The summer of 2024 was disappointing for the Winnipeg Sea Bears. There was roster turmoil and turnover, the struggle to find an identity, then a swift first round playoff exit. There has been a commitment from Head Coach and General Manager Mike Taylor, that this will be a different year. No longer will they try and play through the likes of Teddy Allen or Justin Wright-Foreman, those ball dominant type guards. In their first two seasons as a franchise, Winnipeg has had a top end offence, mainly due to having the top scorer in the league both years. What has lacked behind is the fact they have had the worst defence statistically both seasons as well. The hope is this season the Sea Bears will be much more of a cohesive unit on both ends of the floor. The team game is now king in Winnipeg and the fact that Taylor has followed that up by his signings, shows his commitment to the new philosophy. It seems like the priorities in the offseason were to find long, athletic players, who defend well. Height also seemed to be something Taylor was keen on getting, playing bigger than he has. Shooting on the roster this time around seemed to be more of a tertiary skill that coach Taylor was wanting to have in his players. Here is the 2025 Winnipeg Sea Bears roster:

Italics indicate Import

Asterisk indicates Developmental player

No special font or symbol indicates Canadian 

Guards

*Mason Kraus

Terry Roberts

Alex Campbell

Emmanuel Akot

*Geoffrey James

Mason Bourcier

Forwards

Tevian Jones

Jaylin Williams

Simi Shittu

*Brendan Amoyaw

Kyler Filewich

Solomon Young

Front Court Strength

Over the course of the first two seasons, one of the weaker points of Winnipeg’s rosters were their front court depth. While this is fair, due to the fact that they were focused on guard play, coach Taylor has decided to make the flip. Objectively, in FIBA play, your front court players can be seen as the more important than guards. Either way, Taylor has leaned into making a stronger front court by bringing in Jones, Williams, Young, and Shittu. Those four should give coach Taylor and the Sea Bears plenty of options to play bigger, and be better on defence on the interior.

Interior Defence

This was the main cause for the Sea Bears going out and getting bigger, more talented front court players. While having had the worst statistical defence in the league the prior two seasons, most of that has been due to the fact that they have been subpar on the interior. This is certainly poised to change, as the additions Winnipeg has made have been in favour of getting better there. What I will also point out is the fact that their defence overall should be improved as well, based on the players that returned to the roster from 2024.

Questions Over Guard Depth

Until the announcement of Terry Roberts, it seemed as though the guard depth for Winnipeg looked quite bleak. I would even argue that even with the addition of Roberts, the back court may still be a question mark. Depending on where Mason Bourcier sits in terms of the rotation, it would mean the guards on the bench would be two U Sports draft picks in Geoffrey James, and Mason Kraus. It is the complete opposite scenario that the Sea Bears were in the previous two years and I’m curious to what occurs when it comes to the guard rotation when the season begins.

Projected Rotation

Based on Mike Taylor’s comments on wanting to play with size and athleticism, this is my interpretation on what a possible lineup/rotation could look like:

Starters

Terry Roberts

Emmanuel Akot

Tevian Jones

Jaylin Williams

Simi Shittu

Bench

Solomon Young

Mason Bourcier

Alex Campbell

Kyler Filewich

Geoffrey James

Mason Kraus

Brendan Amoyaw

In this current moment, without the two Canadian minimum needed on the court at all times, Young would certainly be in the starting five. Regardless, Shittu should still bring what Young would, but also even more size and interior defence. The other four also have size and athleticism on their side, which should mean Winnipeg can defend and get out and run. They will have plenty of options off the bench, either to go smaller, two ball handlers in the back court, and have a bit more shooting as well. There could be an argument for either Bourcier or Campbell to get that spot next to Roberts (this spot I see as the fifth starter) instead of Akot. I will say that I think Akot has earned that spot with his play last season, and would mean the Sea Bears have even more size and some continuity.

2025 Predictions

The third season in franchise history is going to be quite interesting. Coach Mike Taylor’s contract is up after this summer, and the Sea Bears host Championship Weekend, marking this their first appearance past the first round. This is a pretty big foundational year for the team and I will be curious how they play this out. The play style of this team certainly will be much different than years past, more defence and transition orientated. With a loaded Western Conference, but a guaranteed spot in Championship Weekend, it’s tough for me to say Winnipeg makes the top two. It is certainly possible that they do, but the talent on Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton is equal to, or arguably better. Having to beat out one of those teams is going to be difficult. Just based on looking at all the teams on paper, I have Winnipeg penciled in fourth place behind those three other teams. I have them meeting Calgary in the West Final, but ultimately falling in a close one. But we truly won’t know how good this team is until they hit the floor on May 16th at the Canada Life Centre against the Edmonton Stingers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM Central Time.