Exclusive NBL player poll: Hoops stars have their say on Australian basketball’s biggest issues

There are plenty of hot takes on who is Australian basketball’s best right now, but who gets the players’ tick? The NBL’s stars have had their say in our exclusive player poll. VOTE

The NBL’s stars have spoken – the referees need to do a better job for the Australian league to continue its rapid rise.

51 of the 75 players and coaches polled in News Corp’s exclusive NBL survey said no when asked if the referees are doing a good job.

Inconsistency is the main concern among the players and coaches.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE SURVEY RESULTS AND TO CAST YOUR VOTE

A host of players told me the referees have changed the way they officiate this year compared to last three years.

The players feel the officials are allowing more contact and physicality than previous seasons.

NBL legend, championship winner and league MVP Chris Anstey believes the officials are doing a decent job, but he’s concerned about the referee’s struggles when officiating big men.

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The NBL’s stars have taken aim at the referees in News Corp's exclusive player poll.

Anstey says the NBL made strides forward in 2019 when NBA and Boomers centre Andrew Bogut starred for the Sydney Kings to win the MVP.

However, he fears the league has regressed when it comes to refereeing big men, as he noticed during a recent Kings versus Breakers game.

Kings guard Jaylen Adams got cross matched onto Breakers big man Yanni Wetzell and bear hugged him to prevent a scoring play.

NBL RUN HOME: HOW THE FINALS RACE IS SHAPING UP

“There was no malice, and Jaylen didn’t intend to hurt, but he intended to not allow Yanni to score,” Anstey said.

“They reviewed the play, and it was called a common foul.

“Could you imagine if Wetzell got crossed matched onto Bryce Cotton at Perth and he thought I’m in trouble here, I don’t want to give up a shot, so I’ll just hug him.

“It would be an unsportsmanlike foul and that is inconsistent.”

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— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) April 14, 2022

Anstey wants the officials not to penalise big men for being physically superior.

He says it’s a struggle he experienced his entire NBL career.

“As a big man, we get penalised our entire league for being too big or too strong if smaller players get cross matched onto us,” he said.

“Yet when we get cross matched onto the perimeter, we are left on an island and absolutely taken advantage of.

“But the minute we put our hand on a guard, it’s a foul.

“I’d love to see consistency and an understanding that there is supposed to be a physical advantage like there is a speed advantage for guards.

“If we want to continually get quality bigs to the league, then we need to continually improve.”

EXPOSE CLUB SPENDING

Club spending becoming public knowledge has long been a big debate in the NBL and the players and coaches agree.

45 of the 75 people who voted believe club spends should be public for transparency purposes.

Major market teams like Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings have long been accused of having an advantage over regional teams like Illawarra or Cairns, but what is the reality?

In contrast, players were strong when saying they didn’t want their wages made public, with a whopping 53 of the 75 polled saying no.

PLAYERS SPLIT ON COPYING THE NBA

The players are torn when it comes to emulating the world’s best league, the NBA.

42 of the 75 polled don’t want the NBL to introduce a play-in finals tournament like the NBA while a majority would like to see the Australian league return to the 48-minute game like the NBA.

Once teammate on the South Dragons, Cortez Groves and Joe Ingles were on opposing sides for the NBL All-Star game. Is it a concept that should return?

ALL-STAR GAME RETURN?

NBL fans haven’t seen the All-Star concept since the 2012-2013 season, but the players want to see it return.

51 of the 75 players and coaches polled would love to participate in an All-Star game.

NBL home grown versus imports perhaps?

NBL PLAYERS’ POLL RESULTS

Bryce and the rest: NBL players have had their say on who they think is the best in the league.

Best player

Bryce Cotton 24

Jaylen Adams 22

Tahjere McCall 10

Mitch Creek 8

Jo Lual-Acuil 8

Most underrated player

Shea Ili 29

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk 22

Yanni Wetzell 16

Kyle Adnam 4

Jason Cadee 4

Most improved player

Jo Lual-Acuil 26

Xavier Cooks 25

Keanu Pinder 16

Kyle Adnam 6

Best coach

Chase Buford 20

Brian Goorjian 18

Dean Vickerman 15

Scott Roth 14

Shea Ili of Melbourne United is hugely respected within the NBL. Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

Best sixth man

Shea Ili 33

Xavier Rathan-Mayes 19

Kyle Adnam 9

Angus Glover 8

Who will win the championship?

Kings 32

United 22

Hawks 11

Wildcats 7

Best rising talent

Bul Kuol 23

Luke Travers 14

Hugo Besson 14

Justinian Jessup 12

Ousmane Dieng 12

Which team do you most like to beat?

United 31

Perth 17

Phoenix 11

Kings 10

If you could sign a player from a rival team, who would you want?

Bryce Cotton 30

Jaylen Adams 14

Xavier Cooks 10

Mitch Creek 9

Most intimidating player

Nate Jawai 29

Bryce Cotton 24

Jo Lual-Acuil 9

Mitch Creek 8

Chris Goulding 5

Cairns veteran Nate Jawai still has the fear factor. Picture: Getty Images

Best defender

Shea Ili 35

Xavier Cooks 24

Zhou Qi 6

Jaylen Adams 5

Matthew Dellavedova 4

Best trash talker

Shaun Bruce 42

Mitch Creek 14

Nathan Sobey 12

Bryce Cotton 4

Which rival coach would you like to play for?

Brian Goorjian 28

Dean Vickerman 16

Chase Buford 13

Scott Roth 11

Best venue

John Cain Arena (Melbourne) 24

Qudos Bank Arena Sydney 22

RAC Arena Perth 22

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— John Cain Arena (@JohnCainArena) April 13, 2022

Where should the next NBL team be located?

Gold Coast 37

Canberra 11

Geelong 11

Sydney 5

Darwin 5

Are the referees doing a good job?

No 51

Yes 24

Should club spends be made public?

Yes 45

No 30

Should player wages be made public?

No 53

Yes 22

Is the coach’s challenge working?

Yes 67

No 8

Should there be a transfer window?

Yes 41

No 34

Should the NBL bring back the All-Star game?

Yes 51

No 24

Should the NBL introduce a play-in finals tournament like the NBA?

No 42

Yes 33

Should the NBL move back to the 48-minute game like the NBA?

Yes 42

No 33

Should players have a six foul limit?

Yes 39

No 36

Should NBL finals games be postponed if players are ruled out due to Covid?

No 44

Yes 31