Australian Basketball News: NBA veteran Hakim Warrick signs with NBL's Melbourne United

The National Basketball League’s Melbourne United has signed former NBA player Hakim Warrick, the team announced on its official website on Tuesday. The versatile forward who played for multiple NBA teams from 2005 to 2013 will replace Ekene Ibekwe as import for the squad. Ibekwe was allowed to leave the team on “compassionate grounds” to attend to his pregnant wife in Europe.

“Hakim is a strong replacement for Ekene; we think he can give us scoring punch and leadership that comes with being an eight-year veteran in the world’s premier league,” Crivelli said via the team’s official website. “We think his skills will complement the team we have assembled, and fans will love his athletic above-the-rim playing style, we can’t wait to get him on the floor.”

The 33-year-old Warrick, who is known for his athleticism, is expected to arrive in Melbourne on Wednesday and join the team’s pre-season game against the Illawarra Hawks.

Warrick, who plays both forward positions, played for the Memphis Grizzlies (2005 to 2009), Milwaukee Bucks (2009 to 2010), Chicago Bulls (2010), Phoenix Suns (2010 to 2012), New Orleans Hornets (2012), Charlotte Bobcats (2012 to 2013) in the NBA before suiting up for the Liaoning Flying Leopards (2013 to 2014) in China and Torku Konyaspor (2015) in Turkey.

“My friend Josh Childress has told me great things about the NBL, so to get the opportunity to come to a city like Melbourne and be part of a Championship push is something I’m going to relish,” Warrick said in the same article. “I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates and getting down to work immediately.”

Childress is the import of the Sydney Kings and a former teammate of Warrick with their stint with the Suns. Warrick and Childress will meet on the court on Nov. 1 when the Kings visit Melbourne United for the team's first meeting of the new season.

Warrick, who was a first round pick by the Grizzlies in the 2005 NBA Draft or the 19th overall selection, averaged 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in his eight-year career in the NBA. In 15 games for his Turkish squad in the 2014-2015 season, Warrick averaged 17.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.

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