Tasmania JackJumpers guard suffers re-injury after re-signing, Adelaide defend Wells, news, highlights

It’s been a dramatic stretch across the NBL, with Sean Macdonald’s comeback dealt a cruel setback after the Tasmania JackJumpers guard re-injured his ACL just days after re-signing, while in Adelaide, the 36ers have moved swiftly to shut down speculation around head coach Mike Wells, with General Manager Matt Weston labelling the rumours “comical” and reaffirming the club’s commitment after a near-championship season.

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

JACKJUMPERS STAR RE-INJURES ACL

Just ten days after re-signing with the Tasmania JackJumpers on a one-year deal, and fresh off a serious ACL injury to his left knee, Sean Macdonald has suffered another setback, re-injuring the same ligament during a training session.

The club confirmed the incident occurred on Tuesday, with Macdonald now consulting medical staff, including his surgeon, to determine the next steps in his recovery.

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In a club statement, General Manager of Basketball Operations Darren Smith described the news as a crushing blow.

“It’s devastating, there’s no other word for it,” Smith said.

“Sean has done everything right in his recovery and was on the verge of returning to the court, so for this to happen now is heart-breaking.

“The club and his teammates have wrapped their arms around him, and we’ll support him every step of the way.”

Smith added that the organisation would continue shaping its roster ahead of free agency later this month.

“We’re still in the early stages of building the squad, so we have time and flexibility to adjust and carefully consider the make-up of the team.”

Macdonald has played just nine NBL games across the past two seasons, with his last appearance coming in January 2025. The 25-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while representing the Australian Boomers on July 31 last year, an injury that required surgery and ruled him out for the entire season.

It’s a tough setback for a promising young guard. With the 2026–27 NBL season still around six months away, there remains a chance he could return to the court later in the campaign.

36ERS GM CALLS WELLS RUMOURS “COMICAL”

Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Operations Matt Weston has dismissed speculation around head coach Mike Wells leaving the club, labelling the rumours “comical” after they gathered momentum on Wednesday.

“There’s no foundation at all. By the time I saw it in the evening, I thought it was quite comical,” Weston said.

“It’s probably a little disappointing it got out there. No one contacted me or the club to ask what’s actually happening. It felt more like social media than journalism.”

The discussion began on SEN SA during Kymbo and Chad Cornes, where Kym Dillon suggested Wells could be on the way out.

“Everything I’m hearing at the moment is that Mike Wells will be released from his position,” he said.

The comments quickly spread across social platforms, but Weston has firmly shut down the idea, making it clear the club is already planning ahead with Wells in place.

“We’re doing our exit interviews and planning for next year. He’s contracted,” Weston said. “We’ve got to remember, we were one rebound away from winning it.

“He’s done some really exceptional things this year. My view is he’s here, unless he gets an NBA opportunity, and everyone would understand that.”

Asked about the relationship between Wells and his playing group, which at times appeared strained from the outside, Weston said the club is working through that process constructively.

“We’re going through interviews and getting really good feedback from the players, and Mike’s been part of that and taken it on,” he said.

“Like any relationship, there are things you do well and areas you can improve. Now is the time to reflect properly. The season moves quickly, so these conversations matter. The meetings have been really productive.”

Wells led Adelaide, alongside a star-studded roster, to within seconds of a long-awaited championship and holds a 36-26 regular season record as head coach.

While there were challenges both on and off the court, the expectation remains that Wells will see out the final year of his contract, with the club focused on building from a season that fell just short.