The star shooting guard has averaged 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4 assists across 133 games in the SEABL.

Bandits coach Brad Chalmers said the veteran playmaker would once again be a part of their core group after two strong seasons.

“With a few guys departing we've had to re-evaluate what we're doing, but we felt Deba would continue to give us a lot of positives on and off the floor,” he said.

“We're still looking to make some changes, bring some more players in, but he's the type of guy that gives us a chance to be competitive.”

While George's production dipped in 2016 after an all-star season in 2015, Chalmers was confident the sharpshooter could return to his best.

“Deba is a very knowledgeable guy, we'd like to see him take on more of a leadership role moving forward,” he said.

“He's a natural shooting guard who can also play at the point, having him play a few less minutes than he did this season will keep him fresh and at his best.”