Logue Down: NBL fixture chaos on eve of new season, Covid forces United to isolate
It was looking dicey when Melbourne United’s training facility was shut down over a Covid scare, but Matthew Dellavedova’s debut has been given the green light.
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Matthew Dellavedova’s anticipated NBL debut for Melbourne United will go ahead despite a Covid scare shutting down the club’s training facility.
With less than 48 hours until the NBL champions are set to open their pre-season Blitz schedule against New Zealand Breakers at MSAC, players, coaches and staff have been forced to isolate at home.
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The possible exposure occurred when a staff member attended the facility on Wednesday, only to discover, later that evening, they were a close contact of a positive case.
The staff member has since returned a negative test, meaning Saturday’s opening Blitz game against the Breakers will be played as planned.
It’s a huge relief for Melbourne and the competition given Dellavedova – the league’s marquee off-season signing – will make his first NBL appearance following a decorated NBA career to date, which includes a championship at Cleveland in 2016 alongside superstar LeBron James.
The NBL had considered moving United’s game as a precaution while the staff member completes mandatory quarantine.
Melbourne also plays against the Sydney Kings on Monday before taking on the Illawarra Hawks next Saturday, November 20.
United also released a statement on Thursday, stressing the club had to put the players and the league’s welfare first.
“As a precautionary measure, the facility has been closed for cleaning, and players, coaches and staff were advised to remain home and isolate until further notice,” a United spokesman said.
All Melbourne United players, coaches and staff have been fully vaccinated.
It’s understood the close contact was also double vaccinated.
Mitch annointed as Sixers’ captain
New Adelaide 36ers captain Mitch McCarron insists he won’t be a dictator with the little ‘c’ next to his name, urging his teammates to collectively lift and lead the 36ers back to the NBL playoffs.
The 36ers unveiled McCarron as their skipper on Thursday, after the star recruit impressed his teammates and the coaching staff during the pre-season.
Fresh off a championship with Melbourne United, the Alice Springs-born guard wants to pass on his title-winning habits to help Adelaide climb up the ladder.
McCarron, though, won’t lead the 36ers with a whip as captain and wants his teammates to contribute to the team’s direction.
“It’s not like, ‘Mitch is just going to take this thing over’, it’s on everyone to pull their weight and push this thing forward,” McCarron said.
“The guys were trying to build something last year and even though we have a relatively fresh group this season, we still have guys who have been around the traps.
“Guys like DJ (Johnson), Sunday (Dech) and Isaac (Humphries), we are going to lean on those guys to talk about what worked and what didn’t last year.
“We have a group that’s really motivated, and we can use this leadership group to set standards and get to where want this season.
“It’s exciting to be named captain for the first time and I’ll wear it with a badge of honour.”
Adelaide chairman Grant Kelley welcomed McCarron’s appointment as captain.
“In a short period of time Mitch has established himself as a leader of our club both on and off the court,” Kelley said.
“We feel this is the right appointment to take our Club to the next level of performance.”
The 36ers open their pre-season NB: Blitz campaign on Sunday against the Cairns Taipans in Tasmania.
No average Zhou: Qi Phoenix’s new big show
Chinese tower Zhou Qi is about to give South East Melbourne Phoenix fans something they have never seen at the club.
Sharpshooter Cam Gliddon says teammates were wowed by Zhou - pronounced Jo - in a practice game against New Zealand Breakers.
Gliddon says the 216cm giant is the dominant centre the Phoenix has never had in its young history.
“When Zhou came in, (it) just took our team to another level,” Gliddon said at the club’s annual media day.
“We’ve never really had a guy that can dominate the middle like that.
“(Against New Zealand) he really showed what he can do and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“We’re really looking forward to having him and we’re really happy he’s here.”
The Phoenix stretched the eventual champions Melbourne United to three games in the NBL semi finals last season, but Gliddon says his side is already better prepared.
“I think we are miles ahead of last year,” he said.
“We’ve got some great pieces and everyone’s hungry and competitive and ready to go, ready to beat up on some other teams.
“That’s a good sight to see.”
Gliddon has been forced to do a lot of watching as he recovers from off-season hip surgery, but his teammates would agree another good sight to see is his return to the court.
The marksman says he’s an outside chance of suiting up in Saturday night’s NBL Blitz pre-season opener against Sydney at MSAC.
“This is my first week doing half court scrimmage and advancing that straight to a game, it’s a pretty big jump,” he said.
“I was able to get a few reps yesterday with the younger fellas while the older fellas were having a rest day.
