Tara Murray
Rising basketball star Zac Triplett is bringing his talents back to Australia, signing with National Basketball League champions Melbourne United.
After one year at college in America, Triplett, who played his junior basketball with Keilor Thunder, decided the opportunity to turn pro in his home town was too good to refuse.
He signed a two-year development contract with the team, with the potential for that to be turned into a spot on the main list down the track.
Triplett said signing with United was the best thing for his career right now.
“It’s very exciting, with them obviously coming off winning the championship,” he said.
“It’s super exciting to be part of the side. I was with them during the grand final week after they came back from Perth.
“It’s unreal and they’re a great bunch of guys and great staff and coaches.”
Triplett is no stranger to United. He spent many hours around the club growing up and attending matches with best mate and fellow rising basketball star Josh Giddey.
He then spent time with the club before heading to college at the University of Portland. When he came back to Australia in April, United was one of his first points of contact.
He said one thing that impressed him about United was their focus on signing local players as development players with on eye on the future.
“I trained with the guys before I went off to college,” he said. “I messaged them when I got back from college asking to train with them again.
“I spoke with [coach] Dean [Vickerman] and [chief executive] Vince [Crivelli] about the option to stay with United. We then had a few meetings.
“Turning pro was the right option for me.”
Triplett said the decision to turn his back on college was a hard one with COVID-19 having made a big impact on his time in the US.
“COVID was tough with not being able to train as much as we liked. There were teams shut down and lockdowns,” he said.
“It was a good experience to have experienced something new. I just tried to get the best out of myself.
“Playing against teams like Gonzaga gives me confidence to play against men. Some of those guys will be drafted in the NBA in the future.”
Triplett hasn’t had to look far for advice on making the transition in the NBL, talking with Giddey daily.
Giddey, who is currently with the Australian Boomers training squad ahead of the Olympics, was the NBL’s rookie of the year this season.
He is on the radar of NBA clubs ahead of the upcoming draft.
“I’m best mates with him,” Triplett said of Giddey.
“I was in Adelaide with him for a bit when I came back to Australia and we worked out together before he went overseas with the Boomers.”
Triplett said down the track he was hoping to follow in Giddey’s footsteps and look at a potential move to the NBA.
