Crosscourt: All the biggest talking points and interesting moments out of the NBL
Adelaide 36ers have stuck the boot into the Phoenix Suns after their historic victory over the heavyweight NBA franchise.
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For the Adelaide 36ers and coach CJ Bruton, it was about being ready for the moment and seizing their chance to make history.
The new-look NBL outfit did that and more as David took down Goliath and created Australian sporting history, stunning $270 million NBA powerhouse the Phoenix Suns in a result heard around the sporting world.
While the rest of the NBL teams got their new season underway at home the revamped 36ers travelled to the Arizona to take on Phoenix and put the home team to the sword in an unforgettable 134-124 victory.
Just a notice for you 36ers fans, the Sun goes down in Adelaide is at roughly 7.20pm tonight.
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) October 3, 2022
Book it in so you can see your second Sun go down for the day ðŸ˜
Watch the highlights 👇https://t.co/dOiOBWZTNc#WeAreSixers#SwoopTheHoop
Adelaide 36ers…👀
— josh giddey (@joshgiddey) October 3, 2022
It was the first time an NBL team, which has a salary cap of just $1.7 million, has ever beaten an NBA team as the pre-season hitouts resumed for the first time since 2019. The 36ers became the first non-NBA team to win a pre-season game since Fenerbahce beat Brooklyn Nets in October, 2015.
Bruton’s phone blew up in the aftermath of the victory with even fellow NBL coaches sending messages declaring what a proud moment it was for the Australian league.
It was a moment not lost on the coach who had declared it was like Rocky’s battle with Apollo Creed before the game, and, like Rocky, the underdog shocked the world.
“Everyone wants to create history and I needed to remind my players that while we had this opportunity we needed to take advantage of it,” Bruton said from Arizona.
“I’m excited for my boys and the NBL and the 36ers and I’m excited that my family is here and happy and seeing my players happy … it’s not championship but it’s a good start for where our season may begin.
They just beat an NBA squad, but the @Adelaide36ers are "building for what actually counts" and "locked in on the NBL season" and their "championship or bust" campaign 👀#NBL23#NBLxNBApic.twitter.com/1tXYGvUCWB
— The NBL (@NBL) October 3, 2022
THE MOMENT IT WAS CONFIRMED.#WeAreSixers#SwoopTheHooppic.twitter.com/aiZV7a4cFD
— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) October 3, 2022
“I’ve played Olympics, played elite level and travelled around, and this is amazing. The reason why we are here is for the game.
“But that was for our league, it wasn’t just for us, it was for our league standing up.”
While the Suns were playing in their first game since their 2022 playoff exit and they had regular starters Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Miles Bridges, Cam Johnson and DeAndre Ayton, who earn most of the combined $270 Suns annual wage bill, open the game.
But after getting “locked in” during a pre-match shootaround, it was the 36ers, earning a combined $1.7 million this season, who put on the show.
The new Adelaide imports went on an offensive onslaught with Craig Randall II (35 points) and Robert Franks (32 points) who showed their NBA-calibre class in Arizona.
Randall in particular put on a display to get 36ers fans frothing after letting fly from long range and landing nine of his teams 24 three-pointers, weaponry the Suns couldn’t handle, even getting the attention of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
randall, franks & cleveland hooping
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) October 3, 2022
Phoenix got within one-point during a third quarter-rally, but it was all they could muster.
“I think their starters, were, I don’t know if they were shocked, but they probably thought we would drop off,” Bruton said.
“They gave it to us in that second half, that third quarter, to bring it back quickly. Their starting five dominated that quarter. But when they went to their bench we were able to hold them off and make a few big plays as you have to in sport to be successful.
“The guys I recruited to do the job, they did their job well. Our three imports stood up, our Australians stood up, they proved we have got culture and chemistry we are building, it’s just a glimpse of where we can get to.”
Before the match the Suns’ own Australian, former NBL finals MVP Jock Landale, declared the visitors would “come in and play freely” and they did they just that.
There was a considerable lack of intensive defence from the Suns, with the 36ers managing 71 first half points alone. To put that in perspective, through the opening round of the NBL last weekend the match average was 90 points per game.
OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/u3hWLt9Wf9
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 3, 2022
But the visitors refused to take their foot off the pedal in the second-half and while the “shocked” Suns rallied to get to within one point in the third quarter, the 36ers would not be denied in a performance to remember for the NBL outfit.
Bruton also said it was a win for the city of Adelaide, the start of a turnaround after a 10-18 record last season which wasn’t enough for a proud club to make the playoffs.
“This was an opportunity for them to help the city of Adelaide stand up,” he said.
“There’s no better way to start that off, before we come home and play our first home game, to have this under our belt.”
The 36ers revamped the roster during a big off-season, signing important Randall, Franks and Antonius Cleveland, who also had 22 points against the Suns.
