Wedding awaits Palmer while in career-best form

Featured image: Rob Ly @feilong001_sports_pics

Joe Palmer initially thought he would be moving into coaching by now only to instead be playing the best basketball of his life in NBL1 South at Dandenong Rangers and the only thing that will stop that briefly will be the best possible reason.

Coming off playing last season in the South also at the Mount Gambier Pioneers, Palmer was back home at Colorado State University and was offered a coaching position which he accepted, and he felt it was time to move into the next stage of his life.

After all, he was about to get married to fiancé Carleigh in 2026 as well so the timing made all the sense in the world.

However, Palmer had this burning sense that you're a long-time retired and he didn’t want to forever be thinking that there was more he could have got out of his playing career. Now 11 games into this season with Dandenong and he is in the form of his life.

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Palmer is delivering 23.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game with the Rangers so far and that's 7-4 right now. He's coming off a weekend double of producing 64 points, 15 rebounds and six assists on 13/22 three-point shooting in a pair of Tasmanian wins.

It's not a stretch to say he is playing the basketball of his life, but temporarily that is going to be put on hold this weekend as he and Carleigh head back home to get married after they originally planned that when Palmer thought his playing days were done.

"Yes, actually funny timing as we are getting married this weekend," Palmer said.

"We planned the wedding a while ago when we through professional basketball was out of the picture. Now that it’s back coach Sam (Woosnam) was okay with us going back to get married still.

"I’m so glad that she’s (Carleigh) a part of this journey, it makes this lifestyle all the better. I couldn’t do it if she wasn’t on board. We are so excited to continue with the pro basketball journey wherever it takes us, but we would love to stay here in Australia!"

Journey to the Rangers

Palmer was somewhat at the crossroads of where his professional career was going to be heading at the start of 2025 but what he found in both the Pioneers and the NBL1 was somewhere that he could see himself making a long-term stop.

The basketball suited him perfectly, the basketball culture was something he fully embraced and the Australian lifestyle was something he and Carleigh couldn’t have loved more as almost a complete contrast especially in winter to back home in either Minnesota or Colorado.

That's why Palmer was more than open to come back for a second season in the NBL1 even if it meant having to change his mind on a coaching position at Colorado State to do so.

But one conversation with Dandenong coach Sam Woosnam and he didn’t take long to be on board with the Rangers.

"Yes I loved my time last season in Mount Gambier and I was with a great coach and group of guys. It was a great experience in Australia for the first time and although we came up short in the playoffs it was a fun season all around in terms of basketball and life," Palmer said.

"After that I went back to the US to my old college Colorado State where I accepted a graduate assistant spot and I was thinking of being done playing.

"I started playing really well on scout team and some of the coaches told me I can’t be done and to go back and play.

"I reached out to my old coaches at Mount Gambier and they connected me with Sam Woosnam and right away when I talked with her I knew it would be a great fit for me!

"I am so glad I’m not done playing and continuing on!"

Playing well on a strong team

With teammates like Harry Froling, Josh Kunen, Ryan Rapp, Joe Lubarsky, Michael Meadows and Sam Davidson who have all shown an ability for match-winning performances, Palmer couldn’t be happier with the team he's part of with Dandenong in 2026.

He's also thriving under the coaching of Sam Woosnam and getting to work a lot with the master of mechanicals Jono Hansford, and not only is the team winning, but it's bringing out the best in him too.

"I am pleased with our success so far, we dropped a few we shouldn’t have but we are going through growing pains as all teams do. I’m sure we will be in a good spot come playoff season! Our eyes are set on a championship no doubt," Palmer said.

"I have been feeling very good out there playing. I have freed myself from the results and this took a ton of pressure off me.

"I used to be so worried about stats, the next level, playing well, and things out of my control that it would take away from what I was doing in the present.

"This has helped me to stay focused and committed to what I’m doing currently with the Dandenong Rangers."

Playing best ever basketball

Just going by numbers and Palmer is playing the best basketball of his life right now with the Rangers in 2026 even going back to his college days.

In his last season at Augsburg he was putting up 21.1 points and 9.0 rebounds, and then last season with the Pioneers he was playing well with the 15.8 points and 7.7 boards, but his basketball is at another level right now.

Not only is he putting up the 23.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists, but he's shooting at 54 per cent from the field and 47 per cent from three-point range along with 73 per cent at the foul line.

He is playing at a supremely efficient level for someone getting up over 16 shots a game and he does feel like he has never played better.

"Honestly, yes I always would tell my friends and family that I feel that I have so much left in the tank and that I have not had a season yet to showcase what I can really do," Palmer said.

"I always felt in workouts, practices, open gyms I played so well, I just need a chance to show I could do it in a real season.

"Better late than never but I’m happy it’s finally happening, I truly feel that every time I step in the gym I’m getting better every day because I’m committed to the process of that specific day."

Taking big leaps in career

Having grown up in Minnesota and going to Faribault High School in a town of 24,000 people, Palmer started his college career at Augsburg College in Minnesota and played Division 3 basketball.

He then made the massive jump for his last two years transferring to Colorado State to play Division . Aiming big and taking significant leaps in his career is something Palmer has never been afraid of.

He started his professional career in Serbia before arriving at Mount Gambier in 2025 and had a good season with 15.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists on a team that finished the regular season in second spot before losing in the finals in straight sets.

Now his basketball has shot through the roof at the Rangers and while he was considering moving into coaching back at Colorado State, the reality is at 25 years of age he might have not even reached his playing peak.

And with the way he's playing right now and in the NBL1 South doing it against plenty of NBL talent, he wouldn’t be out of place at the next level.

"Yes, the NBL is for sure a dream scenario," Palmer said.

"I have followed the league closely since I was in middle school. I have always loved overseas basketball as an American and I was interested in the NBL specifically.

"I know that usually imports don’t go from NBL1 to the NBL, but as someone who’s made the jump from D3 to D1, I know that I would have the readiness and willingness to do so.

"It would be great to be play in the NBL. Either way, I look forward to continuing playing professional basketball wherever it may be."

Settling in Australia

There is always going to be a pull to return home for Palmer and his soon-to-be wife and to settle either back in Minnesota or somewhere like Colorado should that coaching job again present in the future.

However, given how much the couple of have enjoyed their time down under firstly in Mount Gambier last year and now in Melbourne in 2026, they could think of worse places to stay longer than in Australia.

"I love Aussie culture, it feels like a home away from home," Palmer said.

"The people are great and very friendly. I made a lot of lifetime friends here. I love the beaches and the weather as I grew up in cold and snowy Minnesota. My partner and I would love to continue living in Australia."