Talking points: NBL urged to emulate rugby league’s Immortals to honour greatest players

When it comes to honouring past greats, rugby league has it down pat. Some believe it’s time for the NBL to do the same for its ‘Immortals’, like Andrew Gaze and company.

Matt Logue

@mattlogue7

6 min read

April 7, 2022 - 6:00AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Basketball

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Calls to introduce the NBL’s Immortals, the underperforming South East Melbourne Phoenix set to re-sign coach Simon Mitchell and a host of key stars, defending champions Melbourne United respond to the “give the rings to the Kings” call, Sydney back the league‘s decision to block Perth’s import and who are the NBL’s most underrated players?

All that in this week’s NBL talking points ahead of round 19, with Matt Logue.

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Which players should the NBL immortalise?

MAKE THEM IMMORTAL

The NBL has been urged to introduce its own version of rugby league’s Immortals to honour the league’s greatest players.

The NBL’s Hall of Fame division sits within the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame, which includes the WNBL/national teams and has inducted 106 former players, coaches, officials and contributors in an illustrious list.

Recent talk hailing Perth star guard Bryce Cotton the greatest NBL import has prompted commentators, the media, and the public alike to take a deeper look at the league’s history and who is actually the greatest.

NBL legend and championship winner Chris Anstey is one who would like to see the league’s the list of greatest players narrowed down to become more prestigious.

Basketball could emulate rugby league’s Immortals concept or the AFL’s Australian football Hall of Fame Legends, which both honour their competition’s finest players.

Rugby League’s Immortal is the greatest honour a player can receive, and it is widely considered that to earn the accolade he needs to have changed the game or had an impact beyond his career.

Perth star Bryce Cotton is considered one of the NBL’s greatest players. Picture: Getty Images

Anstey would like to see the NBL honour its greatest players with an Immortal concept that would supplement Basketball Australia’s Hall of Fame.

“The Hall of Fame is an incredible thing, but I think there is scope to honour the greatest players as a separate concept,” Anstey said.

“I think the important thing is to continually revisit it. Don’t just put the players on a wall somewhere and say, ‘congratulations, you’re one of the best’ and forget about it and lock the door.

“No, let’s open the door and honour our greatest players going right back in history.

“I want to see more of the greatness that set the bar for how great the league is today.

“For too long, the greats our game have been out of sight and out of mind for too long.

“However, we honour the greatest players, I want to see them and tell stories about them.”

Bullets great Leroy Loggins is arguably the NBL’s greatest player. Picture: Supplied

Anstey believes an Immortal concept would also work for Basketball Australia, with an honour for the greatest players like Lauren Jackson, Gaze and Luc Longley and Eddie Palubinskas.

Potential NBL Immortals:

Leroy Loggins, Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace, James Crawford, Darryl McDonald, Cal Bruton and Bryce Cotton

FORGET THE RECORD, MITCHELL A DONE DEAL AT ‘NIX

The underperforming South East Melbourne Phoenix are poised to show faith in coach Simon Mitchell and re-sign him on a multi-year deal.

The Phoenix were rated as championship contenders at the start of the season, but they have struggled to match the hype in a disappointing campaign.

The Phoenix look set to show faith in coach Simon Mitchell with a contract extension. Picture: Getty Images.

South East Melbourne sit in sixth position with 12 wins and 11 losses, but the third-year franchise is determined to look at the future.

Coach Mitchell is respected by his players and the club believes it can be successful with him at the helm despite a poor 2021-2022 season.

It’s also understood that the Phoenix are in strong positions to re-sign key stars Mitch Creek and Ryan Broekhoff while experts believe the club needs to sign a scoring creator to strengthen the current roster.

UNITED RESPOND TO CHAMPIONSHIP HYPE

It’s fair to say the recent “give the rings to the Kings now” call has had a motivating impact on defending champions Melbourne United.

NBL commentator Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams caused a stir online when he boldly declared that Sydney should be handed the championship now.

Iâ€™ve seen enough. GIVE THE RINGS TO THE KINGS.#NBL22
— Corey â€œHomicideâ€ Williams (@chomicide) April 3, 2022

“I’ve seen enough – GIVE THE RINGS TO THE KINGS,” Williams tweeted as the Kings dominated the JackJumpers last round.

The Kings have been scintillating, winning 10 straight, but United remain the benchmark when it comes to their toughness and owning the big moments.

Melbourne displayed these qualities in spades in Monday’s impressive win over the Wildcats in Perth, admittedly without key cog Mitch Norton.

All roads to this year’s championship will have to go through Melbourne, and while the ultra-talented Kings are more than capable of dethroning the champs, it’s too early to call a clear winner.

Throw in Brian Goorjian’s in-form Illawarra Hawks and the Wildcats at full-strength, and this year’s title is wide open.

KINGS BACK NBL ON WILDCATS IMPORT

The Perth Wildcats are “disappointed” with the NBL’s decision to deny the club’s request to add American player John Brown III to its roster beyond the deadline, but the Wildcats have received little sympathy from the rest of the league.

Imports must play at least 25 per cent of the season (seven games) to be eligible for the finals.

The Wildcats began the process of registering Brown on 15 March, 11 days ahead of the deadline, but complications with his former club in Russia and the FIBA clearance process led to significant delays.

Given these delays and the exceptional circumstances surrounding Brown’s departure from Russia over concerns of a humanitarian crisis, the Wildcats requested the NBL exercise its discretion to waive the finals eligibility rule.

Kings owner and chairman Paul Smith pictured at his office in Crows Nest. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The NBL denied Perth and Kings owner and chairman Paul Smith understands the league’s stance.

“We support the league’s decision – the rules are the rules,” Smith said.

“There were extraordinary circumstances, but no club can sit there and go through the loophole.

“You’ve got to drive through the front door – you can’t go through the backdoor.

“That is just poor management in my view.”

NBL’S MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER

We’ve heard about the NBL’s best players, but what about the underrated cogs that every team needs?

We’ve put together a list of players who play vital roles on their teams, but receive the public hype or headlines they deserve.

Kings big man Jarell Martin may not receive the headlines like teammates Jaylen Adams or Xavier Cooks but he is equally influential. Picture: Getty Images

These players are hugely respected by their teammates, and rated in some quarters, but don’t pick up the widespread praise.

Who is your pick? Who would you add in?

These questions and more will be answered in News Corp’s exclusive NBL Players’ Poll out next week.

MILESTONES:

> Bullets forward Lamar Patterson will play his 100th NBL against the Hawks on Saturday

> The Cairns Taipans will play their 700th NBL game on Sunday against Melbourne United

> Veteran forward Dave Barlow will play his 200th game for Melbourne United on Thursday night against the South East Melbourne Phoenix

David Barlow has given the NBL so much as a player. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

KEY STAT: The Sydney Kings are closing in on the franchise’s greatest winning streak from the 2005/2006 season when they won 15 straight games before losing to the Melbourne Tigers in the grand final series.

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Count 'em, yep, that's 10 straight wins for the @SydneyKings in #NBL22 ðŸ‘€

Can the Kings take the ultimate crown? ðŸ† pic.twitter.com/QqllcR6aNp
— The NBL (@NBL) April 5, 2022