The NBL1 Central’s North Adelaide Rockets have made back-to-back signings, bringing Admad Al-ani as their men’s head coach and re-signing Paris Olympian Lauren Mansfield for the women’s side.
Coming off her debut in the Olympics, Mansfield is a welcome return to the group for the 2025 season. She missed the Finals due to Australia making their 3x3 debut, but her impact early in the season was critical in the Rockets making the top five.
In her six games, she averaged 15 points, 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds between her 3x3 commitments.
2025 will be Mansfield’s third season back with the Rockets, showing the value of playing in her hometown of Adelaide.
On the other side, after an injury-riddled season – the 2-16 men’s Rockets needed a shake-up.
Finishing 10th on the ladder, the team showed promise numerous times during the season – just lacking the firepower or health to close out games.
The offseason review started quickly for the Rockets, now elevating their assistant coach, Al-ani, to the top role.
Since arriving in Australia Ahmed has coached as an assistant at NBL1 level at South Adelaide as well as overseeing the basketball program at Glenunga International High School in 2019.
He has worked with the Mark Davis Camps program and operates his own business providing specialist basketball training. Ahmed has been with North Adelaide since 2019 as an assistant NBL1 coach and working with our junior boys programs.