“We will see how the games look, (at the) end of the week and next week, hopefully I can play a few minutes.
“It really is up to the physios, they’re the experts and I take their advice on it.”
WHY WORLD IS WATCHING OUR BASKETBALLERS
Boomers star Dante Exum remains an outside chance to join the NBL, with the South East Melbourne Phoenix still interested in the veteran guard to fill the club’s final roster spot.
Exum’s career is in limbo after he was waived by the Houston Rockets, just a month after signing a three-year non-guaranteed contract with the club.
The Aussie guard was set to earn a base value of $10.9 million and $10.8 million in incentives, but the Rockets released him on the eve of the NBA season.
Exum remains stranded on the sidelines as his management weighs up all options, including a stint in the NBA’s second-tier G League.
If he is unable to secure another NBA or G League deal, South East Melbourne are keen to offer him a contract to play in Australia.
The Phoenix have spoken to Exum’s manager about his movements and would accommodate him should he decide to return home.
The Melbourne-born guard is also a part-owner of the Phoenix and the franchise want to help him relaunch his NBA career with a short-term stint in the NBL.
South East Melbourne CEO Tom Greer confirmed the club’s continued interest in Exum.
“That final roster spot is still available, and Dante could still be an option,” Greer said.
“We are down to the last couple of names, including a few names in Europe, and we are hoping to have something done in the next fortnight or so.”
NBL fixture chaos on eve of new season
Western Australia’s border closure has forced the NBL to revise the 2021-2022 draw, just three weeks out from the season starting.
The NBL sent all 10 clubs an adjusted draw on Monday to cater for the Western Australian government’s decision not to open the border until the state reaches a 90 per cent double vaccination rate, which is not likely to occur until January or early February.
It means the Perth Wildcats will play most of its games at home in the early rounds before going on the road for a period.
The Wildcats can’t play against Sydney, Melbourne, and New Zealand due to coronavirus restrictions, meaning Adelaide and the Queensland teams will head west.
The NBL will only revise the first six rounds before reassessing the border situation in Western Australia, much like the AFL’s floating draw that was released in blocks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s understood the NBL will release its revised season draw on Wednesday.
SIMMONS TROLLED IN SAVAGE HEALTH CARE SLEDGE
Ben Simmons’ handling of his trade circus with the Philadelphia 76ers is even getting trolled within health circles in Melbourne.
Grampians Community Health, which provides aged care, disability, and mental health services, posted a cheeky job advertisement.
The ad asks: ‘Looking for a change of scenery?’ – Grampians Community Health is hiring’, accompanied with a picture of an unhappy Simmons on his first day back at 76ers training when he clearly doesn’t want to be there amid the ugly trade standoff.
Jokes aside, the sooner Simmons can get back on the floor, and be traded, the better because he is talent that we’d all like to see maximise his potential on the NBA stage.
NBA TEAMS EYE AUSSIE TALENT IN MAJOR INVESTMENT
The NBA’s interest in Australian basketball has reached an all-time high, with teams hiring multiple scouts to monitor the NBL and the junior ranks.
Boomers legend Chris Anstey is one of countless Aussie hoops officials, legends and coaches who have been sought out by NBA teams to evaluate and scout talent.
Anstey has unofficial roles with Dallas and the LA Clippers, former NBL forward Mark Worthington is with the Washington Wizards while ex-Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright has links with several teams, including the Indiana Pacers.
According to Worthington, Australian basketball is in the midst of a “perfect storm” for NBA teams to target with strong local talent combined with veterans looking for a second chance and an NBL competition that has international NBA draft prospects from Germany (Ariel Hukporti, Melbourne United) and France (Ousmane Dieng, New Zealand Breakers).
“I think we get both sides of the spectrum here in the NBL,” Worthington said.
“The pipeline of the Next Stars has been successful in providing the next NBA draft prospect like Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball, but probably the underrated part of the NBL is the journeyman and the league has proven to be a pathway for those guys as well.
“The NBL is now one of the top-tier leagues outside of the NBA. To even say that we could be a top-tier league even five years ago, it would have been almost laughable.
“But it is the perfect storm that has brewed and got us to the point where the NBL is an absolute pathway to the NBA.”
Boomers and Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian believes the two key off-season signings of Chinese star Zhou Qi (Phoenix) and rising Aussie big Duop Reath (Illawarra) will attract significant NBA eyeballs.
“It legitimises the league when guys like that sign,” said Goorjian, who has already had multiple Chinese players express interest in playing in the NBL.
