Kody grabbing JackJumpers chance as North MVP

A standout, MVP-winning season in the NBL1 North at the Cairns Marlins might not have earned Kody Stattmann an instant NBL27 contract, but it had him fully prepared for the role he now has at the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Stattmann remained in his hometown of Cairns for a third straight NBL1 North season in 2026 on the back of a second season in the NBL with the Taipans where he did get the chance to show what he was capable of at the top level.

The 26-year-old got out there for 23 games throughout NBL26 averaging a career-high 17.9 minutes for 6.6 points and 2.3 rebounds including a best of 20 points in the last game of the season with 4/7 three-point shooting against the New Zealand Breakers.

That led directly into the NBL1 North season with the Marlins where Stattmann was instrumental in their undefeated regular season where he would end up being named MVP.

Along the way, he produced 24.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals a game on the back of shooting 50 per cent from the field and 30 per cent from the outside.

Despite coming off the best NBL and NBL1 seasons of his career, somehow Stattmann was still unsigned going into the 2026/27 NBL season, but that didn’t last long.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has now made a habit of giving opportunities to those surprisingly overlooked and once a chance opened up with a back injury, and subsequent retirement, of Anthony Drmic, he couldn’t believe his luck Stattmann was available.

Now Stattmann has hit the floor eight times this season with the JackJumpers and is playing over 11 minutes a game, and is fresh off his biggest impact so far with nine points, two rebounds and a steal in last Friday night's win against the Breakers in Launceston.

He showed his mettle with two clutch free throws late with Roth having full confidence to have him out there with the game on the line, and earlier he was even denied a dunk when somehow the points were disallowed for supposed basket interference.

NBL1 season had him ready

Stattmann is now finding a home at the JackJumpers that could be just what he's been waiting for to show what he can fully do, but what he did at Cairns in this most recent NBL1 North season ensured he was ready for what every chance opened up.

"Obviously, I was really disappointed just in general after NBL1 and through the NBL1 that I didn't get anything," Stattmann said.

"So, yeah, all I wanted to do was stay ready and wait for an opportunity, and I feel like the best opportunity came so I can't wait to keep going and see how this goes.

"We had a great team up in Cairns and we were unreal up to the semi-finals so it was a really good off-season. I worked really hard and all that type of stuff so I've got no complaints about that. It was a really fun off- season and shout out to my brother as well who I played with up there (Ky)."

Full support from master coach

If you go back over the history of the JackJumpers and one of the things that coach Scott Roth has made his hallmark is providing opportunities to players that others have either discarded, or overlooked, and allowed them to thrive.

Whether that's Majok Deng or Ben Ayre or Reuben Te Rangi or Nick Marshall or any number of players you can go back and look at, the JackJumpers have become a home for players to be given an opportunity and then show what they are capable of.

Roth is always willing to give someone an opportunity, what they do with that chance is then up to them and he had full confidence that Stattmann could thrive in the JackJumpers environment just like he's now doing.

"There's the obvious things that go with him and him playing in the US at a very high-level school was obviously where he's been well coached," Roth said.

"Then he comes back and he'll admittedly tell you that he's struggled a little bit to find his footing in the NBL, and he came in with a lot of accolades but probably hadn't found his footing quite yet.

"The thing with him is he's got size, he can handle the ball, he can shoot and like anything else, guys get labels on them and then he kind of drifts away.

"We were fortunate to have him still sitting out there when we needed a body about a month or so ago, and now we'll push him to the limits and we'll test him as best we can on and off the floor, in the weight room and all the things that we're asking him to do.

"I think our environment allows someone like him to actually thrive with the guys that we have around. The other thing is, he's just got a very calm demeanour and he's never too high or too low.

"I think that's a trait that's really hard in professional sports because it can get quite emotional. He's just kind of very steady and he's obviously a great addition for us."

Look back on tight win

The JackJumpers needed Stattmann more than ever last Friday night in Launceston against the Breakers as well with the absence of Majok Deng, Ben Ayre, Bryce Hamilton, Ben Gold and David Johnson.

Not only that, but Nick Marshall was playing through a sore ankle which has now ruled him out of the next two weeks leading into the FIBA break, but Stattmann stepped up impressively.

Despite how strong his performance might have looked from the outside, he is still looking for ways to improve as well.

"Yeah, it was really good, I enjoyed that and had a lot of fun out there, Stattmann said.

"Obviously, I still think I can improve so much, I mean I know down here my plus-minus still says minus so I think when coming in, I can still bring a lot more but I'm just staying ready and building trust, and all that type of stuff is what I'm loving."

Being welcomed by JackJumpers

Following the NBL1 North season, Stattmann continued to work hard to ensure he was ready should an NBL opportunity open up, or indeed professionally anywhere in the world.

So he knew he was ready for the chance, but he also has been blown away by just how welcome he was instantly made feel by everyone in Tasmania.

"Even coming in a little bit late, all the boys came in with open arms and really pushed me hard at training," Stattmann said.

"Same with the coaches, pushing me really hard so now being out there with them, we're such a tight group and all love each other. It's just been really good being able to be involved in this group."

The revered JackJumpers culture

It's one thing to see the culture at the JackJumpers from playing against them in the NBL or hearing about it from players you know that have played there which is the case with Stattmann.

But there's nothing quite like being inside the four walls and experiencing it yourself like he's now doing and it's certainly living up to everything he might have envisioned.

"It's been unreal, and as soon as I came in, they all opened me with loving arms straight away, and obviously, playing them the last couple of years, they've always been a really tough group to play against and are really well coached," Stattmann said.

"So, when I didn't have anything, and I saw a couple of injuries down here, I was honestly hoping that they might have a look at me. I've got no bad words to say at all, it's been unreal so far."