After one of the most challenging off-seasons of his career, former NBL champion Sean Macdonald has found a new home, returning to the city where his basketball journey began after signing a long-term deal with Melbourne United.
The 26-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the club, joining as a Nominated Replacement Player (NRP) for the upcoming season while he continues his rehabilitation. He will then be elevated to United’s full roster in years two and three, with the final season, covering 2028-29, included as a mutual option.
The signing brings an emotional few months to a close for Macdonald.
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In March, the Australian Boomer re-signed with the Tasmania JackJumpers on a one-year contract, only to suffer another devastating setback weeks later when he partially re-injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a training session.
The injury came after he had already missed the entire NBL26 season, having ruptured the same ACL while representing the Boomers in an exhibition game against the University of Colorado on July 31 last year.
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As a result, Macdonald has played just nine NBL games across the past two seasons, with his last appearance coming in January 2025.
In late May, Macdonald and the JackJumpers mutually agreed to part ways, allowing him to pursue a fresh opportunity elsewhere.
It marked the end of a memorable chapter in Tasmania, where he arrived as a Development Player during the club’s inaugural 2020-21 season before becoming an integral member of the JackJumpers’ historic NBL24 championship-winning team. He also claimed the league’s Most Improved Player award during his time with the club.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 19: Sean Macdonald of the JackJumpers poses after winning NBL24 Most Improved Player during the 2024 NBL MVP Awards Night at CIEL The Venue on February 19, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NBL)Source: Getty Images
After re-signing, suffering another serious injury and then departing the JackJumpers within the space of a few months, Macdonald now has the chance to focus solely on his recovery, knowing his next chapter will begin back in Melbourne, where he first fell in love with the game as a junior with the Dandenong Rangers.
“I’m stoked to be joining United,” MacDonald said.
“It’s really awesome knowing that a club’s invested in me as a player long term and think highly of the player that I am and what I’ll return to be.
“I think the nature of this contract is beneficial and it doesn’t put any time pressure on me to be back sooner than I should be. It’s going to be really great to lock in on the process day-by-day, get more confident, and take my time getting back to full strength.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 23: Sean Macdonald of the Jackjumpers passes under pressure from Chris Goulding of United during the round 13 NBL match between Melbourne United and Tasmania Jackjumpers at John Cain Arena, on December 23, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“The goal is that I’ll be a better athlete when I come back than I was before these injuries. I’m just keen to put together a few good seasons of really good basketball, refine my skills and work on some new things to be more effective on the court.
“Coming home, it’s really amazing, especially because United has such a great fan base. They pile into John Cain Arena and make it loud, so I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Macdonald will also be surrounded by familiar faces at Melbourne.
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Head coach Jacob Chance helped guide his development during his first two seasons with the JackJumpers, while teammate Kyle Bowen has shared plenty of success alongside him. The pair won both the FIBA Under-17 Oceania Championship and the Under-18 Asia Championship with Australia before enjoying a strong 2025 campaign together at Canterbury in New Zealand’s NBL.
He will also reunite with former JackJumpers teammate and fellow NBL24 champion Fabijan Krslovic.
Sean Macdonald of the JackJumpers, Anthony Drmic of the JackJumpers and Fabijan Krslovic of the JackJumpers pose with the Championship Trophy after winning game five of the NBL Championship Grand Final Series between Melbourne United and Tasmania JackJumpers . (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
United High Performance Manager Steve McAdam said Macdonald’s rehabilitation was progressing strongly and believes the club can help him return at an elite level.
“Sean has had really positive medical reports and is already in a good spot with his rehabilitation,” McAdam said.
“Our High Performance team can now use the next few months to build off the foundation of work he’s already put in and progress him back to competitive basketball.
“Long term rehab provides a great opportunity to maximise an athlete’s potential, as it gives us a chance to further enhance their strengths.
“We’re looking forward to Sean being able to return at an elite level and contribute as a United player for years to come.”
HOBART, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 5: Sean MacDonald of Tasmania JackJumpers during the round 15 NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and South East Melbourne Phoenix at MyState Bank Arena, on January 5, 2025, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Linda Higginson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
United head coach Jacob Chance said bringing Macdonald back to Melbourne had been a major priority and emphasised there would be no pressure for him to accelerate his recovery.
“To bring someone of Sean’s character, the human being that both he and his fiancé Elle are, is a huge addition to our club for the long-term future,” Chance explained.
“Bringing Sean back to Melbourne was a massive focus. To have a scenario like this where he’s picked us as his best environment to come in and trust our medical staff and trust our coaching staff to get him back to 100% is great.
“There’s no pressure on him to rush his rehab. He can take all the time he needs to get back on the court in the best condition possible.
“He’s going to be super hungry and motivated to try and get himself back to a level that we’ve all seen in the NBL. He can really compete and contribute towards Championship level teams, so this is a great outcome for the club.”
NBL club Melbourne United Head Coach Jacob Chance. Picture: Supplied/MU MediaSource: Supplied
With the addition of Macdonald, Melbourne United is edging closer to finalising its roster for the 2026-27 NBL season, with three import spots still to be filled. He joins Kyle Bowen, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Joe Ingles, Fabijan Krslovic, Malith Machar and Sam Waardenburg on the roster, alongside Development Player Christian D’Angelo.