“When I heard that the NBL had secured Zhou given my time coaching in China I thought, oh wow. That is big.”
UNITED LOCK IN VICKERMAN
Three-time championship-winning Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has the chance to become one of the NBL’s most successful mentors after signing a new two-year extension.
Vickerman is locked in for long-term stint at United, with his latest contract renewal to help him reach 10 years as an NBL head coach.
“The club has talked to me for some time about how they see me as a leader,” Vickerman said.
“Right now, the head coach role is where they see the most value in me and I’m enjoying it.
“There are great challenges within this group, with our developing stars and our veterans.
“At times there has been different interest from different places in the world, but I’m pretty happy where I am, and the family is happy.
“I love the journey that we’re on.”
Vickerman has also had discussions about potentially taking on a GM of Basketball role post his coaching career.
He feels like his experience as a player and four-time championship-winning assistant coach will serve him well in a front-office role.
“I’ve had chats with the club about different options and that I want to stay in the sport long-term,” he said.
“There will come a time when I’m not the right person to be the head coach, but I still feel like I can add value in different areas.
“Probably more the basketball GM role – a role that takes more into the business side rather than just the coaching.”
KINGS CHASE MORE HATE
The Sydney Kings enjoy their rivalry with Illawarra, but they believe their hate would go to another level with the introduction of a second Sydney team.
The Harbour City has been a one town city since the Western Sydney Razorbacks folded in 2009 while there is a lockout in place for a second Sydney team until 2026.
Kings chairman and owner Paul Smith says it’s inevitable that there will be a second Sydney team in the NBL.
“I’ve tried to make a derby with Illawarra, and it is there or there abouts, but if have another team in Sydney we’ll take their eyes out just on principal,” Smith said.
“I’ll take it above hate for that one.
“There has to be another Sydney team – logic says that.
“We’ve got a lockout in place for five more years, but that said the work we are doing now at the King is laying a foundation for a second team.
“We’ve got to build that demand, awareness and anticipation.”
BOOMERS BIG PRIMED TO DOMINATE
Boomers big man Duop Reath has the ability to “revolutionise” the NBL this season, according to Illawarra and Australian coach Brian Goorjian.
Reath has impressed at Hawks training following his bronze medal winning Olympic stint with Australia at the Tokyo Games.
He didn’t play big minutes in Japan, but Goorjian is predicting the Sudanese-born big to make a major impression on the NBL.
“Duop has set himself really big goals and that includes becoming a regular on the national team and making the NBA,” Goorjian said.
“He is a centre who has really good vision, he can play at the four and five spots, can shoot and we’re expecting big things from him this year.
“I think he can have a Jock Landale style impact on the league and our team.”
FLAMES SIGN RISING WNBA STAR
The Sydney Flames will boast three top 10 picks from the 2021 WNBA draft this season after signing Dallas Wings guard Chelsea Dungee.
Dungee, who is coming off a stint with Turkish giant Galatasaray in the EuroLeague, was selected by the Wings with the fifth pick.
The signing of the rising shooting guard means the Flames possess three of the top 10 picks from the 2021 WNBA draft, with Shyla Heal (8, Chicago) and the Flames other import guard Steph Watts (10, Los Angeles).
Flames coach Shane Heal believes Dungee completes the Flames’ roster and will add even more X factor to an already young and dynamic outfit.
“Chelsea is a talented rookie who had a tremendous college career and I believe she is a star of the future,” Heal said.
“She will fit our up-tempo style of basketball as she has an ability to shoot the three or play off the dribble to create and score.
“To have the fifth, eighth and 10th picks in the WNBA’s draft shows how young we really are but also how much upside this group has.”
LIKE
Rising Bendigo-born shooting guard Dyson Daniels made his first step towards next year’s NBA draft when he starred in his regular season debut for the G League Ignite.
The 18-year-old, who opted to play in America’s second-tier G League over the NBL’s Next Stars program, dropped a team-high 22 points while adding six rebounds and three assists.
Big things are expected of Daniels – a product of the NBA Global Academy in Canberra who is projected lottery pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Watch this space.
DISLIKE
Western Australia’s refusal to open its border until at least February is a ridiculous decision that will throw the NBL schedule into chaos.
SHOOSH
Which popular Australian NBA star could be headed Down Under next year to conduct coaching clinics?
Let’s just say, this player has become a fan favourite and the kids will be lining up to attend.
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Originally published as Logue Down: NBL fixture chaos on eve of new season, Covid forces United to isolate
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