The Splash: Are more returns in store for NBL26?

• Several NBL returns could happen this season if what we're hearing is true
• An injury blow for a rookie during preseason
• More groups interested in Brisbane WNBL return?

Australian basketball never sleeps. Rumours spread like wildfire and our community is always ripe for gossip.

basketball.com.au has sources everywhere, so we hear about signings, controversy, hard-hitting news.

We are here for it — the good, the fun, the funny and the bad.

Here are some of the things we're hearing.

TROPICS OR TITLE DEFENCE?

After a season on a two-way deal in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Jack McVeigh secured a release from the final year of his contract with the Tasmania JackJumpers — the team he led to the 2024 NBL championship.

ESPN's Olgun Uluc reported McVeigh had several options with returning to the NBA is still a possibility, European offers were still on the table and if he did return to the NBL, it was between the Cairns Taipans and defending champions the Illawarra Hawks.

Well, basketball.com.au is hearing one NBL club is winning the race, or may have already won the race for the 2024 London Olympian's signature.

Whether it's being part of a revolution in Far North Queensland or trying to help the Hawks build an NBL dynasty, McVeigh's signature would be a massive coup for either club. And after taking his shot-making to a new level with the Boomers and then also in the G League as well as Summer League, we can't wait to see him back in the league.

ROOKIE BIG MAN TO MISS NBL26 TIP-OFF

A rookie big man who signed in the NBL after a successful four-year college career in the US could be set to miss up to the first month of the season through injury.

Who is it? Well, readers can STOP thinking we're going to give it away because we're not. But it will be a big blow for this certain team, where this signing is expected to play a significant role despite it only being his first year in the pros.

This certain team needs a good start for their fans more than anything else. However, they are expected to sign an injury replacement player to cover the loss.

BIWALI'S SUMMER LEAGUE SHOWCASE

Biwali Bayles joining the New York Knicks for NBA Summer League in Las Vegas came as a surprise to many, considering he hadn't played in the NBL on a full roster contract since the 2022-23 season with the Sydney Kings and had just been plying his trade in the NBL1 East with the Sydney Comets. He did spend season 2023-24 as a development player with the Illawarra Hawks.

But Bayles took his opportunities in Vegas and grabbed onto them with both hands, showing he can be a defensive terror as he earned more and more minutes as the week went on.

In particular, Bayles had his best game against the Indiana Pacers before leaving the court with a knee injury following a desperate attempt to stop an alley-oop -a successful attempt at that.

We've heard the former Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence scholarship holder impressed coaches and scouts in the building at the Thomas and Mack Center to the point where his name had even been thrown around for a potential Exhibit 10 deal.

At the very least, Bayles did enough to impress pro teams in Australia and different parts of the world and should not be starved of options for next season.

MORE INTEREST FOR BRISBANE WNBL RETURN

We reported earlier this year, the Brisbane Bullets wanted to enter a WNBL team for the 2026-27 season. It is also widely known that expansion is on the agenda for the WNBL with Tasmania and Brisbane expected to be the next two teams to join the new era of Australia's longest female professional sporting competition.

You'd expect the Bullets to earn that license for Brisbane to return to the league for the first time since 1996, but we're hearing another bid group has put their hand up to lead a team from Queensland's capital.

It is believed a group with significant financial backing could be pushing their case as well.

While we're sure more details will come to hand in the near future, it is great news to see more interest in the WNBL and more interest in bringing a Brisbane team back, which is desperately needed.

WNBL LEGEND'S POTENTIAL MOVE TO CHINA

Rumour has it a four-time WNBL champion, some may have been as a player and some may have been as a coach, has received interest to be a head coach in the women's league in China.

It is not unusual to see Australian coaches desired in China, most recently it was announced former Townsville Croc and Perth Wildcat as well as 2012 London Olympian Peter Crawford was stepping down from his NBL1 North coaching role to pursue opportunities in China. But apart from WNBL legend Tom Maher, it has been rare to see women's basketball coaches from Australia move there.

This particular Aussie coach was on the shortlist for a coaching role in China but it didn't eventuate.

WIGNESS' NBL DOMINANCE TO PAY OFF?

Lightning-fast guard Tamuri Wigness hasn't played in the NBL since his two seasons with the Brisbane Bullets in 2020-22. Since then, he struggled to regain the form which saw him become one of the most highly regarded juniors across international basketball in his younger years.

The injury bug then hit Wigness hard, spending some time away from basketball to get his body right and my word, has he come back with a vengeance.

The Torres Straight Islands product and former Cairns State High School student has shot into contention for the NBL1 North MVP award after leading the Southern Districts Spartans back from a poor first half of the season to the playoffs and now to a grand final qualifier following a comeback victory over the Mackay Meteors.

Wigness has won an NBL1 North Player of the Week award and has averaged 25.3 points, 6.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 50.3% from the field with the Spartans. More impressively, he has improved dramatically from the three-point line, shooting the long ball at 39.8% this season.

Word is, he could be set to be rewarded for his career-best form with a return to the NBL. Where that is? Fans, especially those who have called for NBL teams to sign Wigness, will have to wait and see.

WNBL GUARD OFF TO NEW ZEALAND

The WNBL lost a bunch of key talents to the New Zealand women's league last season, something that decreased the depth of Australian teams across the league.

Under the revamped WNBL, many of those talents have come back to Australia in a major boost for the competition. BUT, some are still moving across the Tasman to showcase their skills.

While some have already been announced, another point guard who has played several seasons in the WNBL, is also believed to have signed in the Tauihi league.

RESIDENCY COMING FOR FORMER NBL STAR?

Which former NBL star could be set for a return to the league if he is able to get his Australian residency sorted?

MYSTERY SOLVED

Last month we asked the question that was on so many people's minds, especially in Western Australia — why isn't Johnny Narkle in the NBL?

Well, that question has been answered and the problem has been fixed, with the Geraldton star reportedly signing with the Illawarra Hawks as a development player, according to Lachy Reid from 10 News First.

A huge well done to a player who deserves it!

If you have a tip or a tidbit, email info@basketball.com.au or hit us up on any of our social channels — confidentiality is guaranteed.