Vancouver Bandits 2023-24 Offseason Preview

Jagraj Lalli • November 1, 2023

The Road To Redemption

The 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season featured highs and lows for the Vancouver Bandits as part of an audacious campaign that saw increased attendance and notable individual player performances but also faced the weight of championship aspirations as the host city for Championship Weekend. 


After a tough 1-4 start to the season, Vancouver responded with three straight wins to help the club level its record at .500. Sadly, the team could not maintain its momentum and struggled to find its rhythm; finishing the season with an 8-12 record heading into Championship Weekend. 


Vancouver won three of its last four games heading into the postseason, which proved to be a key bright spot given two of those three wins were against Ottawa and Scarborough – both of which sported records above .500 and were competing for playoff seeding. 


As hosts of Championship Weekend, Vancouver received an automatic berth in the Western Conference Finals against the Calgary Surge, whom the Bandits sported a 2-1 record against during the 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season.


Late turnovers and a failure to execute proved costly as the Bandits endured heartbreak for the fourth straight season. 2020 ended with a championship game loss, 2021’s postseason ended in a semifinal three-point dagger, 2022’s playoff hopes were dashed prematurely in the play-in round and 2023’s dreams were put to rest with a three-point dagger from Calgary’s Stefan Smith that cemented a 77-75 defeat. 


Turning Progress into Momentum

The Vancouver Bandits are gearing up for 2024 with a clear focus on progression. Here are some key names to watch as the CEBL postseason ensues and members of the Bandits embark on their next overseas or U SPORTS playing opportunity. 


Diego Maffia made a notable impact during the 2023 season. He now returns to the University of Victoria for his U SPORTS season. The Oak Bay Secondary product showed flashes of promise, scoring 15 and dropping 11 assists in a June 3 home opener victory against Calgary, but struggled to find consistency with his shot, hitting 30 percent of his three-point attempts, while nailing  91.7 per cent from the free throw line. Maffia is a promising U SPORTS Development Athlete to watch and will be eligible to be re-drafted by the Bandits next spring. After leading U SPORTS in scoring with 24.5 points per game in 2023, he is primed for further development at Victoria after a 2022-23 season that saw him take the Vikes to the Final 8.


Earlier this fall the Bandits announced its protected list of players for the 2023 offseason. Notable players featuring an exclusive period to be re-signed by the Bandits for the 2024 season include Duane Notice and Nick Ward. Notice and Ward received defensive player of the year and most valuable player honours, respectively, as part of the Bandits’ team award proceedings, and now will look to assert themselves in the offseason. Nick Ward has taken his talents to Lithuania where he is playing for BC Gargzdai. 


Athletic big man Kur Jongkuch has joined Horsens in Denmark where he will continue to develop in his second professional season after graduating from Temple University in 2023.


2023 Areas of Success
In the 2023 season, the Bandits made a statement with their prowess in rebounding. Giorgi Bezhanishvili averaged 6.6 defensive rebounds per game and played a pivotal role in securing possessions for the team. The Bandits as a whole led the league with an impressive average of 42.7 total rebounds per game.


2024 Areas of Improvement
The Bandits need to bolster the club’s shot-blocking capabilities. Last season's average of 2.2 blocks per game was the lowest in the league, making it challenging to protect the paint. While Nick Ward led the team in blocks with 0.9 per game, there's room for improvement to enhance the team's rim protection.


Turnovers and fouls were also significant concerns in 2023. Averaging 16.2 turnovers and 19.2 fouls per game disrupted offensive flow and defensive stability. Reducing turnovers and fouls is essential to creating more efficient possessions and reducing the opposition's free throw opportunities.


2024 Outlook
The Bandits understand the need for a more consistent and athletic primary point guard for the upcoming season. A player who can contribute 12-16 points per game, prioritize ball security, and lead the team for an entire season of play is expected to be at the top of the agenda for Bandits head coach and general manager, Kyle Julius. While they can choose from both domestic and American or international free agent options, the primary point guard should be a reliable leader on and off the court.


In addition to the primary point guard, the Bandits can benefit from a secondary point guard to provide 15-20 minutes per game in support of the primary floor general. Someone who has a 35 per cent or greater three-point average and can exhibit smart decision-making to contribute quality minutes and get the Bandits’ secondary unit involved could be the missing piece needed. 


