United add Bradtke as Development Player on two-year deal

Melbourne United is excited to announce the signing of Jensen Bradtke on a two-year contract ahead of the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 season. 

The first year of the deal will see Bradtke join the team as a Development Player, while the second carries a club option to elevate the Sandringham local into the full roster.

Standing 208cm tall with a developing outside shot, as well as a strong ability to finish above the rim, Bradtke is able to impact the game at both ends of the floor.

This has been on full display in the NBL1 North, where he has played a starring role for the Gold Coast Rollers, averaging 21.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, while connecting on 41% of his long-range looks.

Coming off his first NBL campaign as a Development Player with the Brisbane Bullets, where he appeared in 13 games, the big-man is excited for this next step in his professional basketball journey.

“I'm over the moon to be a part of this United organisation,” Bradtke said. 

“I know what they're about. I’ve worked closely with the club in previous offseasons, and I’ve got some family history here, so it's pretty cool to be coming back to Melbourne and be a part of this team.

“I can’t wait to be able to go in every single day with the boys and just train and work hard on the court.”

Growing up in Melbourne, Jensen comes from an elite sporting background, with father Mark registering 10 All-NBL selections, winning three NBL Championships, appearing in four Olympics, as well as being a member of the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame, while mother Nicole claimed a pair of Grand Slam mixed-doubles titles, as well as an Olympic Bronze Medal across her tennis career.

Mark Bradtke’s #50 Melbourne Tigers jersey also hangs from the rafters inside John Cain Arena for all Melbourne United games.

After spending time at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, Bradtke took his development abroad, working for a season as a redshirt freshman with St Mary’s before transferring to Montana University.

Looking at how the new addition can help on the court, Head Coach Jacob Chance touched on Bradtke’s growing skillset in the frontcourt.

“I think he's really motivated to prove that he can be a contributing NBL player here in the next coming years,” Chance explained.

“I'm excited to welcome someone with his kind of skill set and size into our program. It's going to help us on a daily basis, and I think we're really going to be a great environment for him.

“He’s going to be able to come in, practice, compete and get after it with our more senior players, and that’s going to make him better.”

Bradtke joins Christian D’Angelo as two of United’s Development Players for NBL27, and a wider roster including Kyle Bowen, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Joe Ingles, Fabijan Krslovic, Sean Macdonald, Malith Machar and Sam Waardenburg.

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