NBL1 East Finals: We rank the 30 most important players set to take the floor in the finals

With eight men’s and women’s team remaining in the hunt for NBL1 East glory, we rank the 30 most important players in the finals, including NBL/WNBL talent and the game’s future stars.

The stars of the NBL1 East finals: Pictures: @DiscoveryOne_Photography/Aaron Camua/Adrian Dark

The 22-round regular season is over and it’s time for the elite talent of the NBL1 East competition to step up.

With NBL and WNBL talent on the floor, plus the rising stars of basketball in NSW and imports looking to earn an elite league spot, this season has given us everything.

We look at the current and ex-elite preofessional level talent that will feature this weekend.

NBL

The BA Centre of Excellence tasted defeat just twice in the regular season, with two newly-contracted NBL young guns leading the way.

Ben Henshall (Perth Wildcats) and Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings) have both been picked up for the new season, with the latter as a Next Star.

Former King Anatoly Bose is hoping to keep Norths alive in a do-or-die clash against another ex-King in Lochlan Hutchison when they host Sutherland.

Ben Kearins had development player with experience with the Kings from 2014-16 and now lines up for Hills.

WNBL

Manly Warringah pair Alex Delaney and Kimberley Hodge have previous experience with the Sydney Flames have continued that form for the minor premiers.

American import Nicole Munger has brought her strong form over from the WNBL with the Canberra Captials to the Newcastle Falcons.

Emma Donnelly had a stint with the Sydney Flames last season and has been big for Norths, as has another ex-Flame in Maddie O’Hehir.

MVP contender and WNBL veteran Lauren Nicholson (Sydney Flames) is leading the charge for Sutherland, along with former flame Maddy Norris.

Former capital Shakera Reilly is leading the way at Maitland.

The Sydney Comets have a trio with WNBL talent, namely Vanessa Panousis (Sydney Flames), Shyla Heal (Townsville Flames, unsigned for 2023 yet) and Jada Crawshaw (Flames, unsigned 2023).

30 MOST IMPORTANT FINALS PLAYERS

NBL1 FINALS FIXTURES

MEN

BA Centre of Excellence (1st) vs Newcastle (8th)

Norths (4th) vs Sutherland (5th)

Inner West (2nd) vs Maitland (7th)

Canberra (3rd) vs Hills (6th)

WOMEN

BA Centre of Excellence (4th) vs Sutherland (5th)

Norths (3rd) vs Maitland (6th)

Newcastle (2nd) vs Sydney (7th)

Manly Warringah (1st) vs Albury-Wodonga (8th)