# 2018–19 Melbourne United season

The 2018–19 NBL season was the 36th season for Melbourne United in the NBL, and the 5th 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.

## Preseason
### Game log

2018 pre-season game log Total: 7–5 (home: 6–3; road: 1–2) :
August: 4–0 (Home: 4–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
4 August
Chinese Taipei
W 136–85
not available
not available
not available
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre closed indoors
1–0
2
9 August
Saint Mary's Gaels
W 81–80
not available
not available
not available
State Basketball Centre 3,200
2–0
3
16 August
Loyola Marymount Lions
W 100–80
not available
not available
not available
Casey Basketball Stadium 1,500
3–0
4
30 August
Sydney
W 93–85
not available
not available
not available
Bendigo Stadium 2,000
4–0 :
September: 3–4 (Home: 2–3; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
1 September
Sydney
L 85–93
not available
not available
not available
State Basketball Centre 3,200
4–1
6
11 September
Cairns
W 89–88
Josh Boone (18)
Josh Boone (9)
Chris Goulding (7)
Dandenong Basketball Stadium 1,000
5–1
7
13 September
Cairns
L 75–78
not available
not available
not available
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre 2,000
5–2
8
20 September
Adelaide
L 87–97
Casper Ware (16)
Kennedy, Smith-Milner (6)
McCarron, Ware (3)
Bendigo Stadium not available
5–3
9
22 September
@ Brisbane
W 90–96
Casper Ware (15)
David Barlow (9)
Casper Ware (5)
Ballarat Stadium not available
6–3
10
23 September
Illawarra
W 88–82
Chris Goulding (20)
Alex Pledger (11)
Mitch McCarron (7)
Ballarat Stadium not available
7–3
11
28 September
@ Philadelphia
L 104–84
Casper Ware (19)
Alex Pledger (13)
Casper Ware (5)
Wells Fargo Center 20,318
7–4 :
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
12
5 October
@ Toronto
L 120–82
Casper Ware (17)
Josh Boone (11)
Casper Ware (5)
Scotiabank Arena 15,781
7–5 :

## Regular season
### Ladder

| Pos | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte | 2018–19 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Perth Wildcats$^1$ | 28 | 18 | 10 | 64.29% | 4–1 | L1 | 12–2 | 6–8 | 2499 | 2355 | 106.11% |
| 2 | Melbourne United$^1$ | 28 | 18 | 10 | 64.29% | 3–2 | W1 | 10–4 | 8–6 | 2586 | 2478 | 104.36% |
| 3 | Sydney Kings$^1$ | 28 | 18 | 10 | 64.29% | 4–1 | W1 | 9–5 | 9–5 | 2438 | 2380 | 102.44% |
| 4 | Brisbane Bullets$^2$ | 28 | 14 | 14 | 50.00% | 2–3 | W1 | 9–5 | 5–9 | 2503 | 2480 | 100.93% |
| 5 | Adelaide 36ers$^2$ | 28 | 14 | 14 | 50.00% | 2–3 | L2 | 6–8 | 8–6 | 2687 | 2681 | 100.22% |
| 6 | New Zealand Breakers$^3$ | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 2–3 | L1 | 7–7 | 5–9 | 2649 | 2641 | 100.30% |
| 7 | Illawarra Hawks$^3$ | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 1–4 | L3 | 8–6 | 4–10 | 2493 | 2664 | 93.58% |
| 8 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 6 | 22 | 21.43% | 2–3 | L1 | 3–11 | 3–11 | 2400 | 2576 | 93.17% |
Updated to match(es) played on 17 February 2019. 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 between the teams will determine order of seeding.
$^1$Perth Wildcats won on overall points percentage. Melbourne United finished 2nd on overall points percentage.
$^2$Brisbane Bullets won on overall points percentage.
$^3$New Zealand Breakers won on overall points percentage.

### 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.
2018–19 NBL season vte :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Cairns Taipans | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Melbourne United | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Perth Wildcats | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Sydney Kings | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