Improving offense and defense is crucial for the team's success in 2024. On the offensive front, the Bandits will aim to enhance shooting accuracy. With 71.4 field goal attempts per game, the team made an average of 30.4 of those shots. This indicates the importance of enhancing their accuracy to boost overall offensive efficiency and scoring output. They will also aim to continue promoting ball movement as the Bandits (18.8 assists per game) were just 0.8 shy from the league leader Ottawa Blackjacks dedicated effort in improving their teamwork, Vancouver can become a more competitive force in the league. Improving their free throw shooting is imperative. The Bandits attempted 22.1 free throws per game but made only 14.5 on average, resulting in a free throw percentage of 65.6 per cent, which was the lowest in the league. 


Defensively, they're working on reducing points allowed. In 2023, the Bandits committed an average of 16.2 turnovers per game, the most in the CEBL. By reducing turnovers, the team can improve ball possession and limit the opponent's scoring opportunities, while also creating turnovers through steals and blocks.


The 2023-24 CEBL offseason is a key opportunity for Julius to retool the Bandits, who are looking to make improvements on both the offensive and defensive side of the basketball. Anticipate a few returning players but also a new wave of athletic and polished talent that Julius will look to recruit from some of the top league’s around the globe. Consistent contributions from role players and elevated production from the team’s stars will inspire a fanbase that delivered multiple sell-out crowds in 2023 and is hungry for an improved contender in 2024.

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7 Bandits Players Named to 2026 NBA G League Training Camp Rosters

By Bandits Staff • October 27, 2026
Seven players who have previously suited up for the Vancouver Bandits, including five from the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, have been named to NBA G League training camp rosters ahead of the start of the 2026-27 season on November 6, 2026. The NBA G League serves as the NBA’s official minor league and features 31 teams, with 30 clubs having one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises. Surrey, B.C.’s James Karnik will join the Portland Trail Blazers’ affiliate, Rip City Remix. Karnik has participated in 36 regular season games across four seasons dating back to 2022, including four games in 2026. This marks the first time that he has been named to an NBA G League training camp squad. Jaelen House, a former NBA G League All-Star who played in 10 games for the Bandits during the 2026 season, will be competing for a roster spot on the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, Salt Lake City Stars. He set the Bandits’ single-game scoring record, recording 42 points against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 18, 2026. The Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate and defending NBA G League champion, Greensboro Swarm, will feature Jarkel Joiner. Joiner played 21 games for the Bandits in 2026, leading the team in points per game (17.8), before being named to the Hornets’ training camp roster and logging minutes in four NBA preseason games. Joining Joiner on the Swarm is Kyle Mangas, who appeared in 16 games with 14 starts for the Bandits during the 2025 season. John Knight III, who logged 18 games for the Bandits in 2026, joins the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a club he has played for since 2023. D’Andre Davis, who appeared in three games for the Bandits in 2026, looks to secure a roster spot with the Boston Celtics’ affiliate, Maine Celtics. A member of the 2023 Bandits roster, Georgian-born forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili will take the court with the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate, College Park Skyhawks. The opening night rosters for all 32 NBA G League teams must be submitted by Sunday, November 5.

Former Bandits Forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Atlanta Hawks

By Bandits Staff • October 15, 2026
Former Vancouver Bandits forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks. The news was announced by the Hawks via social media on Wednesday. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.

Vancouver Bandits & I SPARC Host Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

