Feature image via: Jason Dan
Obiri Kyei and Tom Wilson have been earmarked for returns to the NBL by ESPN insider Olgun Uluc.
One of NBL1 East’s top performers has been earmarked for a potential return to the NBL by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, who says there is concrete interest in the services of Obi Kyei for the NBL25 season.
Kyei last appeared in the NBL as a member of the Adelaide 36ers’ roster in NBL20 and has starred for the Sydney Comets in the early stages of the NBL1 East season.
In four games for the Comets, he averaged 21.7 points and 15.2 rebounds per game for the fifth-placed team with a 3-1 record.
Obiri Kyei sends that into orbit ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 13, 2024
Watch NBL1 East via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/lYAHq5hOdY
This season has represented a return to the court for Kyei, who last played for the Logan Thunder back in 2022, prior to which he had played professionally in Spain, Germany and England.
“Obi Kyei is playing with the Comets in NBL1 East with Biwali Bayles, and I’m told at least one team has reached out to see if he’s interested in a return,” Uluc reported on The Marketplace.
“He played for the 36ers a few years back, left basketball to pursue other things in the creative space, and now he’s playing really well in the NBL1 East – he’s a walking double-double in that league.
"There’s at least one team that’s reached out and is gauging if he wants to return. There are a lot of teams who have been looking for that backup four spot and someone like him at 6’9” who brings nose-to-the-ball energy to the table.
“He does things a lot of those backup fours on the market don’t do. It wouldn’t surprise me if more teams started to reach out to Obi Kyei.”
Kyei is not the only NBL1 player who is garnering NBL interest during the current free agency period, which kicked off last week.
Melbourne’s Tom Wilson who, like Kyei, is playing in a return season of NBL1 basketball is also reportedly being pursued.
Wilson represented the Sydney Kings in the NBL19 season before pursuing a football career with Collingwood in the AFL, where he played eight games in four seasons.
He’s a former SEABL MVP with the Melbourne Tigers and is currently averaging 16.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in NBL1 South.
Related: Tom Wilson: Returning to his first love
“I was at Tom Wilson’s game the other night, Melbourne vs Waverley with the tip-in buzzer-beater,” Uluc said.
“There’s something there as a spot-up shooter, and there’s something there athletically and size-wise, and he has a ton of experience in basketball.
“Perth is a team that is interested. While they filled one of those last spots with Elijah Pepper there is still interest from the Perth Wildcats in him and there is interest from the Brisbane Bullets as well.
“When you look at those final spots teams have to fill, it looks like he has a chance to fill one of those and there is still interest around the league in him.“It would surprise me in a big way if he’s not on an NBL team this season.”
TOM WILSON THREW IT DOWN ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) April 4, 2024
Watch the NBL1 South via https://t.co/NEk1I7kaV8 or the NBL1 App ?&? pic.twitter.com/r3PM4h0JIf
Kyei will next be in action for the Comets in NBL1 East on Thursday night against Norths Bears, while Wilson’s Tigers next hit the court in Melbourne’s NBL1 South clash against Eltham on Saturday night.
