# 2023–24 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix season

The 2023–24 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix season was the 5th season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL), and their first under the leadership of their new head coach Mike Kelly.

## 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 | Bench 2 |
| PG | Gary Browne | Ben Ayre | Owen Foxwell |
| SG | Matt Kenyon | Luke Rosendale | Kody Stattmann |
| SF | Abdel Nader | Reuben Te Rangi | Craig Moller |
| PF | Mitch Creek | Rhys Vague | Austin Rapp |
| C | Alan Williams | Gorjok Gak | Anzac Rissetto |

## 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: 1–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–1) :
September: 1–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
16 September
Tasmania
L 84–97
Tyler Cook (18)
Tyler Cook (11)
Gary Browne (7)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
0–1
2
18 September
@ Sydney
W 86–93
Tyler Cook (29)
Tyler Cook (9)
Gary Browne (3)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
1–1
3
20 September
@ Cairns
L 100–95
Gary Browne (19)
Tyler Cook (6)
Ben Ayre (5)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
1–2 :

### Regular season

2023–24 game log Total: 10–18 (Home: 7–7; Road: 3–11) :
September: 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
28 September
@ Melbourne
L 82–67
Ben Ayre (17)
Mitch Creek (9)
Will Cummings (3)
John Cain Arena 10,175
0–1 :
October: 5–2 (Home: 4–0; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
1 October
Perth
W 110–99
Creek, Cummings (23)
Tyler Cook (10)
Will Cummings (4)
John Cain Arena 6,641
1–1
3
5 October
@ Cairns
L 87–80
Mitch Creek (20)
Mitch Creek (8)
Gary Browne (4)
Cairns Convention Centre 3,906
1–2
4
7 October
@ Illawarra
L 113–106
Will Cummings (28)
Mitch Creek (8)
Creek, Cummings (3)
Wollongong Entertainment Centre 3,590
1–3
5
14 October
Tasmania
W 86–85
Gary Browne (20)
Gary Browne (9)
Gary Browne (4)
John Cain Arena 6,017
2–3
6
19 October
@ Adelaide
W 85–102
Mitch Creek (23)
Alan Williams (13)
Gary Browne (8)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 6,870
3–3
7
21 October
Brisbane
W 96–73
Alan Williams (21)
Creek, Moller (7)
Browne, Williams (3)
John Cain Arena 5,552
4–3
8
28 October
New Zealand
W 103–100
Alan Williams (21)
Alan Williams (13)
Gary Browne (8)
John Cain Arena 6,195
5–3 :
November: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
9
2 November
@ Brisbane
L 108–92
Gary Browne (25)
Gary Browne (8)
Gary Browne (5)
Nissan Arena 2,834
5–4
10
5 November
Cairns
W 91–78
Mitch Creek (21)
Alan Williams (15)
Gary Browne (8)
John Cain Arena 7,511
6–4
11
12 November
Melbourne
L 83–92
Mitch Creek (19)
Craig Moller (9)
Browne, Cummings (4)
John Cain Arena 10,175
6–5
12
17 November
@ Adelaide
L 96–93
Alan Williams (23)
Alan Williams (11)
Ben Ayre (4)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 7,833
6–6 :
December: 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
2 December
New Zealand
W 90–79
Mitch Creek (26)
Alan Williams (14)
Alan Williams (8)
John Cain Arena 6,244
7–6
14
10 December
@ Sydney
W 94–104
Mitch Creek (33)
Alan Williams (15)
Gary Browne (9)
Sydney SuperDome 13,197
8–6
15
14 December
Melbourne
L 78–106
Gary Browne (22)
Alan Williams (16)
Mitch Creek (6)
John Cain Arena 7,672
8–7
16
16 December
Illawarra
L 72–100
Alan Williams (17)
Alan Williams (12)
Gary Browne (6)
Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium 3,082
8–8
17
22 December
@ Cairns
L 94–75
Alan Williams (29)
Alan Williams (8)
Gary Browne (6)
Cairns Convention Centre 3,651
8–9
18
25 December
@ Tasmania
W 77–85
Browne, Nader (20)
Gary Browne (11)
Gary Browne (6)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
9–9
19
30 December
@ Brisbane
L 95–83
Matt Kenyon (14)
Creek, Williams (11)
Ben Ayre (5)
Nissan Arena 4,208
9–10 :
January: 1–5 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
20
5 January
@ Illawarra
L 116–78
Mitch Creek (24)
Mitch Creek (7)
Owen Foxwell (5)
Wollongong Entertainment Centre 4,079
9–11
21
13 January
@ Perth
L 100–79
Mitch Creek (36)
Gorjok Gak (11)
Ben Ayre (4)
Perth Arena 12,859
9–12
22
17 January
Adelaide
L 85–110
Abdel Nader (18)
Gorjok Gak (8)
Ayre, Foxwell (3)
State Basketball Centre 3,422
9–13
23
20 January
@ New Zealand
L 106–75
Mitch Creek (27)
Mitch Creek (7)
Ayre, Te Rangi (4)
Spark Arena 4,940
9–14
24
25 January
Sydney
W 104–98
Mitch Creek (31)
Mitch Creek (10)
Owen Foxwell (6)
State Basketball Centre 3,422
10–14
25
27 January
Perth
L 91–103
Mitch Creek (29)
Gorjok Gak (8)
Ben Ayre (8)
State Basketball Centre 3,422
10–15 :
February: 0–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
3 February
@ Melbourne
L 99–83
Abdel Nader (18)
Gorjok Gak (11)
Ben Ayre (9)
John Cain Arena 10,175
10–16
27
10 February
Tasmania
L 67–94
Abdel Nader (19)
Gorjok Gak (7)
Ayre, Nader (3)
John Cain Arena 10,175
10–17
28
17 February
Sydney
L 67–122
Owen Foxwell (16)
Kody Stattmann (5)
three players (3)
John Cain Arena 8,279
10–18 :
2023–24 season schedule :