By Bandits Staff • October 7, 2026
HAIDA GWAII, BC - October 6, 2026 - This past weekend, Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation hosted a series of youth basketball clinics on Haida Gwaii, continuing its ongoing series of community visits across the province in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC). The community visits and youth camps on Haida Gwaii were also made possible through the generous support of Langara Island Lodge and Skidegate Band Council. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, local youth athletes aged 10 to 17 from across Haida Gwaii participated in free-of-charge workshops and basketball camps, furthering the Bandits Community Foundation’s goal of bringing more basketball to more people across the province. "Haida Gwaii has an incredible passion for basketball, and it was an honour for our staff to spend time on the court with so many talented young athletes," said Vancouver Bandits Team President Dylan Kular. "Our partnership with I·SPARC through the Indigenous Basketball Collective is about building lasting relationships with communities across the province and making sure every young player has access to the game. We are grateful to Langara Island Lodge, the Skidegate Band Council and everyone in Old Massett, Masset and Skidegate who welcomed us, and we cannot wait to come back." “Programs like this show what is possible when partners come together for Indigenous youth,” said I·SPARC’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Brant. “We are proud to work with the Vancouver Bandits to bring high-quality basketball coaching to Haida Gwaii, where the game is so deeply loved." Bandits staff led PHE classes with students at Chief Matthews School in Old Massett, and ran skill development clinics for local youth athletes aged 13 to 17 across three communities at Kwiiyaans Community Hall (Old Massett), Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School (Masset) and George Brown Recreation Centre (Skidegate). “We are grateful for the opportunity for the Vancouver Bandits and I·SPARC to come in and work with our youth,” said Trevor Russ, head coach of the Old Massett Raiders boys basketball team. “Basketball plays a big role for our youth in Masset, and the Bandits coming to town provides an opportunity for them to work with some high-level coaches at the professional level. Our youth are very happy to have this opportunity.” “To be able to have the Vancouver Bandits come to Skidegate and Haida Gwaii is very important,” said Desi Collinson, Recreation Coordinator and elected representative to the Council of the Haida Nation. “Basketball means a lot to Haida Gwaii; it brings excitement, hope and inspiration to our communities. Organizations like the Bandits and I·SPARC give us different insights and outlooks that our young athletes have not experienced before, and we are happy to have them here to uplift our youth.” The camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, previous community visits hosted through the Collective since its inception include Ahousaht, Bella Coola (Nuxalk First Nation), Kitimat (Haisla Nation), Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw First Nation), Victoria, West Vancouver and Williams Lake with future youth camps and coaching seminars currently being planned for 2027. 

Vancouver Bandits to Host Free-of-Charge Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

By Bandits Staff • October 2, 2026
This weekend, youth across Haida Gwaii will have the opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills from British Columbia’s professional basketball team. Through the generous support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Langara Island Lodge, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation will be hosting free-of-charge youth basketball camps across Haida Gwaii, marking the organization’s first community visit to the North Coast region. “Haida Gwaii means a great deal to us, and we know how much basketball means to these communities. The game gives young people a place to grow, brings families together, and creates opportunities for teams to proudly represent where they come from,” said Yos Gladstone, Sales Coordinator, Langara Island Lodge. “The young players, coaches, families, and teams here deserve every opportunity we can help bring their way. We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits, I∙SPARC and the Bandits Community Foundation for their commitment to make this program happen, and especially to those in Haida Gwaii who give so much of their time, energy, and efforts to basketball year-round.” “For us, supporting this program is personal. We care about the communities and the people who make them so special. If this visit from the Vancouver Bandits gives local players more time on the court, encouragement to keep going, and a chance to connect through the game, that is something we are proud to be part of.” The camps are hosted in collaboration with I∙SPARC, Bandits Community Foundation, Haida Gwaii Recreation and School District 50 Haida Gwaii. Across three days, over 200 youth athletes aged 10 to 17 and their families will gather in gymnasiums across Haida Gwaii for camps and workshops led by Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation staff members. Youth participants will also receive complimentary Vancouver Bandits merchandise. "Haida Gwaii holds a legendary place in this province and Indigenous basketball culture and being on the ground in Masset and Skidegate truly showcases how powerful this sport is," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "The competitive drive and skill level of these youth are incredible, but what is even more inspiring is how basketball acts as a heartbeat for the entire region. Seeing the immediate connection between the youth, the coaching staff, and the local fans highlights exactly why we wanted to bring the Bandits to Haida Gwaii.” “We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Haida Nation and our partners at I∙SPARC and Langara Island Lodge for hosting us and sharing their incredible hospitality. This visit marks an exciting milestone for our organization, and we look forward to building on this relationship for years to come." The camp schedule for this weekend is as follows: Friday, October 2 Kwiiyaans Community Hall, Old Massett 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School, Masset 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The forthcoming camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits, and build upon recent previous community visits to Williams Lake and Bella Coola earlier this year. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.

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