Barlow delays NBL exit, signs new deal
David Barlow has re-signed with Melbourne United two weeks after announcing he would retire from professional basketball and join the club’s coaching staff.
The two-time Olympian will take up the final spot on United’s roster as they look to bounce back from their early exit from last season’s play-offs.
Barlow, 38, had initially signed as an assistant to head coach Dean Vickerman for NBL23 but had participated in pre-season training and was ready for the possibility of playing in the NBL1 or returning to United as an injury cover.
“We wanted someone to help solidify our interior presence and the more we looked at it, the more we came back to Barlow,” Vickerman said.
“We as a coaching staff had a feeling that despite the retirement he would end up playing some games for us this season, so we kind of just sped up the process because he still has so much to give this team on the court.”
Barlow has won two championships since joining United in 2014 and said he looked forward to making another charge at the title this season.
“I was always going to do whatever I could to help the club compete for a championship,” he said.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to get to do that as a player for another season with United.”
