# 2023–24 Melbourne United season

The 2023–24 Melbourne United season was the 41st season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL), and their 10th under the banner of Melbourne United.
On 19 April 2023, head coach Dean Vickerman signed a four-year contract extension with the club.

## Roster

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

### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Development |
| PG | Matthew Dellavedova | Shea Ili | Campbell Blogg |
| SG | Ian Clark | Flynn Cameron | Zac Triplett |
| SF | Chris Goulding | Tanner Krebs | Malith Machar |
| PF | Luke Travers | Brad Newley | Kyle Bowen |
| C | Jo Lual-Acuil | Ariel Hukporti | Robert Loe |

## Standings
### Ladder

| Pos | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 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% | 3–2 | W1 | 11–3 | 9–5 | 2615 | 2454 | 106.56% |
| 2 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 17 | 11 | 60.71% | 2–3 | L2 | 10–4 | 7–7 | 2630 | 2563 | 102.61% |
| 3 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 28 | 16 | 12 | 57.14% | 4–1 | W4 | 8–6 | 8–6 | 2564 | 2378 | 107.82% |
| 4 | Illawarra Hawks | 28 | 14 | 14 | 50.00% | 3–2 | L1 | 8–6 | 6–8 | 2547 | 2518 | 101.15% |
| 5 | Sydney Kings | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 2–3 | W1 | 7–7 | 6–8 | 2672 | 2602 | 102.69% |
| 6 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 3–2 | L1 | 8–6 | 5–9 | 2498 | 2480 | 100.73% |
| 7 | Brisbane Bullets | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–6 | 5–9 | 2458 | 2534 | 97.00% |
| 8 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 1–4 | W1 | 7–7 | 5–9 | 2506 | 2589 | 96.79% |
| 9 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 3–2 | W1 | 9–5 | 3–11 | 2457 | 2563 | 95.86% |
| 10 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 28 | 10 | 18 | 35.71% | 1–4 | L4 | 7–7 | 3–11 | 2425 | 2691 | 90.12% |
Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2024. 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

* Leader and qualification to semifinals
* Qualification to semifinals
* Qualification to play-in games
* Last place
2023–24 NBL season :
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Cairns Taipans | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Melbourne United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Perth Wildcats | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 5 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Sydney Kings | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Tasmania JackJumpers | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

## Game log
### Pre-season

2023 NBL Blitz game log Total: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0) :
September: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
16 September
@ Brisbane
W 92–96
Matthew Dellavedova (28)
Ariel Hukporti (8)
Shea Ili (4)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
1–0
2
18 September
Illawarra
W 85–71
Matthew Dellavedova (20)
Luke Travers (8)
Krebs, Travers (4)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
2–0
3
20 September
Sydney
W 105–87
Luke Travers (21)
Ariel Hukporti (8)
Shea Ili (9)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
3–0 :

