It has been one of the busiest weeks of the NBL off-season, and two more clubs have now joined the flurry of roster moves. The Perth Wildcats have added an Injury Replacement Player as they continue their search for a star point guard, while the New Zealand Breakers have secured their first import signing of the off-season.

All of this and more in the latest edition of NBL Daily.

BREAKERS SIGN DEFENSIVE-WING.

The New Zealand Breakers have completed another key piece of their NBL27 roster, signing 6’6” forward Josiah-Jordan James for the 2026-27 season.

The Charleston, South Carolina native arrives with a reputation as a versatile, defence-first wing, adding another dimension to a Breakers roster already loaded with offensive firepower.

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James, 25, spent five seasons at the University of Tennessee between 2019 and 2024, where he established himself as one of the premier defensive wings in college basketball.

Across 144 games, he averaged 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting 38.0% from the field.

He departed Tennessee ranked third in program history for wins (114), appearances (144) and minutes played (4,068), while also becoming just the second player in school history, alongside Vincent Yarbrough, to record at least 1,250 points, 800 rebounds, 250 assists, 150 steals and 100 blocks.

Josiah-Jordan James #30 of the Tennessee Volunteers defends a shot by Dylan Disu #1 of the Texas Longhorns. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

James was considered one of the more intriguing defensive prospects heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, but opted to return to Tennessee for another season after undergoing knee surgery and recovering from a torn ligament in the finger on his shooting hand. The decision ultimately allowed him to return fully fit and further strengthen his draft credentials.

After declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft, James went undrafted but was later signed by the Indiana Pacers before being waived ahead of the season. He subsequently joined the franchise’s NBA G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants.

Across 42 G League appearances during the 2024-25 season, James averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 23.6 minutes per game while shooting an impressive 42.8% from three-point range (60-of-140).

Josiah-Jordan James #10 of the Indiana Mad Ants looks on against the Grand Rapids Gold. (Photo by Richard Prepetit/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Later that year, James signed a two-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel, competing in both the Israeli Premier League and the EuroCup.

It was there that another Breakers connection emerged, with James becoming teammates with former Breakers forward and All-NBL First Team selection Anthony Lamb, who played for the club during the 2023-24 season before suffering a season-ending injury against the Perth Wildcats.

Anthony Lamb and Josiah-Jordan James playing for Hapoel Jerusalem,Source: Getty Images

James appeared in 19 EuroCup games, averaging 18.7 minutes per contest. While his offensive role was limited, attempting just 3.1 shots per game, he established himself as a reliable defensive presence.

He also featured in nine Israeli Premier League games, averaging 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 26.5 minutes per game while shooting an outstanding 45.7% from beyond the arc, further highlighting the growth in his perimeter game.

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Breakers President of Basketball Operations Dillon Boucher praised James’ ability to impact games at both ends of the floor.

“Josiah-Jordan James is the exact type of import we wanted to bring into our system for NBL27,” he said.

“He plays with immense physical toughness, defends multiple positions at an elite level, has a sweet shooting touch and brings high-level European and collegiate experience.”

Breakers owner Marc Mitchell echoed those sentiments, highlighting the qualities James will bring to Gordon Herbert’s squad.

“Under Head Coach Gordon Herbert, we want relentless competitors who impact winning in every column of the stat sheet.

“Josiah possesses incredible basketball IQ, leadership, and motor. Breaker Nation is going to love the versatility and grit he brings to Spark Arena.”

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James joins Parker Jackson-Cartwright, DJ Vasiljevic, Izayah Le’afa, Preston Le Gassick, Kouat Noi, Sam Mennenga, Carlin Davison, Reuben Te Rangi and Anzac Rissetto on the Breakers’ roster.

New Zealand is now just one import signing away from completing its squad for the 2026-27 season.

WILDCATS LAND NBL1 IMPORT

The Perth Wildcats have added extra insurance to their roster ahead of the 2026-27 NBL season, signing NBL1 North Defensive Player of the Year James Whitt as an Injury Replacement Player.

While the Wildcats are still searching for another import, the addition of Whitt provides the club with an experienced, low-risk option capable of stepping into the line-up should injuries arise during the season.

The 29-year-old, 6’3” guard arrives after one of the strongest campaigns of his career with the Gold Coast Rollers, where he established himself as one of the NBL1 North’s premier two-way players.

Jimmy Whitt of the Gold Coast Rollers. Picture: CatchnKissPhotographySource: News Corp Australia

Whitt played collegiately at Arkansas and SMU between 2015 and 2020, finishing his final season at Arkansas by averaging 14.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 36.9 minutes across 32 games.

Following college, Whitt spent time in the NBA G League with the Cleveland Charge and Santa Cruz Warriors. Across 29 appearances, he averaged 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 13.4 minutes per game.

The signing as an Injury Replacement Player may raise a few eyebrows, but it follows a similar approach to former NBL import Todd Withers, who filled the same role with the Perth Wildcats for the 2024-25 campaign.

Adding an import in this role allows the Wildcats to bring in an experienced player at a lower cost while giving him the opportunity to train with the squad, build chemistry and remain ready to step in should one of the club’s imports suffer an injury.

The biggest question surrounding Whitt’s game is his perimeter shooting.

Throughout the 2026 NBL1 North season, he attempted just two three-pointers, continuing a trend that dates back to his college career. Across 127 NCAA games, Whitt made just 16 of his 66 three-point attempts, averaging only 0.5 attempts per game.

Jimmy Whitt #24 of the Arkansas Razorbacks. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

In today’s game, particularly in the NBL, outside shooting is often considered an essential skill for guards. However, Whitt has built his career around a different style of play.

Rather than relying on the three-point shot, he thrives attacking the basket and operating in the mid-range, where he shot an outstanding 62.4% during his NBL1 campaign.

Whether that style translates successfully to the NBL remains to be seen, but after a dominant season in NBL1 North, Whitt has earned the opportunity to prove himself at the next level.