## Transactions
### Re-signed

| Player | Date Signed | Contract |
| Alan Williams | 7 February 2023 | 2-year deal |
| Owen Foxwell | 14 March 2023 | 2-year deal |
| Anzac Rissetto | 17 March 2023 | 2-year deal (club option) |
| Gary Browne | 26 July 2023 | 1-year deal |

### Additions

| Player | Date Signed | Contract | Former team |
| Gorjok Gak | 10 April 2023 | 1-year deal | Brisbane Bullets |
| Matt Kenyon | 17 April 2023 | 2-year deal | Tasmania JackJumpers |
| Rhys Vague | 24 April 2023 | 1-year deal | Kagawa Five Arrows |
| Ben Ayre | 2 May 2023 | 2-year deal | Cairns Taipans |
| Austin Rapp | 14 June 2023 | 1-year deal | Knox Raiders |
| Kody Stattmann | 28 July 2023 | 1-year deal | Brisbane Bullets |
| Craig Moller | 2 August 2023 | 1-year deal | Würzburg Baskets |
| Will Cummings | 11 August 2023 | 1-year deal | Zhejiang Lions |
| Tyler Cook | 11 September 2023 | 1-year deal (NRP) | Salt Lake City Stars |
| Daniel Johnson | 9 November 2023 | 1-year deal (NRP) | Adelaide 36ers |
| Abdel Nader | 12 December 2023 | 1-year deal | Phoenix Suns |

### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | Date Left | New team |
| Kyle Adnam | Free agent | 28 February 2023 | Wellington Saints |
| Junior Madut | Free agent | 2 May 2023 | Tasmania JackJumpers |
| Dane Pineau | Free agent | 20 June 2023 | New Zealand Breakers |
| Ryan Broekhoff | Retired | 12 July 2023 | n/a |
| Trey Kell | Free agent | 31 July 2023 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix |
| Tohi Smith-Milner | Free agent | 26 August 2023 | Adelaide 36ers |
| Tyler Cook | Released (NRP) | 17 October 2023 | Joventut Badalona |
| Daniel Johnson | Released (NRP) | 8 December 2023 | Taiwan Beer Leopards |
| Will Cummings | Released | 8 December 2023 | TBC |

## Awards
### Club awards

* Club MVP: Mitch Creek
* Community Player of the Year: Owen Foxwell