Basketball 2022: NBL’s biggest talking points ahead of season being tipped to be one of the finest
The NBL season is fast approaching and the storylines within the league are starting to ramp up. Matt Logue looks at all the hot topics ahead of the pre-season Top End tip-off.
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NBL basketball is back, and as always there are countless intriguing storylines to play out in arguably the best league outside of the NBA.
The 2022/2023 season is shaping as one of the finest ahead of this weekend’s annual pre-season Blitz in Darwin.
All 10 teams will converge on the Top End as they look to iron out any kinks before the official season tip-off on October 1.
Can the Sydney Kings defend their crown despite losing key stars Jaylen Adams, Ian Clark, and Jarell Martin?
Are the Brisbane Bullets the real deal after signing Boomers and NBA championship-winning big man Aron Baynes?
All these questions, and much more, will be answered in time.
Before then, we take a look at the NBL’s biggest talking points.
Will the NBL officials allow Baynes to dominate?
There are fears championship-winning NBA and Boomers big man Aron Baynes won’t be his physically dominant self because of the NBL’s officiating.
The league’s whistle blowers have been long battled when it comes to refereeing bigs.
There is a strong feeling across the league from coaches, officials and players, who believe the NBL runs the risk of losing star big men if the referees continue to rack up the fouls against them.
It has been an issue in more recent times through the likes of Andrew Bogut and Jock Landale, who both battled with foul trouble.
The trend was on show last season, with four of the top five players on the personal foul count all from the frontcourt.
There is also a belief that players are deliberately running into hips and legs and throwing their hands in the air to exploit the longstanding officiating trend when it comes to big men.
Hopefully the NBL officials can exercise greater common sense with Baynes, and other bigs, this season.
If Baynes is fit and firing, he has the ability to emulate Bogut and Landale’s success on the NBL stage.
Questions facing Sydney’s championship defence
Defending a championship is tough enough without losing star American players, including the NBL’s MVP in Jaylen Adams.
Replacing Adams, Jarell Martin and Ian Clark won’t be easy, but the Kings have done their best.
Former NBL Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon is a solid signing while ex-Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Walton Jr is a walking assist machine.
In case you missed it, here's a snippet of @cluchradio's montage.
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) September 12, 2022
You can hear the full version on their podcast with Chase Buford and Chris Pongrass here: https://t.co/6zvhBeAWKvpic.twitter.com/E7sRV1vfLg
Add in Xavier Cooks, Dejan Vasiljevic and the return of big man Jordan Hunter and Sydney will again for a force.
But do they have enough to defy recent history and claim back-to-back titles?
Pressure on the Hawks post Goorjian
The Illawarra Hawks face a franchise defining season, on-and-off the court.
The departure of super coach Brian Goorjian and a throng of quality players, including Antonius Cleveland, Duop Reath and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, leaves the Hawks vulnerable.
There is also instability off the court in Illawarra, with not all involved happy with the franchise’s direction.
On the plus side, new coach Jacob Jackomas is a quality operator and is as ready as he’ll ever be to handle the step up to the NBL.
Can Adelaide quickly find chemistry?
Across in the City of Churches, Adelaide look ominous after securing Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland.
Franks and reigning NBL Defensive Player of the Year Cleveland give the 36ers impressive depth alongside the likes of Mitch McCarron, Daniel Johnson and Filipino star Kai Sotto.
Chemistry will be the key for the new-look 36ers, who have the talent to compete with the best if they can come together as a team.
Will United’s rebuild post Delly and White work?
If anyone in the NBL can successfully reboot, it’s Melbourne United under Dean Vickerman’s coaching.
Sure, Matthew Dellavedova and Jack White to the NBA are losses, but United have fared well on the recruitment front via imports Rayjon Tucker, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Jordan Caroline.
THIS.... was so close and would have been so so big!
— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) September 10, 2022
We can't wait to see @th3flighttuck in action at JCA! He's just warming up. pic.twitter.com/VaiBsFeYIX
There are particularly high hopes for Tucker, who has spent the past three seasons splitting his time between the NBA, where he has played 39 games for the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and most recently the Milwaukee Bucks, and the G-League.
Phoenix ready to take the next step?
The South East Melbourne Phoenix can’t be the underachievers forever, surely?
The Phoenix are desperate to avenge last season’s sixth-placed finish, especially after they looked destined to make the top four.
South East Melbourne have responded to this disappointment with three decent imports in Alan Williams, Gary Browne and Trey Kell.
Watch for star forward Mitch Creek to have another standout season, but he needs more help.
Tassie fairytale a once off?
The JackJumpers delivered one of great fairytale stories in Australian sport with their historic surge to last season’s grand final series.
No one expected the JackJumpers to reach the deciding series, but the men from Tassie believed.
Scott Roth and Josh Magette chat to the media as the boys prepare for takeoff to the top end for the NBL Blitz âœˆï¸ ðŸŠ pic.twitter.com/qrJHSeaYjP
— Tasmania JackJumpers 🜠(@JackJumpers) September 15, 2022
Can they back it up again this season? Many will count them out, especially after losing gun guard Josh Adams, but this noise won’t bother uncompromising and confident coach Scott Roth.
NBL rankings: Top 10 imports who will take Aus by storm
A King being tipped to lead the league in assists, a former Miami Heat record-breaker who played alongside the legendary Dwyane Wade and countless big game NBA and European experience.
That’s a wrap of the impressive imports set to star in the NBL this season.
Ahead of the annual pre-season Blitz, tipping off in Darwin on Friday, we rank the league’s top 10 imports.
These rankings will be reassessed at the completion of the Blitz.
1: Derrick Walton Jr (Sydney Kings)
Sydney Kings officials are raving about Walton Jr’s slick passing during training camp.
The former Detroit Pistons guard led the G League in assists this year, and the Kings are tipping him to replicate this record in the NBL.
Walton Jr, who has played 45 NBA games for the Heat, Clippers, and Pistons, is focused on achieving success in Australia to return to America.
“If I do what I need to do in the NBL, then the rest will take care of itself, in terms of playing in the NBA again,” Walton Jr said.
“The Australian league is tough from the top to the bottom, so I’ll have to be up for the challenge.”
What a sight 😠pic.twitter.com/TUY4cyBtbq
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) August 22, 2022
2: Tyler Johnson (Brisbane Bullets)
This high ranking is based off past NBA performances and overall talent, but there are question marks given he hasn’t played much in the past 12 months.
Johnson has signed two 10-day contracts since 2021, which has significantly impacted his playing time.
Put this aside, though, and you can’t question the guard’s NBA resume.
He has played 373 NBA games for five clubs while he has played alongside icons like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Johnson can play, but it could take time for him to find his feet in the NBL.
He owns a special @MiamiHEAT
— Courier Mail Sport (@cmail_sport) August 18, 2022
record and played with Aron Baynes at the @Suns - now Tyler Johnson has reunited with the big Boomer in Brisbane.
STORY: https://t.co/4PcwD2qiEJ@aronbaynes@BrisbaneBullets@mattlogue7@Pusha650#NBL23pic.twitter.com/RMSHsMFLb5
3: Jarrell Brantley (New Zealand Breakers)
At 201 centimetres and 113 kilograms, Brantley is an imposing figure on the court, and was a standout for the LA Clippers during the recent NBA Summer League.
Brantley boasts extensive NBA experience at the Utah Jazz, appearing 41 times across two seasons, including four playoff games from 2019 to 2021.
Breakers’ coach Mody Maor said the 26-year-old was his number one target to replace departing forward Finn Delany.
4: Alan Williams (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Nicknamed the ‘Big Sauce’, Williams brings a big game and reputation to the NBL.
