5 December
@ Sydney
L 79–74
Jo Lual-Acuil (12)
Mason Peatling (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Qudos Bank Arena 8,632
0–1
2
12 December
S.E. Melbourne
L 86–94
Matthew Dellavedova (19)
Dellavedova, Newley (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 6,361
0–2
3
16 December
Sydney
W 89–47
Caleb Agada (21)
Jo Lual-Acuil (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 4,786
1–2
4
19 December
New Zealand
W 83–60
Chris Goulding (21)
Jo Lual-Acuil (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
John Cain Arena 5,479
2–2
5
26 December
@ Sydney
W 68–82
Caleb Agada (24)
Caleb Agada (14)
Matthew Dellavedova (4)
Qudos Bank Arena 4,725
3–2 :
January: 5–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
1 January
@ Tasmania
W 72–76
Jo Lual-Acuil (19)
Jo Lual-Acuil (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
MyState Bank Arena 4,685
4–2
7
14 January
@ New Zealand
W 78–89
Chris Goulding (23)
Jo Lual-Acuil (13)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
MyState Bank Arena closed event
5–2
8
16 January
@ Illawarra
W 84–88
Matthew Dellavedova (33)
Caleb Agada (15)
Matthew Dellavedova (8)
WIN Entertainment Centre 1,753
6–2
9
22 January
@ Adelaide
W 78–97
Goulding, Lual-Acuil (18)
Jo Lual-Acuil (8)
Shea Ili (7)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 4,819
7–2
10
26 January
@ Brisbane
W 82–84
Matthew Dellavedova (16)
Jo Lual-Acuil (10)
Agada, Ili (4)
Nissan Arena 2,479
8–2
11
30 January
@ Adelaide
L 88–83 (OT)
Jo Lual-Acuil (23)
Jo Lual-Acuil (12)
Matthew Dellavedova (9)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 4,906
8–3 :
February: 4–1 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
12
6 February
Tasmania
L 85–94
Chris Goulding (29)
Jo Lual-Acuil (21)
Shea Ili (5)
John Cain Arena 8,499
8–4
13
12 February
Perth
W 93–87
Jo Lual-Acuil (22)
Agada, Lual-Acuil (13)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 6,401
9–4
14
17 February
S.E. Melbourne
W 94–87
Jo Lual-Acuil (30)
Jack White (14)
Shea Ili (8)
John Cain Arena 5,012
10–4
15
20 February
New Zealand
W 108–73
Caleb Agada (17)
Caleb Agada (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (9)
John Cain Arena 6,033
11–4
16
27 February
@ Cairns
W 73–89
Chris Goulding (21)
Hukporti, Peatling, White (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
Cairns Convention Centre 3,272
12–4 :
March: 3–2 (Home: 2–2; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
17
5 March
Brisbane
W 95–83
Jo Lual-Acuil (20)
Lual-Acuil, White (8)
Shea Ili (6)
John Cain Arena 6,086
13–4
18
10 March
Perth
L 87–97
Jo Lual-Acuil (16)
Jack White (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 4,169
13–5
19
13 March
@ S.E. Melbourne
W 90–98
Matthew Dellavedova (22)
Jo Lual-Acuil (15)
Shea Ili (5)
John Cain Arena 8,319
14–5
20
20 March
Adelaide
W 101–74
Lual-Acuil, Newley (15)
Jo Lual-Acuil (9)
Chris Goulding (6)
John Cain Arena 5,814
15–5
21
27 March
Illawarra
L 77–92
Jo Lual-Acuil (18)
Caleb Agada (13)
Caleb Agada (5)
John Cain Arena 5,017
15–6 :
April: 5–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
2 April
Illawarra
L 90–96
Jack White (17)
Hukporti, Lual-Acuil, Newley (5)
Shea Ili (5)
John Cain Arena 4,517
15–7
23
4 April
@ Perth
W 75–84
Chris Goulding (18)
Jack White (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
RAC Arena 10,192
16–7
24
7 April
@ S.E. Melbourne
W 88–90
Chris Goulding (20)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Dellavedova, Ili, Lual-Acuil (4)
John Cain Arena 4,167
17–7
25
10 April
@ Cairns
W 63–92
Jo Lual-Acuil (23)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
Cairns Convention Centre 3,418
18–7
26
16 April
Brisbane
W 88–79
Jo Lual-Acuil (25)
Jo Lual-Acuil (13)
Shea Ili (8)
John Cain Arena 5,721
19–7
27
18 April
Cairns
W 92–80
Chris Goulding (27)
Ariel Hukporti (9)
Shea Ili (8)
John Cain Arena 6,042
20–7
28
23 April
@ Tasmania
L 83–61
Caleb Agada (22)
Agada, Lual-Acuil (8)
Chris Goulding (3)
MyState Bank Arena 4,865
20–8 :
2021–22 season schedule :

### Postseason

2022 finals game log Total: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1) :
Semifinals: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
28 April
Tasmania
W 74–63
Caleb Agada (16)
Jack White (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 5,268
1–0
2
30 April
@ Tasmania
L 79–72
Chris Goulding (18)
Jack White (8)
Agada, Dellavedova, Ili, Lual-Acuil (3)
MyStateBank Arena 4,865
1–1
3
2 May
Tasmania
L 73–76
Shea Ili (18)
Jack White (15)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
John Cain Arena 4,816
1–2 :
2022 finals schedule :

## Transactions
### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |
| Shea Ili | 27 June |
| Jo Lual-Acuil | 30 June |
| David Barlow | 5 July |
| Ariel Hukporti | 27 April |

### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Zac Triplett | 27 June | Portland Pilots |
| Brad Newley | 8 July | Sydney Kings |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 9 July | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Dion Prewster | 20 July | Wellington Saints |
| Ariel Hukporti | 28 July | Nevėžis Kėdainiai |
| David Okwera | 28 July | Australian Institute of Sport |
| Callum Dalton | 30 July | Brisbane Bullets |
| Caleb Agada | 24 August | Hapoel Be'er Sheva |
| Will Hickey | 9 September | Ballarat Miners |
| Yudai Baba | 23 March | Texas Legends |

### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Sam McDaniel | Free agent | Tasmania JackJumpers |
| Mitch McCarron | Free agent | Adelaide 36ers |
| Jock Landale | Free agent | San Antonio Spurs |
| Scotty Hopson | Free agent | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Yudai Baba | Free agent | Texas Legends |
| David Andersen | Retired | N/A |
| Sam Short | Free agent | New Zealand Breakers |

## Awards
### Club awards

* SHARE Award: Shea Ili
* Defensive Player: Shea Ili
* Club MVP: Jo Lual-Acuil
* Vince Crivelli Club Person of the Year: Tom Lewis (Commercial Operations Assistant)