# 2017–18 Melbourne United season

The 2017–18 NBL season was the 35th season for Melbourne United in the NBL, and the 4th 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

2017 pre-season game log Total: 8–3 (Home: 5–1; Road: 3–2) :
May: 2–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
17 May
@ Jiangsu Dragons
W 72–85
Adnam, Wesley (25)
Tai Wesley (8)
Kyle Adnam (7)
Wutaishan Gymnasium not available
1–0
2
19 May
@ Jiangsu Dragons
W 56–63
Majok Majok (16)
not available
not available
Yancheng Sports Center not available
2–0 :
July: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
16 July
China
W 104–94 (OT)
Andersen, Moller (20)
not available
not available
Margaret Court Arena 6,888
3–0 :
August: 2–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4
16 August
Texas Longhorns
W 85–75
Chris Goulding (18)
Jerry Evans (10)
not available
Nunawading Basketball Centre
4–0
5
20 August
Wisconsin Badgers
W 90–89
Tai Wesley (23)
not available
not available
Casey Stadium 1,500
5–0 :
September: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
7 September
Illawarra
W 99–83
Kyle Adnam (24)
not available
Kyle Adnam (7)
Traralgon Sports Stadium 3,000
6–0
7
9 September
Sydney
L 99–105
Tai Wesley (27)
Josh Boone (9)
Goulding, Ware (4)
Traralgon Sports Stadium 3,000
6–1
8
10 September
Perth
W 93–67
Tai Wesley (18)
Boone, Wesley (7)
Casper Ware (7)
State Basketball Centre 3,200
7–1
9
17 September
@ New Zealand
L 88–86
Chris Goulding (18)
not available
not available
TSB Stadium 4,560
7–2
10
19 September
@ New Zealand
W 62–101
Josh Boone (17)
not available
not available
ASB Arena not available
8–2 :
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11
8 October
@ Oklahoma City
L 85–86
Casper Ware (22)
Josh Boone (9)
Casey Prather (5)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 10,203
8–3 :

## Regular season
### Ladder

| Pos | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 NBL season vte | 2017–18 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 | 11–3 | 9–5 | 2434 | 2298 | 105.92% |
| 2 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 18 | 10 | 64.29% | 3–2 | W3 | 10–4 | 8–6 | 2654 | 2527 | 105.03% |
| 3 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 16 | 12 | 57.14% | 2–3 | W1 | 9–5 | 7–7 | 2388 | 2271 | 105.15% |
| 4 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 15 | 13 | 53.57% | 1–4 | L4 | 9–5 | 6–8 | 2364 | 2387 | 99.04% |
| 5 | Illawarra Hawks | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 2–3 | W2 | 7–7 | 5–9 | 2474 | 2539 | 97.44% |
| 6 | Cairns Taipans$^1$ | 28 | 11 | 17 | 39.29% | 1–4 | L1 | 8–6 | 3–11 | 2215 | 2281 | 97.11% |
| 7 | Sydney Kings$^1$ | 28 | 11 | 17 | 39.29% | 4–1 | W4 | 6–8 | 5–9 | 2418 | 2504 | 96.57% |
| 8 | Brisbane Bullets | 28 | 9 | 19 | 32.14% | 1–4 | L3 | 6–8 | 3–11 | 2347 | 2487 | 94.37% |
Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2018. 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.
$^1$Cairns Taipans 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.
2017–18 NBL season vte :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Cairns Taipans | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Melbourne United | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Perth Wildcats | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Sydney Kings | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |

