THE Bendigo Braves roster will have an added Western Australian flavour following the signing of former NBL development player Marshall Nelson.
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A 187cm point guard, Nelson joins the Braves after a standout season in the State Basketball League (SBL) with the Perth Redbacks, where he averaged an incredible 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game, while shooting 47.6 per cent from the field.
In 24 games with the Redbacks, Nelson did not score below 10 points in any game; scored 30-plus points in 11 games; reached 40-plus points in three games; and produced three double-double performances, including one effort of 41 points and 13 assists.
Nelson, a NBL development player with Illawarra Hawks in 2017-18, is the second Western Australian native signed by the Braves for the 2020 NBL1 season.
He joins Lochlan Cummings, who spent the 2019 New Zealand NBL season with the Tasmanian Southern Huskies, and was a former Perth Wildcats development player in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
Two-time Braves MVP Ray Turner, who has re-signed for a third season, also spent a season in the SBL in 2017 with Willeton Tigers before joining the club.
Second-year Braves head coach David Hogan believed Nelson would add another element to the playing group.
"He is capable of scoring in multiple ways, as well as being able to facilitate plays when needed," he said.
"Marshall also suited up for the Canberra Gunners in the 2018 SEABL season and faced the Braves once before.
"What he is able to do as a player will sure surprise the league, and I'm excited to see it come to fruition."
Nelson's arrival in Bendigo will be delayed, while he fulfills his contract with Jamtland Basket in the Basketligan Swedish league.
The 26-year-old is averaging 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists, while shooting 40 per cent from the field.
Nelson, runner-up in last season's SBL league MVP award, is anticipating a smooth transition into the NBL1.
"I've played with some of the guys on team in the past like Ray Turner and Jake Lloyd, so it will be really welcoming coming into a program with familiar faces," he said.
I'm really excited to be playing for the Braves in the 2020 season.
"I saw where they finished last season and I'm happy to be a part of something special."
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