More than half of the league had veteran point guard Jason Cadee in their planning during free agency.
But, as the likes of Sydney, Illawarra, Melbourne United, Perth and New Zealand showed varying levels of interest, it became clear from very early on a return to Adelaide, where he spent two seasons from 2012-14, “just made a lot of sense”.
On the outer in Brisbane after maintaining his professionalism while enduring a turbulent 18 months under three different coaches, the 31-year-old said the 36ers’ vision — and aggressive recruiting — were decisive factors in his agreement on a two-year deal.
“Honestly, it was the respect they gave me and the way they went about it through (coach) CJ (Bruton) and their CEO Nic (Barbato) and owner Grant (Kelley), the way they treated the process, they were really adamant that they wanted me and they were aggressive in it,” Cadee told News Corp.
“The one constant through it all was Adelaide. The vision for what they’re trying to do, I respect it and I feel like I can help.
“I think they’re putting themselves in a really good position for success and I want to be a part of it.
“It just made a lot of sense for me and where I’m at and what I’m trying to do.”
SIXERS GOT A GOOD ONE
The 36ers were smart to target Cadee on the back of a tough season on the court where the team struggled to find the right chemistry and missed the playoffs. The no-fuss Sydney-born guard prides himself on three things: shooting, making teammates better — and being a good bloke.
He’s elite at all three.
Of current players to average at least five three-point attempts in the past 10 seasons, he is eighth at 35.6 per cent.
His game is predicated on unselfishness, often to his detriment, but he learnt the trait playing with winners like Adam Gibson, Mark Worthington and Anthony Petrie.
“I’ve never been one who cares about starting or coming off the bench,” he said.
“I know that what I’ll bring to Adelaide is I’ll make people better, I’ve always made an effort to do that and I feel like that’s one reason why people like playing alongside me.”
You won’t find many teammates who would be at odds with Cadee’s self assessment. He might be one of the most under-appreciated Aussie point guards we’ve ever had, having missed just three games over the past decade and sporting career averages of 9.3 points and 3.1 assists across 367 contests.
BALL IS LIFE
The son of former Australian Boomers player and coach Robbie Cadee and Opals Olympian and Basketball NSW hall-of-famer Debbie Cadee, the court has been the one constant in Jason’s life.
He has a new appreciation of his upbringing after watching his own children Louis, 3, and Scarlett, 1, develop love for the sport.
“My young fella loves it, he’s only three, but understands what’s going on, wants to go to the basketball and thinks when the game’s finished it’s his time to get on the court, so it’s pretty cool,” Cadee said.
“I guess it’s life, full circle, for me, considering what I was able to do as a kid with my dad being CEO of the West Sydney Razorbacks.
“I always say to people through basketball I feel like I had the greatest upbringing, so, when I see how much Louis enjoys being around it already at the age of three, it does make me think about what it was like for me as a kid.”
Fiance Jasmine Hooper is Cadee’s strongest support — and critic.
She knows what it’s like to play pro ball, having represented the old Logan franchise in the WNBL, so she’s happy to give Cadee advice after games.
“She makes my life so much easier because she understands how it all works, the landscape, the commitment,” he said.
“Sometimes it makes it more challenging because she’ll come home and tell me exactly what I did wrong, but it’s also nice to have someone to pull you back into line or tell you certain things that others might not, because she knows what she’s talking about.
“She often tells me that I don’t shoot the ball enough, so I should probably listen to her.”
As far as his legendary parents, Robbie thinks it’s amusing when people call him “Jason’s dad”, given the senior Cadee’s list of accomplishments in the sport.
“When you’re younger you don’t really understand the mark they left until you get older and the amount of people who come up and speak to you about your mum and dad and the amount of respect they have,” he said.
“Over the last 10-12 years that’s started to change in terms of I may be more well known in some parts than mum and dad, which dad laughs at.
“I always said I was so proud to be their child and I guess some people shy away from their family name if it’s got an expectation attached to it, but I never felt that. I just felt that their expectation was that I was a good person and I carried it on that way.”
A NEW PASSION
You might see the odd tweet from Cadee about another sport — thoroughbred racing — and wonder what it’s all about.
Cadee, in his time in Brisbane, has developed a passion for the nags after striking up a friendship with top Queensland trainer Tony Gollan.
“I think a few people have started to notice I’m pretty into horse racing,” he said.
“I’ve owned a few myself and I went to trackwork to see a horse work and, three hours later, I’m sitting there talking to Tony about basketball, sport, everything,” he said.
“I formed a friendship with him and I sometimes just go and tag along with him like his little apprentice while he does his thing, straps horses, puts them on the track and talks to owners.
“It’s become something I really enjoy, just going to the races and sitting and relaxing and watching.
“Dad and I are going to get a few horses with Tony over the next couple of years.
“I’ve owned one that’s won a listed race, but no group race winners yet, so that’s the goal.”
LIFE AFTER BALL
Cadee knows he’s closer to the end than the beginning of his on-court career, but he hasn’t really decided on what he’ll put his time into once he hangs up the sneakers.
Chances are, though, it’ll be in basketball, many believing he would make a good coach.
“I’m not silly, I know it’s coming to the back end of my career, but I’m only 31, I’m healthy and I still feel very much able to contribute, so that’s what I’m worried about at the moment,” he said.
“As I get older and I see more heads turning towards me and wanting my opinion, I feel like I could definitely step into the coaching space.
“I’ve been around some good coaches. I moved to Brisbane because of Andrej Lemanis, so I watched how he operated.
“I feel like I’m a good people person and I can see, as far as basketball goes, how much that translates into how to coach and how to talk to people when you want to deliver a message.”
