The Brisbane Bullets have added a significant piece to their lineup with the signing of American foreigner James Batemon.
Shannon Scott’s departure was revealed on Wednesday morning, despite having a year remaining on his contract, with Batemon filling in at point guard.
The addition of the dynamic 6’1 point guard, recognized for his great playmaking and scoring ability, rounds out the Bullets’ lineup for the next season.
After a stellar collegiate career at Loyola Marymount, Batemon started his professional basketball career in Europe. The 27-year-old most recently played in Israel for Kiryat Ata, where he averaged 17.3 points and 3.8 assists per game. He has also played in Greece, Germany, and France. He won the LNB Pro B Most Valuable Player award while playing for Tours Métropole Basket in France in 2021/22.
“James is a high-level impact scorer, floor leader, and competitor, and we value his contributions on both ends of the floor,” said head coach Justin Schueller on the club’s website.
“He is coming off an excellent year in Israel, and we anticipate him continuing to flourish in our league.
“He is going to be a fan favorite because of his performance on the court and his charm off the court.”
Batemon is eager to join his new teammates in Brisbane.
“I know the NBL is a great league. Speaking with the personnel [in Brisbane], they want to compete, and I know we have the pieces to do so,” he said.
“What I’m most looking forward to is the league’s intensity and the opportunity to play in front of a large crowd on a nightly basis.”
“I love to win, therefore I’ll do whatever it takes to obtain it. I’m an excellent three-point shooter, I can attack, get my teammates involved, and score when they need it, but I can also make plays for others.
“I am a fierce competitor who will fight on both ends of the court.”
On the Bullets’ NBL25 roster, Batemon joins Josh Bannan, Tyrell Harrison, Sam McDaniel, Mitch Norton, Casey Prather, Keandre Cook, Isaac White, Rocco Zikarsky, Deng Adel, Tohi Smith-Milner, Jarred Bairstow, and development players Kye Savage, Josh Kunen, and Tristan Devers.
The Bullets will play a preseason game against the Shanghai Sharks at Nissan Arena on Friday, August 23.