### Regular season

2023–24 game log Total: 20–8 (Home: 11–3; Road: 9–5) :
September: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
28 September
S.E. Melbourne
W 82–67
Luke Travers (20)
Ariel Hukporti (14)
Dellavedova, Goulding (4)
John Cain Arena 10,175
1–0 :
October: 7–1 (Home: 3–1; Road: 4–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
1 October
@ Adelaide
W 74–82
Dellavedova, Goulding (19)
Ariel Hukporti (10)
Dellavedova, Travers (4)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 8,165
2–0
3
8 October
Tasmania
L 75–80
Ariel Hukporti (15)
Luke Travers (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
John Cain Arena 10,175
2–1
4
13 October
@ Perth
W 81–88
Clark, Goulding (18)
Ariel Hukporti (7)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Perth Arena 10,982
3–1
5
15 October
Brisbane
W 89–78
Chris Goulding (18)
Ariel Hukporti (12)
Shea Ili (8)
John Cain Arena 9,327
4–1
6
20 October
@ Illawarra
W 91–101
Ariel Hukporti (21)
Ariel Hukporti (10)
Shea Ili (8)
Wollongong Entertainment Centre 2,927
5–1
7
22 October
New Zealand
W 97–88
Ian Clark (18)
Ariel Hukporti (6)
Shea Ili (4)
John Cain Arena 9,579
6–1
8
27 October
@ Tasmania
W 82–90
Ian Clark (19)
Luke Travers (13)
Shea Ili (6)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
7–1
9
29 October
Illawarra
W 96–84
Chris Goulding (33)
Luke Travers (11)
Tanner Krebs (4)
John Cain Arena 9,067
8–1 :
November: 2–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
10
6 November
Perth
L 95–102 (OT)
Jo Lual-Acuil (25)
Kyle Bowen (16)
Dellavedova, Ili (6)
John Cain Arena 10,175
8–2
11
12 November
@ S.E. Melbourne
W 83–92
Chris Goulding (27)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Shea Ili (4)
John Cain Arena 10,175
9–2
12
19 November
Sydney
W 105–93
Chris Goulding (35)
Luke Travers (12)
Shea Ili (9)
John Cain Arena 10,175
10–2 :
December: 4–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
3 December
Cairns
L 103–115
Chris Goulding (23)
Jo Lual-Acuil (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (9)
John Cain Arena 9,384
10–3
14
10 December
Brisbane
W 103–68
Chris Goulding (21)
Ariel Hukporti (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 9,635
11–3
15
14 December
@ S.E. Melbourne
W 78–106
Jo Lual-Acuil (17)
Ariel Hukporti (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (8)
John Cain Arena 7,672
12–3
16
16 December
Adelaide
W 107–96
Shea Ili (16)
Jo Lual-Acuil (12)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
John Cain Arena 7,757
13–3
17
23 December
Perth
W 109–103 (OT)
Ian Clark (25)
Ariel Hukporti (12)
Shea Ili (7)
John Cain Arena 10,175
14–3
18
31 December
@ Cairns
L 95–78
Jo Lual-Acuil (15)
Hukporti, Travers (7)
Dellavedova, Travers (2)
Cairns Convention Centre 4,802
14–4 :
January: 3–3 (Home: 0–0; Road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
4 January
@ Sydney
W 85–101
Shea Ili (19)
Jo Lual-Acuil (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (9)
Sydney SuperDome 12,898
15–4
20
6 January
@ Adelaide
L 100–96
Tanner Krebs (23)
Jo Lual-Acuil (17)
Matthew Dellavedova (9)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 9,564
15–5
21
12 January
@ New Zealand
W 81–82
Chris Goulding (24)
Luke Travers (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (10)
TSB Stadium 2,632
16–5
22
19 January
@ Tasmania
L 107–86
Chris Goulding (16)
Ariel Hukporti (8)
Matthew Dellavedova (8)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
16–6
23
26 January
@ Brisbane
W 77–93
Jo Lual-Acuil (33)
Jo Lual-Acuil (13)
Shea Ili (6)
Nissan Arena 5,291
17–6
24
28 January
@ Sydney
L 98–86
Luke Travers (15)
Luke Travers (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Sydney SuperDome 12,921
17–7 :
February: 3–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
25
3 February
S.E. Melbourne
W 99–83
Jo Lual-Acuil (16)
Ariel Hukporti (10)
Matthew Dellavedova (8)
John Cain Arena 10,175
18–7
26
11 February
New Zealand
W 94–81
Jo Lual-Acuil (19)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Shea Ili (5)
John Cain Arena 10,175
19–7
27
16 February
@ Cairns
L 97–88
Ian Clark (20)
Luke Travers (13)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
Cairns Convention Centre 4,378
19–8
28
18 February
Illawarra
W 92–87
Chris Goulding (19)
Hukporti, Lual-Acuil (5)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 10,175
20–8 :
2023–24 season schedule :

