Kody Stattmann, who joined the Tasmania JackJumpers as an injury replacement, has been signed to the club’s roster for the rest of the NBL27 season after Anthony Drmic’s retirement.
Stattmann, 26, was recruited ahead of round three as an injury replacement player while Drmic recovered from a back injury.
The club said it had given Stattmann a “second chance”. He will now be part of the team for the season.
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said Stattmann had been labelled by the league before the club signed him. Roth also said the Queenslander had made an impact from his first game.
“Kody was…basically on the street about 10 days ago but now he’s playing in an NBL game for us and having an important contribution,” Roth said.
“It’s a great credit to these guys trying to change the label of what people may think about them.”
“We’ll just keep reloading and keep finding players that want to do it the Jackies way.”
When Stattmann first joined, JackJumpers general manager of basketball operations Darren Smith said he was coming off “a great NBL26 with the Cairns Taipans and an MVP NBL1 season with the Cairns Marlins”.
Ben Ayre is continuing his rehabilitation from a hip flexor injury.
Guard Biwali Bayles, 23, will stay with the club as a nominated replacement player for another week.
