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AAP
AAP
Murray Wenzel

Three-time champ Casey Prather back in NBL with Bullets

Casey Prather (left) in action for Melbourne United in 2018's NBL semi-final against the Breakers. (Daniel Pockett/AAP PHOTOS)

Casey Prather will return to the NBL with Brisbane as an injury replacement for DJ Mitchell.

The American forward has won three NBL titles, helping Perth to back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017 before joining Melbourne United and winning for a third successive year.

Now 32, knee injuries have stunted his last two seasons for Hapoel Eilat in Israel, where he was previously named league MVP.

Casey Prather (right) with the 2018 NBL champions trophy.
Casey Prather (right) collected his third NBL title when Melbourne won the finals in 2018. (Hamish Blair/AAP PHOTOS)

Mitchell requires hip surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

First-year Bullets coach Justin Schueller was keen to recruit Prather, who he worked with as an assistant at United.

"To be able to add Casey to our squad at this point of the season allows us to turn a negative in losing DJ into a huge positive for us," Schueller said.

"Casey is a winner, a competitor and a great culture fit; everything we want our program to be about."

"I've seen first-hand what Casey can do in this league. I was lucky to win a championship next to him and look forward to him helping us in our push to the playoffs and more."

The Bullets are currently seventh with a 7-9 record.

Brisbane bullets NBL player DJ Mitchell.
DJ Mitchell requires hip surgery and will miss the rest of the season for the Brisbane Bullets. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

"I'm so excited to be joining the team, I've played in Australia for the majority of my career, so it feels like a second home to me," Prather, who has also represented teams in Greece and Germany, said.

"I've missed the fans, the culture and the atmosphere, so being able to come back and play with such a good group is amazing.

"I was very fortunate to have already played under coach Schueller, so for me it was a no-brainer. 

"Not only is he an excellent coach and leader, but also just a great guy off the court.

"It's all about winning. I've won three championships in Australia, and I plan on getting with the guys to do it again."

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