The Brisbane Bullets have officially farewelled Casey Prather, confirming that he will not return to the club NBL27 following the completion of their roster with the signing of import Jaylin Williams.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
The Bullets paid tribute to Prather on social media, thanking him for his contribution both on and off the court during his three seasons with the club.
“From all the moments on the floor to the tremendous impact off it. Thank you for everything you have given the Bullets and the Brisbane community, Casey.”
Prather first joined Brisbane during the 2023-24 season as an injury replacement, arriving after an injury-plagued stint with Israeli club Hapoel Eilat.
Before those setbacks, Prather had enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, setting a club scoring record for Hapoel Eilat in 2020 while earning league MVP honours and an All-League selection. His campaign ended with a serious knee injury suffered during the semi-finals, and despite signing a new two-year deal, he endured further setbacks, including a patella tendon injury and a fractured kneecap.
Casey Prather in 2020 playing for Hapoel Eilat. (Photo Credit: Basket.co.il/Getty Images)Source: getty
His time in Israel became even more challenging when he was forced to personally pursue approximately $100,000 in unpaid wages, travelling back to the country during an escalating conflict to resolve the matter.
Prather’s first stint with the Bullets lasted just seven games, where he averaged 6.7 points in 14.8 minutes before injury again cut his season short.
He returned for the 2024-25 campaign looking like a completely different player.
NBL Daily: Darius Days returns to Hawks as Milton Doyle, NBA veteran Jae Crowder emerge as targets
Across 27 appearances, Prather averaged a career-best 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting an outstanding 39.9% from three-point range.
The improvement in his perimeter shooting was remarkable. During his first five NBL seasons, including championship campaigns with Perth and Melbourne, Prather made just 79 three-pointers. In NBL25 alone, he knocked down 69 triples from 173 attempts, highlighting how he had adapted his game and evolved into a genuine three-point threat.
Casey Prather of the Bullets in action during the round seven NBL match between Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, on November 01, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
He carried that momentum into the following season and was producing MVP-calibre basketball through Brisbane’s opening 12 games, averaging a new career-high 24.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 49.3% from the field.
Unfortunately, his season came to an abrupt end on November 12, 2025, when he suffered another knee injury against the New Zealand Breakers. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season, with Prather undergoing hardware-related knee surgery the following week.
READ MORE: Legend’s uncertain future, modern GOAT’s maiden call-up: Predicted Boomers line-up on road to LA
Since then, the 35-year-old has been focused on his rehabilitation, working towards earning another opportunity in the NBL or overseas.
What’s next for Prather?
In an exclusive announcement, NBA, WNBA and NBL sideline reporter Ariana Prather revealed that Casey Prather will travel to Japan to take part in Nagasaki Velca’s pre-season campaign.
The opportunity reunites him with newly appointed head coach Dean Vickerman, who recently left Melbourne United after several successful seasons to take on a new challenge in Japan.
Prather and Vickerman share a strong history, having won the 2017-18 NBL championship together with Melbourne United. Across two stints with the club, separated by a season away, Prather appeared in 29 games.
Melbourne United head coach Dean Vickerman and Casey Prather of Melbourne United celebrate the victory of game five of the NBL Grand Final series between Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers at Hisense Arena on March 31, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: getty
The opportunity in Japan represents an important step in his comeback, allowing him to showcase the progress he has made in his recovery. Reports suggest several NBL and Japanese clubs will be closely monitoring his performances as he looks to secure his next contract.
Japan’s pre-season is scheduled to begin in late August.