Randall II arrived in Adelaide fresh off winning the 2022 NBA Summer League championship in Las Vegas and was a dominant offensive presence against the Suns.
Franks, who had played in the NBA with short stints at the Orlando Magic as well as the Charlotte Hornets, was equally as impressive from the three-point arc, nailing six of 10.
The 36ers will go again this Friday when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Aussie sensation Josh Giddey, who won the NBL’s rookie of the year award before being taken at pick six in the NBA draft, before returning home for their opening clash against the Jackjumpers on October 13.
Bruton, who was going to “watch the video” to prepare rather than revel too long in the victory, said bringing a similar performance was just as important as winning.
“It’s even more important. It’s about the moment and the opportunity,” he said.
“This is about the 36ers coming together. Winning that game doesn’t win us the championship. It sets the stage.
“Playing OKC just adds another layer, this will be Round 2, then we come home. We need to back up.”
It was supposed to be a pre-season exhibition for the Phoenix Suns but instead it was the Adelaide 36ers who put a show to remember stunning the full-strength NBA outfit with a shooting display which made history.
While the rest of the NBL teams got their new season underway last weekend the revamped 36ers took their own new-look roster to Phoenix and made the home team look pedestrian in an unforgettable 134-124 victory in Arizona in the first of two games in the US this week.
It was the first time an NBL team has ever beaten an NBA team as the pre-season hitouts resumed for the first time since 2019.
The new-look 36ers signalled their intent to be an NBL force to be reckoned with this season after an offensive onslaught from new imports Craig Randall II (35 points) and Robert Franks (32 points) showing their NBA-calibre class in Arizona.
Randall in particular put on a display to get 36ers fans frothing after letting fly from long range and landing nine of his teams 23 three-pointers, weaponry the Suns, boasting a line-up including NBA great Chris Paul and superstar Devin Booker, couldn’t handle.
"I have never seen anything like this, NBA included."
— The NBL (@NBL) October 3, 2022
He said what he said.#NBLxNBApic.twitter.com/qQxbaRAZ2I
Before the match the Suns’ own Australian, former NBL finals MCP Jock Landale, declared the visitors would “come in and play freely” and they did they just that.
There was a considerable lack of intensive defence from the Suns, with the 36ers managing 71 first half points alone. To put that in perspective, through the opening round of the NBL last weekend was 90 points per game.
But the visitors refused to take their foot off the pedal in the second-half and while the Suns rallied to get to within one point in the third quarter, the 36ers would not be denied in a performance to remember for the NBL outfit.
Randall II arrived in Adelaide fresh off winning the 2022 NBA Summer League championship in Las Vegas and was a dominant offensive presence against the Suns.
Franks, who had played in the NBA with short stints at the Orlando Magic as well as the Charlotte Hornets, was equally as impressive from the three-point arc, nailing six of 10.
It was more alarming for the Suns, who topped the NBA’ Western Conference with 64 wins last season, but were bundled out in the second round of the playoffs.
The Suns are losing to the Adelaide 36ers with their full starting 5 right now. pic.twitter.com/dP41elOV3g
— Bryson🻠(@BrysonWright3) October 3, 2022
Adelaide revamped its roster during a big off-season, signing important Randall, Franks and Antonius Cleveland, who also had 22 points against the Suns.
The 36ers will go again this Friday when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder and Aussie sensation Josh Giddey, who won the NBL’s rookie of the year award before being taken at pick six in the NBA draft.
In a new weekly basketball column, Matt Logue and Michael Randall look at the big issues and interesting moments out of the NBL.
Mangok’s aggression noted
The Illawarra Hawks have picked up a world-class player in former NBA big man Mangok Mathiang, but they could have a battle on their hands trying to reign in his temperament.
Mathiang raised eyebrows with his aggression in his NBL debut against the Sydney Kings on Saturday night.
The Sudan-born centre, who has played four NBA games for the Charlotte Hornets, imposed himself physically on the Kings.
Mathiang’s aggression overflowed in the fourth quarter when he was called for an unsportsmanlike foul for whacking Kings big man Tim Soares.
Soares up faked, prompting Mathiang to launch into the air and come down hard on the Brazilian.
This prompted Sydney star Xavier Cooks to approach the Illawarra big man and the pair exchanged words.
Mathiang’s intensity won’t surprise those at Melbourne United after he trained with the club in the pre-season — and basically tried to prove he was better than everyone in the gym.
Players and refs urged to come together
That’s the opinion of Brisbane Bullets GM and league legend Sam Mackinnon, who believes the men with the whistle don’t communicate with the players like they did during his career.
The referees have been in the spotlight this week after Melbourne United centre Isaac Humphries was fined $1500 after he went on radio and gave an honest answer to a question about the much-maligned refs, saying they were “not great”.