### Game log

2018–19 game log Total: 18–10 (home: 10–4; road: 8–6) :
October: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
12 October
@ Illawarra
W 122–123 (4OT)
Josh Boone (24)
Josh Boone (12)
Casper Ware (9)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,688
1–0
2
14 October
New Zealand
L 81–88
Chris Goulding (22)
Mitch McCarron (8)
Hooley, McCarron (4)
Melbourne Arena 8,329
1–1
3
21 October
Adelaide
W 75–72
Barlow, Boone (15)
Josh Boone (16)
Barlow, Goulding, McCarron (5)
Melbourne Arena 7,764
2–1
4
27 October
@ Perth
L 101–96 (2OT)
Chris Goulding (29)
Josh Boone (11)
Mitch McCarron (5)
RAC Arena 11,675
2–2
5
29 October
Illawarra
W 99–93
Casper Ware (26)
Alex Pledger (12)
Mitch McCarron (4)
Melbourne Arena 6,478
3–2 :
November: 6–1 (Home: 4–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
3 November
@ Cairns
W 85–98
Casper Ware (32)
Barlow, Boone (7)
Barlow, Hooley, Kennedy (4)
Cairns Convention Centre not available
4–2
7
5 November
Sydney
W 77–70
D. J. Kennedy (24)
Boone, Kennedy (10)
Kennedy, Ware (3)
Melbourne Arena 10,300
5–2
8
8 November
@ Illawarra
L 87–81
McCarron, Ware (18)
Josh Boone (8)
Josh Boone (6)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,000
5–3
9
11 November
Cairns
W 87–80
Casper Ware (34)
Mitch McCarron (9)
Casper Ware (6)
Melbourne Arena 7,897
6–3
10
16 November
@ New Zealand
W 101–108
Josh Boone (26)
Josh Boone (10)
D. J. Kennedy (7)
ILT Stadium 2,676
7–3
11
18 November
Brisbane
W 102–94
Casper Ware (23)
Boone, Pledger (6)
Casper Ware (6)
Melbourne Arena 7,656
8–3
12
24 November
Sydney
W 84–82
Casper Ware (23)
D. J. Kennedy (12)
Casper Ware (5)
Melbourne Arena 10,300
9–3 :
December: 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
8 December
@ Brisbane
L 97–94
David Barlow (20)
Alex Pledger (7)
Casper Ware (9)
Brisbane Convention Centre 3,304
9–4
14
10 December
Brisbane
L 74–90
Casper Ware (22)
David Barlow (9)
David Barlow (5)
Melbourne Arena 7,083
9–5
15
17 December
Perth
W 82–65
Chris Goulding (21)
Boone, Goulding, Kennedy, Pledger (7)
Mitch McCarron (4)
Melbourne Arena 7,765
10–5
16
23 December
@ Sydney
W 70–75
Chris Goulding (16)
David Barlow (11)
Casper Ware (7)
Qudos Bank Arena 12,050
11–5
17
26 December
Adelaide
L 101–103
Casper Ware (26)
D. J. Kennedy (5)
Kennedy, Ware (5)
Melbourne Arena 10,300
11–6 :
January: 3–2 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
6 January
@ Brisbane
L 95–86
Casper Ware (29)
Josh Boone (10)
McCarron, Smith-Milner (5)
Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre 4,485
11–7
19
13 January
@ Cairns
W 89–99 (OT)
Casper Ware (27)
Josh Boone (15)
Casper Ware (6)
Cairns Convention Centre 4,364
12–7
20
20 January
@ Perth
L 84–79
Mitch McCarron (21)
Josh Boone (12)
Casper Ware (6)
RAC Arena 13,353
12–8
21
23 January
Illawarra
W 113–89
Casper Ware (25)
Josh Boone (11)
Barlow, Kennedy, Ware (4)
Melbourne Arena 7,022
13–8
22
28 January
@ Adelaide
W 91–114
Josh Boone (19)
Josh Boone (10)
Casper Ware (10)
Titanium Security Arena not available
14–8 :
February: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
23
1 February
@ New Zealand
W 87–107
Chris Goulding (24)
Boone, Kennedy (11)
Goulding, McCarron (5)
Spark Arena 4,714
15–8
24
3 February
New Zealand
W 111–102 (OT)
Mitch McCarron (25)
D. J. Kennedy (9)
Kennedy, McCarron (6)
Melbourne Arena 9,026
16–8
25
8 February
@ Sydney
L 97–85
Casper Ware (17)
D. J. Kennedy (8)
Casper Ware (5)
Qudos Bank Arena 7,104
16–9
26
10 February
@ Adelaide
W 87–89
Casper Ware (20)
Josh Boone (14)
Casper Ware (7)
Titanium Security Arena not available
17–9
27
14 February
Cairns
L 85–87
Chris Goulding (22)
D. J. Kennedy (8)
Goulding, Kennedy, McCarron, Ware (4)
Melbourne Arena 6,590
17–10
28
17 February
Perth
W 81–70 (OT)
D. J. Kennedy (21)
D. J. Kennedy (15)
D. J. Kennedy (6)
Melbourne Arena 10,300
18–10 :

## Postseason

2019 finals game log Total: 3–3 (home: 2–1; road: 1–2) :
Semifinals: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
28 February
Sydney
W 95–73
Casper Ware (22)
Josh Boone (7)
Casper Ware (7)
Melbourne Arena 7,566
1–0
2
3 March
@ Sydney
W 76–90
Casper Ware (30)
Josh Boone (8)
Mitch McCarron (5)
Qudos Bank Arena 14,569
2–0 :
Grand Final: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
8 March
@ Perth
L 81–71
Casper Ware (19)
Josh Boone (12)
Casper Ware (4)
RAC Arena 12,490
0–1
4
10 March
Perth
W 92–74
Goulding, Ware (14)
D. J. Kennedy (14)
Kennedy, McCarron (4)
Melbourne Arena 10,062
1–1
5
15 March
@ Perth
L 96–67
Barlow, Kennedy 13
D. J. Kennedy (10)
D. J. Kennedy (6)
RAC Arena 13,412
1–2
6
17 March
Perth
L 84–97
Casper Ware (18)
Josh Boone (7)
Goulding, Ware (4)
Melbourne Arena 10,007
1–3 :

## Transactions
### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |
| Chris Goulding | 26 April |
| Peter Hooley | 30 April |
| Tohi Smith-Milner | 2 May |
| David Barlow | 7 May |
| Josh Boone | 17 August |
| Casper Ware | 17 August |

### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Dan Trist | 3 May | Club Ourense Baloncesto |
| Alex Pledger | 18 May | New Zealand Breakers |
| Mitch McCarron | 7 June | Petrol Olimpija |
| Sam McDaniel | 15 August | Mount Gambier Pioneers |
| D. J. Kennedy | 9 September | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| Venky Jois | 26 January | Rasta Vechta |

### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Majok Majok | Free agent | New Zealand Breakers |
| Tai Wesley | Free agent | New Zealand Breakers |
| Kyle Adnam | Free agent | Sydney Kings |
| David Andersen | Free agent | Illawarra Hawks |
| Carrick Felix | Released | Washington Wizards |
| Casey Prather | Free agent | Promitheas Patras |

## Awards
### NBL Awards

* All-NBL First Team: Casper Ware
* Coach of the Year: Dean Vickerman

### Melbourne United Awards

* Most Valuable Player: Casper Ware
* Best Defensive Player: David Barlow
* Coaches Award: Mitch McCarron
* Best Club Person Award: Fiona Gant