Loe joins United as Nominated Replacement Player

Melbourne United is excited to announce that 173-game NBL veteran Rob Loe will join the team for the start of the NBL24 season as a Nominated Replacement Player.

The kiwi big-man will take to the court while Jo Lual-Acuil Jr recovers from a wrist injury.

Loe, 31, is coming off another successful season with the New Zealand Breakers, where he averaged 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while remaining a threat from beyond the arc, shooting the ball at over 43% from three-point range.

While the 211cm center announced his retirement from the NBL a little over a month ago, he told MU Media that the opportunity to play under Dean Vickerman for a contending team was too good to pass up.

“It’s an opportunity I couldn’t really pass up, I’m really excited for it,” he said.

“Obviously I’ve been retired for a few weeks now but when Dean got in contact with me about coming in as a potential replacement for Jo and to help the boys with the start of the season, it was really appealing.

“To be able to help what is a really successful club try to achieve their goals while continuing to play basketball in the interim is something that I had to jump at.

“Melbourne’s got the highest expectations in the league in terms of Championship pedigree. I’ve jumped at this role because I’m fit, I’m coming off a reasonably strong NZNBL season and this is a short-term role where I can bring my family with me and they can enjoy a bit of a holiday while I’m working.”

Recently Loe has been playing for Auckland Tuatara in the NZNBL, where he has played perhaps the best basketball of his career, averaging 20.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.9 steals per game while ending the season as the league’s Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Forward, Most Outstanding Kiwi Forward/Centre, and rebounding champion, as well as being named in the All-Star Five.

Having played against and alongside Loe for nearly two decades dating back to high school, Shea Ili spoke highly of his former Tall Blacks teammate.

“It’s going to be great to have Rob come over and fit right in,” he said.

“He’s a high IQ player that will stretch the floor and help keep our offence flowing with his shooting and passing, which is exactly what we need while our star big-man is out injured.

“Defensively his size and knowledge on how to defend at the level of the screen and down in the post will go a long way in terms of helping me and the other guards, so he’s a great addition to this group.”

These sentiments were echoed by United Head Coach Dean Vickerman.

“In this short-term recruitment, he provides exactly what we need in terms of understanding our league, understanding our scouts and understanding how we play. That combined with his leadership made him someone that we wanted to bring into our program,” he said.

“Coming off a dominant NZNBL season, we know he’s going to bring a lot to us on the court. His skill package as a stretch five, good rim protector, good rebounder and quality person made him attractive to us.”

Loe is expected to join United’s playing group in the coming weeks.