### Game log

2017–18 game log Total: 20–8 (Home: 11–3; Road: 9–5) :
October: 2–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
5 October
@ Adelaide
W 97–99
Casper Ware (23)
Josh Boone (10)
Casper Ware (6)
Titanium Security Arena 6,312
1–0
2
14 October
@ Adelaide
W 79–99
Kyle Adnam (23)
Josh Boone (10)
Casper Ware (6)
Titanium Security Arena not available
2–0
3
20 October
@ Perth
L 89–84
Casey Prather (16)
Casey Prather (9)
Goulding, Ware (3)
Perth Arena 13,037
2–1
4
22 October
New Zealand
L 76–88
Josh Boone (22)
Josh Boone (14)
Casper Ware (6)
Hisense Arena 10,300
2–2
5
28 October
@ Brisbane
L 87–85
Casey Prather (30)
Josh Boone (14)
Casper Ware (4)
Carrara Stadium not available
2–3 :
November: 3–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
2 November
Cairns
W 87–65
Casper Ware (26)
Majok Majok (9)
Prather, Ware (3)
Hisense Arena 6,542
3–3
7
4 November
Adelaide
W 101–82
Casey Prather (25)
David Andersen (7)
Casper Ware (8)
Hisense Arena 8,213
4–3
8
9 November
@ Cairns
L 92–69
Ware, Wesley (12)
Casey Prather (6)
Casey Prather (5)
Cairns Convention Centre 3,891
4–4
9
11 November
Sydney
W 108–90
Casey Prather (22)
Josh Boone (13)
Casper Ware (9)
Hisense Arena 8,196
5–4
10
19 November
Perth
L 59–91
Casey Prather (20)
Josh Boone (12)
Kyle Adnam (2)
Hisense Arena 10,300
5–5 :
December: 6–1 (Home: 4–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11
4 December
Illawarra
W 91–73
Casey Prather (18)
Josh Boone (14)
Tai Wesley (8)
Hisense Arena 6,054
6–5
12
9 December
@ Cairns
79–70
Tai Wesley (20)
Josh Boone (8)
Casper Ware (4)
Cairns Convention Centre 4,151
6–6
13
11 December
Sydney
W 95–69
Chris Goulding (23)
Josh Boone (17)
Casper Ware (7)
Hisense Arena 8,194
7–6
14
16 December
@ Illawarra
W 78–84
Tai Wesley (19)
Josh Boone (10)
Tai Wesley (8)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,150
8–6
15
22 December
Adelaide
W 99–91
Casper Ware (24)
Josh Boone (12)
Casper Ware (5)
Hisense Arena 8,089
9–6
16
26 December
Brisbane
W 69–68
David Andersen (15)
Josh Boone (11)
Tai Wesley (3)
Hisense Arena 10,300
10–6
17
30 December
@ Sydney
W 79–103
Casper Ware (26)
Tai Wesley (8)
Goulding, Ware (5)
Qudos Bank Arena 6,014
11–6 :
January: 5–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
6 January
@ Illawarra
W 77–79
Chris Goulding (22)
Carrick Felix (10)
Casper Ware (5)
WIN Entertainment Centre 2,869
12–6
19
12 January
@ Perth
W 80–82
Tai Wesley (21)
Tai Wesley (10)
Tai Wesley (5)
Perth Arena 13,611
13–6
20
18 January
@ New Zealand
L 98–81
Chris Goulding (21)
Josh Boone (7)
Casper Ware (5)
North Shore Events Centre not available
13–7
21
20 January
@ Brisbane
W 95–103
Casper Ware (22)
Ware, Wesley (5)
Tai Wesley (8)
Brisbane Entertainment Centre 4,650
14–7
22
24 January
Cairns
W 79–68
Casper Ware (24)
Josh Boone (9)
Chris Goulding (6)
Hisense Arena 7,306
15–7
23
28 January
@ Sydney
W 76–93
Josh Boone (22)
Josh Boone (13)
Casper Ware (4)
Qudos Bank Arena 7,407
16–7 :
February: 4–1 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
24
3 February
Brisbane
W 69–61
Casper Ware (17)
Josh Boone (12)
Tai Wesley (5)
Hisense Arena 10,300
17–7
25
9 February
New Zealand
W 89–83
Casper Ware (26)
Josh Boone (12)
Casper Ware (5)
Hisense Arena 7,256
18–7
26
11 February
@ New Zealand
W 82–100
Chris Goulding (21)
Barlow, Boone (7)
Casper Ware (9)
Spark Arena 5,000
19–7
27
16 February
Perth
W 97–85
Goulding, Ware (19)
Josh Boone (10)
Craig Moller (4)
Hisense Arena 7,064
20–7
28
18 February
Illawarra
L 84–94
Boone, Wesley (14)
Casey Prather (6)
Casper Ware (6)
Hisense Arena 7,981
20–8 :

## Postseason

2018 finals game log Total: 5–2 (Home: 4–0; Road: 1–2) :
Semifinals: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
3 March
New Zealand
W 88–77
Casper Ware (33)
Josh Boone (8)
Tai Wesley (4)
Hisense Arena 6,833
1–0
2
5 March
@ New Zealand
W 86–88 (OT)
Josh Boone (33)
Josh Boone (15)
Casper Ware (6)
Spark Arena not available
2–0 :
Grand Final: 3–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
16 March
Adelaide
W 107–96
Chris Goulding (26)
Boone, Wesley (7)
Tai Wesley (6)
Hisense Arena 8,699
1–0
2
18 March
@ Adelaide
L 110–95
Casey Prather (20)
Casey Prather (7)
Chris Goulding (3)
Titanium Security Arena 7,000
1–1
3
23 March
Adelaide
W 101–98
Casper Ware (25)
Casey Prather (6)
Casper Ware (3)
Hisense Arena 9,362
2–1
4
25 March
@ Adelaide
L 90–81
Casey Prather (23)
Casey Prather (7)
Chris Goulding (4)
Titanium Security Arena 7,500
2–2
5
31 March
Adelaide
W 100–82
Goulding, Ware (23)
Josh Boone (12)
Tai Wesley (3)
Hisense Arena 10,300
3–2 :

## Transactions
### Re-signed

| Player | Signed |
| Kyle Adnam | 7 April |
| Majok Majok | 21 April |
| Josh Boone | 28 April |
| David Barlow | 15 June |
| Casper Ware | 22 August |

### Additions

| Player | Signed | Former team |
| Craig Moller | 13 April | Sydney Kings |
| Daniel Dillon | 22 June | Hiroshima Dragonflies |
| Peter Hooley | 3 August | Ballarat Miners |
| Casey Prather | 15 August | ratiopharm Ulm |
| Durrell McDonald | 13 October | Mercyhurst Lakers |
| Felix Von Hofe | 13 October | Eastern Washington Eagles |
| Jet Meng (Training) | 16 November | Shanghai Sharks |
| Carrick Felix | 22 December | Long Island Nets |
| Chris Patton | 24 January | Cairns Taipans |

### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | New team |
| Lasan Kromah | Free agent | Egis Körmend |
| Owen Odigie | Released | Kilsyth Cobras |
| Todd Blanchfield | Free agent | Sydney Kings |
| Ramone Moore | Free agent | Melbourne United |

## Awards
### NBL Awards

* All-NBL First Team: Josh Boone & Casper Ware
* All-NBL Second Team: Tai Wesley
* Coach of the Year: Dean Vickerman

### Melbourne United Awards

* Most Valuable Player: Casper Ware
* Best Defensive Player: Josh Boone
* Coaches Award: Chris Goulding
* Most Improved: Tai Wesley
* Best Club Person Award: Andrew Kidd

### Finals Series

* Grand Final MVP: Chris Goulding