Sea Bears add size and experience Seven-footer a veteran of five NBA seasons By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 4:46 PM CDT Thursday, May. 9, 2024

The Winnipeg Sea Bears made size a priority with their final pre-season signing of 2024.

On Thursday, the Canadian Elite Basketball League franchise announced the addition of Byron Mullens, a 7-foot centre who was a first-round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The 35-year-old from Canal Winchester, Ohio, spent five seasons in the NBA after being selected 24th overall by the Dallas Mavericks. A former star at Ohio State, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft day and went on to play 189 NBA games with the Thunder, Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.

He averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in five NBA seasons.

A veteran of pro leagues around the world, Mullens’ most recent stop was with the New Taipei Kings.

“I’ve gotten to know him through some coaching friends over the last year and a half or so. When the opportunity came for us to try to fill our last spot with him, we just kind of jumped at it,” said Sea Bears general manager and head coach Mike Taylor. “So, I’m excited about his addition. He brings so much experience to the team. He’s obviously a really high-level player.”

The Sea Bears open training camp at Sport Manitoba on Monday. Mullens is the third American and ninth pro signed by the Sea Bears this spring.

“We feel like his experience and his skill set really add to our frontcourt,” said Taylor. “Last year, we did not have a lot of frontcourt shooting outside of Simon (Hildebrandt). We’ve addressed that (need) this summer with with Byron and Darius Days. So, now we’ve got really good frontcourt shooting along with Simon and a five man that can stretch the floor and give us a different look.”

Winnipeg recently announced the signing of G League all-star Darius Days and previously re-signed CEBL most valuable player Teddy Allen. The club had also signed Canadians Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, David Muenkat, Chad Posthumus, Alex Campbell, Mason Bourcier and Osayande.

Muenkat, who is currently playing for the Frankfurt Skyliners, will not join the Sea Bears until the conclusion of his German league playoffs.

“I’ve been talking with Teddy just a little bit about how it works (in Winnipeg),” said Mullens. “’How’s life? How are the guys?’ And he’s just giving me great feedback.”

Meanwhile, developmental players Simon Hildebrandt, Tyler Sagl and Shawn Maranan were added during the U Sports draft on April 11. Mullens said he will do his best to mentor the club’s younger players.

“I’m an old vet, so I love coaching, I love teaching,” said Mullens. “Hopefully, I can get some of these young guys in there and teach them what I know. That’s what I get excited about. When I was retired for two years, that’s what I was doing — I was coaching kids.”

While Winnipeg has reached the maximum number of three American players it can carry on its roster, Taylor promised the arrival of another yet-unnamed player after the completion of his season overseas.

The Sea Bears travel to Saskatchewan to take on the Rattlers in their season opener on May 22. Winnipeg’s home opener, already a sellout, is slated for Friday, May 24 at Canada Life Centre against the defending CEBL champions, the Scarborough Shooting Stars.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca