Adnam Brings 250-Game NBL Pedigree to the Hawks

The Big Barrel Hawks have confirmed the signing of Australian guard Kyle Adnam for the 2026 Sal’s NBL season, adding one of the most experienced players in Australasian basketball to their roster.

The 32 year old played his 250th Australian NBL game in October 2025, a milestone that places him among a rare group of players in that competition’s history. His career has taken him through some of Australia’s biggest clubs, being the Adelaide 36ers, Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Cairns Taipans, where he has spent the past two seasons.

His time at South East Melbourne Phoenix stands as a defining chapter. Adnam served as co-captain and helped guide the club to the NBL semi-finals, averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in one of his strongest individual seasons.

Adnam has strong ties to the New Zealand game, having previously represented both the Nelson Giants and the Wellington Saints in the Sal’s NBL. With the Giants, he averaged 16.6 points and 4.6 assists across 11 appearances. He arrives in Hawke’s Bay with a clear understanding of what this competition demands and what it takes to win in it.

Big Barrel Hawks General Manager Jarrod Kenny said the signing was one the club had been working toward. “Kyle is exactly the type of player we want in this environment,” Kenny said. “He’s played over 250 games at the highest level in Australia, he’s led teams, he’s been in pressure situations and he knows how to win. The experience and composure he brings to our group is exactly what we’re building toward.”

For Head Coach Will Lopez, working with Adnam again was a priority. Lopez coached Kyle at the Cairns Taipans for the past two seasons and knows his game inside out. “I’ve had Kyle in my programme for two years and I know exactly what he brings,” Lopez said. “He reads the game at an elite level, he makes the right decisions in big moments and he sets a standard in everything he does. When you have a player like that, it lifts the whole group. I’m really excited to be able to bring him here.”

Adnam said the chance to reunite with Lopez and compete for the Hawks was an opportunity he embraced. “Will and I have spent two years together at Cairns so when this came up it was a pretty easy call. I know what he builds and I know what this group is capable of. I can’t wait to get to Hawke’s Bay and get to work”

With the 2026 season marking 50 years since the first Hawks team took the court and 20 years since the club’s 2006 championship, the organisation has been clear in its intent to build a roster capable of competing at the top of the competition. Adnam’s signing adds another layer of experience, composure and winning pedigree to a group that is taking shape with genuine championship ambition.

Adnam now joins Alonzo Burton, Kobe Kara, Isaac Allan, Keanu Rasmussen, Clifton Bush III, Balin Casson, Dan Grida, Tommy Fergusson, Jacob Murphy, Ezrah Eagle and Chase Jeter as rostered players signed to date for the 2026 season.

Caption: Kyle Adnam in action for the Cairns Taipan in the Australian NBL.

ENDS

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