United signing "monumental" for NBL

Melbourne United sent shockwaves through the NBL last week when they announced the signing of NBA point guard Cole Anthony.

The 367-game NBA talent, who's played for both Orlando and Milwaukee, joins Jacob Chance's side on a one-year deal which will see him reunite with Joe Ingles.

The magnitude of the deal isn't lost on 2018 Melbourne United championship winner Pete Hooley.

"This is monumental for them [United], and for the League," Hooley said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

"This is a guy who people are saying is in his prime, but he's technically [not even in] his prime yet.

"Someone at such a young age who's choosing the NBL right now is massive."

Echoing his sentiments was fellow panellist, Olgun Uluc from ESPN.

"I've been picking my brain, and I've been picking everyone's brain on if we have seen anything like this before? I think the answer's no," Uluc said.

"I don't think we've seen a player who is theoretically either entering his prime or right in his prime choose to not return to the NBA.

"I'm told he had, at the very least, minimum offers on the table from NBA teams, but chose not to do that, chose not to go to a high-level European [team] or take an absolute bag in Asia somewhere. Instead he's come to the NBL.

"You wonder about the impact that Joe Ingles has had. You think the general professionalism of Melbourne United, and the League in general.

"The fact that the League is so well liked and consumed among Americans abroad, because it's English-speaking [plays into it]. Everyone's watching this stuff.

"I've never seen someone at this point in his respective career choose to come to the NBL. Usually it's like Andrew Bogut, JaVale McGee and Montrezl Harrell at the end of their careers, not in the middle of it - it's crazy."

Hooley believes that highlights the standing the Hungry Jack's NBL now has in global hoops.

"It [the Anthony signing] says a lot about what the NBL has grown to," Hooley said.

"Normally we see the likes of Matthew Dellavedova come back here, or young Next Stars use the League as an avenue to get looked at.

"We've never seen this, someone [of his pedigree] making the decision to play here, in a League that's so well respected and has so many eyeballs on it.

"NBA eyes are watching every single game, now more than ever before."

Joining Anthony and Ingles on United's roster for the Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season are Kyle Bowen, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Fabijan Krslovic, Sean Macdonald (NRP), Malith Machar, Josh Oduro, Luke Travers, Sam Waardenburg, Tom Wilson, Jensen Bradtke, Christian D'Angelo and Harry Neilson.

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