### Postseason

2024 finals game log Total: 4–4 (Home: 3–2; Road: 1–2) :
Semifinals: 2–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
7 March
Illawarra
W 115–106 (OT)
Matthew Dellavedova (30)
Jo Lual-Acuil (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (10)
John Cain Arena 8,232
1–0
2
10 March
@ Illawarra
L 113–108 (OT)
Matthew Dellavedova (20)
Lual-Acuil, Travers (7)
Matthew Dellavedova (8)
Wollongong Entertainment Centre 5,631
1–1
3
13 March
Illawarra
W 100–94
Shea Ili (22)
Luke Travers (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (5)
John Cain Arena 6,288
2–1 :
NBL Finals: 2–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
17 March
Tasmania
W 104–81
Chris Goulding (22)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
John Cain Arena 9,108
1–0
2
22 March
@ Tasmania
L 82–77
Shea Ili (20)
Jo Lual-Acuil (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
1–1
3
24 March
Tasmania
L 91–93
Matthew Dellavedova (21)
Ariel Hukporti (9)
Matthew Dellavedova (8)
John Cain Arena 10,175
1–2
4
28 March
@ Tasmania
W 86–88
Ian Clark (18)
Luke Travers (11)
Matthew Dellavedova (6)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
2–2
5
31 March
Tasmania
L 81–83
Jo Lual-Acuil (14)
Ariel Hukporti (15)
Matthew Dellavedova (7)
John Cain Arena 10,175
2–3 :
2024 finals schedule :

## Transactions
### Re-signed

| Player | Date Signed | Contract |
| Ariel Hukporti | 31 March 2023 | 1-year deal (next star) |
| Campbell Blogg | 13 April 2023 | 1-year deal |
| Brad Newley | 24 April 2023 | 1-year deal |
| Malith Machar | 9 June 2023 | 2-year deal |
| Zac Triplett | 18 September 2023 | 1-year deal |

### Additions

| Player | Date Signed | Contract | Former team |
| Flynn Cameron | 11 April 2023 | 3-year deal (club option) | UC Riverside Highlanders |
| Tanner Krebs | 11 April 2023 | 3-year deal (club option) | Brisbane Bullets |
| Jo Lual-Acuil | 12 April 2023 | 2-year deal (club option) | Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings |
| Luke Travers | 17 April 2023 | 3-year deal | Perth Wildcats |
| Kyle Bowen | 20 April 2023 | 2-year deal | Saint Mary's Gaels |
| Matthew Dellavedova | 17 May 2023 | 2-year deal | Sacramento Kings |
| Robert Loe | 28 July 2023 | 1-year deal (NRP) | New Zealand Breakers |
| Ian Clark | 4 August 2023 | 1-year deal | Adelaide 36ers |
| Tom Koppens | 19 September 2023 | 1-year deal | Sandringham Sabres |

### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | Date Left | New Team |
| Mason Peatling | Free agent | 5 April 2023 | Illawarra Hawks |
| David Okwera | Free agent | 5 April 2023 | Perth Wildcats |
| Makuach Maluach | Free agent | 12 April 2023 | Sydney Kings |
| Josh Duach | Released | 17 April 2023 | North Gold Coast Seahawks |
| Isaac Humphries | Free agent | 22 April 2023 | Adelaide 36ers |
| Marcus Lee | Free agent | 22 June 2023 | Tasmania JackJumpers |
| Rayjon Tucker | Free agent | 16 July 2023 | Reyer Venezia |
| Lachlan Barker | Free agent | 24 July 2023 | Tasmania JackJumpers |
| David Barlow | Retired | 10 August 2023 | Melbourne United (assistant) |
| Robert Loe | Released (NRP) | 23 November 2023 | Auckland Tuatara |

## Awards
### Club awards

* Club MVP: Chris Goulding
* Defensive Player: Shea Ili
* SHARE Award: Matthew Dellavedova
* Vince Crivelli Club Person of the Year: Steve McAdam