The place to be: Walton gets Phoenix wish

A championship has so far alluded the South East Melbourne Phoenix since their inception into the NBL in 2019, but could a new-look, star-studded roster be the recipe for success?

There’s still plenty of time until the NBL25 campaign gets underway, but the Phoenix have already secured the signatures of Nathan Sobey, Jordan Hunter, Angus Glover, and most recently, import Derrick Walton Jr. 

Ben Ayre, Matt Kenyon and Owen Foxwell remain from last year’s roster, while Mitch Creek has been the main man in the heartland since day dot. 

It says a lot that Walton Jr, a champion with the Sydney Kings in NBL23, All-NBL First Team member and Grand Final MVP, actively reached out to Creek to express his interest in joining the Phoenix.

“I was looking at rosters … people probably don’t know I’m really a student of the game,” Walton Jr told the club’s website. 

“… then it just popped in my head. I really enjoyed being in the NBL because of the atmosphere, the competition and overall I understand what I can do in the league. 

“I just reached out and told him (Creek) how serious I was about coming back, and then our roster of course … Jordi Hunter and Angus Glover (former Kings teammates).

“To be coming back to a team that I reached out to, it’s exciting and it’s very calming as a player, because all you really want to do is go somewhere where you’re wanted and excited to be.”

Creek and Walton Jr famously combined for 91 points, 46 and 45 respectively, in a South East Melbourne/Sydney clash in 2022.

“It honestly just happened organically … it wasn’t anything other than me telling Mitch I was interested, and then me calling my agent and then me getting on a phone call, and then from there, it kind of was just smooth sailing,” Walton Jr said. 

Walton Jr played 33 games across the NBL23 season, averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds.

He most recently played for Chinese side Zhejiang Lions, alongside former Taipan Cam Oliver.