Mackinnon stressed he is not criticising the referees personally as he understands their difficult job, but he would like to see more communication between the whistle blowers and the players.
“They don’t talk to the players anymore,” Mackinnon said.
“Back when I played you knew the referees by names, so you had close relationships with them.
“Whereas I don’t see that now from what I’ve observed.
“I feel like we are in a different era and that is across the board in the game.”
Mackinnon says poor communication between officials and the players also extends to the grassroots of the game.
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“I’ve coached in juniors, and you can’t talk to the referees anymore,” he said.
“The referees are taught to walk away, and I’ve seen it at all levels.
“For me I think we’ve lost the art of communication in that space.”
There have been quiet nods of agreement with Humphries’ comments in clubland — and more vocal backing from fans.
The NBL only has two full-time referees, the rest part-timers. United coach Dean Vickerman said the league had made a “strong statement” with Humphries’ sanction but hoped to see more full-time whistleblowers in the near future.
Mackinnon agrees with Vickerman, stressing the NBL will only get better if the league invests more in the referee ranks.
“There are not enough referees – that is the reality of it,” he said.
“We might not have the resources, but we’ve got to slowly chip away at it to have more than two referees full-time.
“That would benefit everyone in the game. I’d like a full-time physio if I had the money.
“You get better when you have full-time staff.”
United’s kingsize hole
The season-ending injury to Ariel Hukporti has clearly left a kingsize defensive hole in United’s interior and, on today’s performance, the club’s brains trust will have some thinking to do about how best to fill that void.
After striking out on a last-ditch bid for Zhou Qi, there have been rumblings of a potential import swap. But it’s understood this will only occur as a last resort, with coach Dean Vickerman concerned at how this will impact team culture and also the potential addition by subtraction of losing a player from one position and adding the other.
“Like any team, when you lose a player, you do your due diligence and what’s available and all those kind of things,” Vickerman said.
“We’re certainly in no rush, right now. We just want to get this group together and see what this group’s really capable of and move forward from there.”
Although he fills a similar role to Shea Ili, Xavier Rathan-Mayes put everyone on notice with a stunning performance against the Breakers, while Jordan Caroline does not have the size to play centre.
The NBL is yet to tick off on United’s request to chase a Next Star to replace Hukporti. Any other move would result in a roster change.
At the end of the day, winning breeds culture and, if push comes to shove, there could be big changes at United.
New King stakes instant MVP claim
Former Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Walton Jr has emerged as an immediate MVP candidate following one of the all-time great import debuts in Sydney Kings history.
Walton Jr stuffed the stat sheet to finish with a game-high 32 points, eight assists, four rebounds and one steal to help the Kings beat arch rivals Illawarra.
There is a reason News Corp ranked the ex-NBA guard the NBL’s best new import prior to the pre-season Blitz.
This column admits our coverage caused a stir within the Kings ranks when Walton came in at No.9 in the league’s top 20 players despite previously being hailed as the No.1 import before a game was played.
Kings fans took to social media to praise the club for Walton’s memorable debut. “Chris Pongrass does it again. Lose the MVP, sign an MVP candidate.”
Why every point counts, literally
To give you an idea just how tight those in the know think the NBL is going to be this season, Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell revealed his thinking behind an interesting moment right at the end of his side’s win over the JackJumpers.
With the Phoenix up three with 0.6 left on the clock, Kyle Adnam walked to the free throw line to give his side an unassailable lead. Adnam immediately turned to Mitchell to ask if he should miss the second free throw if he made the first, to ensure the JackJumpers could not even it up on a Hail Mary.
Mitchell wasn’t having it, fearing percentage could be the difference in a loaded ladder race:
“This is where our league’s at and this is where it’s going to be this season.”
“You’ve got to make that free throw, because it may be the difference between making finals and not making finals.
“The league is going to be ridiculous this year. I want every point we can get.”
It’s a good thing, too, because, had Mitchell directed Adnam to miss the second, it would have robbed the 28-year-old of the first 30-point game of his NBL career.
Roth’s heartfelt message
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth became a favourite across the NBL last season as he led his side all the way to the grand final.
After Saturday night’s loss to the Phoenix, before he spoke about his side’s performance, he reminded us all that basketball really is just a game with a heartfelt message to the Harris family.
Jo Harris, wife of JackJumpers board member and Beacon Foundation chief executive Scott Harris, is battling ovarian cancer.
“First, I’d like to start by giving our best wishes out to the Harris family,” Roth said.
“Scott Harris is one of our board members, his wife Jo is in a battle for her life with cancer.
“We’ve been thinking about her this past week. She had a big surgery the other day and our thoughts and prayers are with the Harris family the two boys and Jo as she continues to fight her battle.”
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