Vancouver Bandits Sign Former Michigan State Star, NBA G League Forward Nick Ward for the 2023 CEBL Season

LANGLEY, B.C., April 4, 2023 – The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that the club has signed forward Nick Ward for the club’s upcoming 2023 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

A 6-foot-9 forward from Gahanna, Ohio, Ward is currently playing for Al-Najma in the Bahrain Premier League. Prior to Bahrain, Ward suited up in 36 games in 2021-22 for Coruna in Spain’s LEB Oro where he averaged 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds on 58.9 per cent shooting from field goal range.

The fast-approaching season will be Ward’s second stint in the CEBL after previously playing for the Ottawa BlackJacks in 2021. Ward’s lone CEBL campaign was a stellar one. He was named a member of the All-CEBL First Team after leading the BlackJacks in both points (17.3) and rebounds (9.1) per game.

“The Vancouver Bandits are assembling a great roster for this summer and I am excited to help take this group to the next level. I have heard nothing but awesome things about the fanbase and I am ready to get to work,” Ward said. “My message is to keep Jesus first in whatever you do and work hard at all times.”

The former Michigan State Spartan’s career has seen the talented forward play in some of the world’s top leagues; including stops at NBA Summer League (Atlanta Hawks, 2019), NBA G League (College Park Skyhawks, 2019-20), Spain (Coruna, 2021-22) and Turkey (Fethiye in 2019-20 and Instanbul in 2020-21).

Ward enjoyed a decorated college career between 2016-19 at Michigan State. During his tenure with the Spartans, the left-handed post was twice named by coaches an All-Big Ten honorable mention. His freshman season was a decorated one. The powerful forward finished top five in various statistical categories among Big Ten Conference leaders; including first in field goal percentage (59.2), second in offensive rebounds (97) and fourth in blocks (54). 

Ward helped the renowned Division I program reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2019. To cap off his final collegiate season, Ward was named by coaches and media an All-Big Ten third-team selection. Over three years with the Spartans, Ward averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game on 60.5 per cent shooting from field goal range. For his career, Ward’s field goal percentage ranks him third all-time among Big Ten Conference players. 

“Big Nick is a powerful player with tremendous instincts around the rim. Nick's game compliments our shooters and I am really excited about immersing him into our system,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius.

The Bandits tip-off the 2023 CEBL campaign on Saturday, May 27 when the club takes on the Winnipeg Sea Bears at Canada Life Centre. Fans will have their first chance to watch Ward and company on home soil at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 3 when Vancouver welcomes the Calgary Surge for its first-ever visit to LEC.

Season tickets for the fifth season of Bandits Basketball are available for purchase and can be accessed by clicking here. A full seat map, price chart breakdown, season schedule and a complete list of season ticket holder benefits can be found by clicking here.

A key highlight of Vancouver’s fifth CEBL campaign will be its hosting of Championship Weekend, which takes place between Friday, August 11 and Sunday, August 13. An annual celebration of the highest level of Canadian professional basketball, Championship Weekend features a postseason format that combines three games of playoff basketball as part of a multi-day festival experience designed to celebrate the intersection of arts, culture and sport. 

As hosts of Championship Weekend, the Bandits receive an automatic semifinal berth.

Individuals interested in learning more about tickets for the Vancouver Bandits’ 2023 season are kindly asked to call (604) 455-8881 or email [email protected]. A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Vancouver Bandits

The Vancouver Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the Bandits offer an entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

About the CEBL

A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 71 percent of its 2022 rosters being Canadian. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. Nine players have moved from the CEBL into the NBA following a CEBL season, and 28 CEBL players attended NBA G League training camps during October. The CEBL season runs from May through August. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.