Jesse Edwards Heads to NBL, Signs One-Year Deal With Melbourne United
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Melbourne United announced Tuesday that center Jesse Edwards has inked a one-year contract, filling the club’s final import slot for the 2025-26 National Basketball League season.
“We wanted an elite rim protector,” head coach Dean Vickerman said in the team’s statement, praising Edwards’ length, timing and mobility. Vickerman added that the 7-footer’s above-the-rim style and pick-and-roll finishing should energize United’s offense and excite the home crowd.
Edwards, 25, is a Dutch native who played collegiately at Syracuse and West Virginia. After going undrafted, he signed a two-way deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2024. He appeared in two NBA games but was a regular contributor for the Iowa Wolves in the G League, averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over 34 contests (25.1 minutes per game).
Minnesota extended a two-way qualifying offer to Edwards last month, which he accepted. However, reports earlier in August indicated the Timberwolves planned to waive him after guard Tristen Newton returned on his own two-way offer, joining Enrique Freeman and Rocco Zikarsky in the club’s three allotted two-way spots. Neither Edwards’ release nor Newton’s signing has been formally confirmed, but the center’s move to Australia signals he will not be back in Minneapolis.
Source: Hoops Rumors
