Geraldton Buccaneers sign former SBL MVP Josh Braun for 2024 season as three stars leave squad

Reigning champion Geraldton Buccaneers have signed American import Josh Braun for the 2024 season, who will play a big role in the wake of the departure of three stars from the squad. Braun brings experience to the Buccs, with the veteran playing in WA in 2019, when he won the SBL MVP and was selected to the All-SBL First Team with the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, where he played with current Buccaneer Ryan Blanchett. During his time with the Suns, Braun appeared in 25 games and averaged 26.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The 6’3” shooting guard played four years of collegiate basketball for Grand Canyon University in Arizona, where he finished as the school’s second all-time leading scorer and set a school record for most career three-pointers. After his one-year stint in the SBL, Braun signed with Eisbaren Bremerhaven in the German ProA league, where he played two seasons. After the 2020-21 season, the guard moved back to America where he has been serving as head of club basketball operations for his alma mater Grand Canyon. Buccaneers general manager Andrew Horstman said they were excited to have Braun join the team as they build off their championship season. “He has the ability to spread the floor, high basketball IQ, really good work rate and more importantly just a really good guy, great teammate,” he said. “We can’t wait to have him here and I think what’s going to be super important is his ability to be able to mentor and invest in developing younger players.” Head coach Dayle Joseph said they tried to sign Braun four years ago but now they had finally got their man. “We tried to get him in 2020; we had some COVID issues so we didn’t see him then, so opportunity came that he was keen to come back and play in Australia and we had the opportunity to get him to come and play,” he said. “I think he’ll show some great leadership for our team and hopefully be one of those guys that the ball can go through his hands a lot.” Bringing in the American import is a massive signing for the Buccaneers as they look to rebuild the team after the departures of championship stars Malik Meunier, Shaun Stewart and Zac Gattorna in the off-season. “Malik gave us early notification that he’d be returning to Melbourne at the end of last season, so that didn’t come as a surprise,” Horstman said. “It’s a huge loss because he’s not only a great baller but he’s a great person as well, so a loss for the community, but that may not be forever either. “Zac and Shaun, we were really keen on getting them both back … Zac indicated that he was keen to be based in Perth this year, and that was more so (for) personal reasons.” Losing three starters would set any team back, especially coming off a championship run. This isn’t the first time the Buccs have had to rebuild, with the team facing a similar issue after their 2019 season — but they are excited for the challenge. “They’re all huge losses, they’re all very, very good players and we’d love to have that same team back and be doing it all again, but some things changed,” Joseph said. “I think it’s possibly a good thing a little bit; it’d be hard to go in with the same group of guys and just do the same thing again. “I think this gives us a bit of rejuvenation sort of situation, where we’ve got some new guys in and we’ve got something to prove again.” The side is also dealing with losing local young guns Tom Dobson and Harry Evans, who are going to the US and Perth respectively for university, but their departures give an opportunity for new talent to emerge. Braun is the second Buccaneer to be signed on for the year after Johny Narkle’s extension late in 2023, with more new faces expected to be announced in the coming weeks. In a video of Braun posted on social media to annouce his signing, the former SBL MVP talked about his excitement to joining the squad for the upcoming season. “Can’t wait to be part of the club for the 2024 season, we look forward to the opportunity to helping you guys repeat a championship,” he said. “Wife and I obviously loved Australia last time we were there years past, and we can’t wait to get out there soon.”