The 203cm centre grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, playing his college ball at UC Santa Barbara, where he finished his career as the team‘s all-time leading rebounder and second all-time leading scorer.
Williams finally got his NBA chance when he signed for his hometown team, the Phoenix Suns, on a 10-day contract in 2016. He landed a multi-year deal on the back of his strong play during that 10-day stint.
He spent two years with the Suns, becoming the first player in Suns history to record five straight double doubles off the bench.
ENERGY!!!!!🗣🗣🗣 https://t.co/GlCqIofJ59
— BigSauce (@alantwilliams) September 11, 2022
5: Rayjon Tucker (Melbourne United)
The high-flying American has spent the past three seasons splitting his time between the NBA, where he has played 39 games for the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and most recently the Milwaukee Bucks, and the G-League.
Across his 61 career games in the G-League, Tucker has used his athleticism and quick trigger from deep to average 21.3 points, six rebounds, and over three assists per game, while becoming the all-time leading scorer for the Wisconsin Herd.
6: Justin Simon (Sydney Kings)
One of the NBL’s best defenders is back in the league.
Simon was a defensive force in his debut NBL season with the Hawks, winning the 2020-21 Damian Martin Award as the NBL’s Best Defensive Player, and regularly putting the clamps on the league’s best guards such as Bryce Cotton and Casper Ware.
Last season he signed with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany’s top-level Bundesliga and while again winning the league’s defensive player of the year award, demonstrated his offensive abilities in Europe’s Champions League.
7: Trey Kell (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Kell completed four years of college at San Diego State before beginning his professional career in Bosnia in 2018. Since then, he has plied his trade in Canada, Hong Kong, Poland, and Italy.
Kell, a naturalised Syrian, represents his adopted country in international competitions after agreeing with the Syrian Basketball Federation to represent the country.
On his debut in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification, Kell recorded 35 points, six rebounds and six assists.
8: Gary Browne (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
An elite-level point guard who controls the tempo of a game, Browne was raised in San Juan in Puerto Rico before moving to the United States for high school in Florida, and then playing college at West Virginia University.
9: Brady Manek (Perth Wildcats)
Following an outstanding college career, the 23-year-old sharpshooter is primed for his first professional season.
After four impressive years of college basketball at the University of Oklahoma, Manek transferred to the University of North Carolina and played an essential role in UNC’s run to the 2022 NCAA championship game.
Exciting new import Brady Manek spoke to the media following today's practice, sharing how he's been finding basketball in Australia so far.
— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) September 13, 2022
Full presser: https://t.co/cpw2DXqYEFpic.twitter.com/mEfRKZhFt3
He averaged 15.1 points per game and scored over 40 per cent from behind the arc for the Tar Heels on his way to earning the Riley Wallace Player of the Year Award -given to the top transfer player in college basketball.
10: Craig Randall II (Adelaide 36ers)
The 193cm combo guard with a 6’9 (206cm) wingspan is coming off an NBA Summer League title with Portland. He played for the Long Island Nets in the NBA G-League last season, averaging 26.7 points, 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Randall II impressed with the Nets, becoming their first player to have back-to-back 40-point games and won the league’s Most Improved Player award.
THE REST
11: Jordan Caroline (Melbourne United)
12: Justin Robinson (Illawarra Hawks)
13: TaShawn Thomas (Perth Wildcats)
14: Barry Brown Jr (New Zealand Breakers)
15: Rashard Kelly (Tasmania JackJumpers)
16: Milton Doyle (Tasmania JackJumpers)
17: DJ Hogg (Cairns Taipans)
18: Tim Soares (Sydney Kings)
19: Dererk Pardon (New Zealand Breakers)
20: Shannon Scott (Cairns Taipans)
21: George King (Illawarra Hawks)
22: Devondrick Walker (Brisbane Bullets)
Originally published as Basketball 2022: NBL’s biggest talking points ahead of season being tipped to be one of the finest
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