News Corp experts reveal their SuperCoach teams for NBL25

How do you put together a winning SuperCoach NBL team? Basketball guru MICHAEL RANDALL reveals his line-up with two days to go until tipoff.

I’ve made so many changes to my team, especially over the past couple of weeks.

And this may not be exactly what I start with, but this is where I’ve settled as of Tuesday.

A few things I look for when picking my team – value guys who can make money (Prather, Olbrich, Hickey, Henshall), cheaper guys who have the potential for premo production (White, Prather, Harrison, Ili) and dual-position guys who provide roster flexibility (Groves, Prather, Olbrich, Oliver, Henshall).

Here’s my starting line-up.

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FORWARDS

Tanner Groves (CNS) $277,000 CTR/FWD

Just liked the look of the big rig in Cairns at the Blitz. Plays hard, shoots the three-ball, rebounds and has a crack defensively. Could be a surprise packet for SuperCoach purposes. I’m taking the punt.

Jack White (MEL) $232,000

Don’t really have to explain this one. Cheap as chips for a fringe NBA talent and World Cup Boomer who has the potential to be one of the best players in the NBL this season.

I missed this live, but this is ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/cqWsK1VVEC

— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) September 12, 2024

Casey Prather (BRI) $139,200 FWD/GRD

Praying the knee holds up, but Prather has looked sneaky good in the Blitz (apart from some turnover issues) and, at the price, is hard to ignore.

Lachlan Olbrich (ILL) $121,400 FWD/CTR

The boom kid out of the Blitz looks like he’ll be the first big man off the bench in Illawarra. Put in a pair of massive performances at the Blitz and anything close to them means real money-making possibilities.

Every Blitz score: Ultimate SuperCoach NBL formguide

Cheapie Bible: Top 25 value SuperCoach NBL picks

United bargain pick Shea Ili. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

CENTRES

Cam Oliver (Syd) $277,000 CTR/FWD

Don’t overthink Cam, just select him. People getting scared off by his role off the bench need only look at the Blitz and the way he destroyed opposing teams’ second units. Just put him in and even stick the C on him. Should be a massive opening round score, given the way the Kings and Adelaide play up and down.

Tyrell Harrison (BRI) $237,800

I know Brisbane’s schedule stinks for SuperCoach purposes and I’ve spent the whole off-season talking myself in and out of the big fella. But he was arguably the most impressive veteran at the Blitz and has had a huge (mostly) healthy pre-season. A real double-double threat every night at a budget price. I don’t want to miss out on the big scores, even if he is on a strictly one game per night slate. Hopefully gets to their doubles averaging 30-plus.

GUARDS

Kendric Davis (ADL) $277,000

Could have had any number of high scoring guards in here but I went with Davis because it feels like he has the potential to be a top-five SuperCoach scorer given his ball dominant role and the weapons around him in Adelaide. Don’t hold me to this one.

Shea Ili (MEL) $250,200

My pick for one of the sneaky big bargains in SuperCoach this season. Feel like his ability to pick up a little more slack so United can give Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova more rest will be vital – and he’s more than capable with his elite defence and an ever-evolving offensive package.

Mick Randall’s starting SuperCoach NBL team.

Will Hickey (ILL) $106,000

Similar to Olbrich, Hickey has won the back-up guard role and, after a stirring run home last campaign, is a must-have around the $100k mark. Should make good money in a potent offensive team that has stability and strength.

Ben Henshall (PER) $69,000 GRD/FWD

This is a pride pick, more than anything, because I’m still worried how much time Henny gets. One of my favourite young players, capable of some mammoth SuperCoach scores – provided the minutes are there. In a team with Bryce Cotton, coached by John Rillie, I’m not entirely convinced they are, but will be watching this one like a Hawk.

MATT HICKEY REVEALS HIS TEAM

NBL25 is knocking on the door which means it’s time to get your SuperCoach team sorted.

Thank goodness there is no cap on pre-season moves because the great Grizzly Grizzards have already been through more change than the Adelaide 36ers.

Barring any late changes of heart, injuries or stunning NBL Blitz performances, this is how I will line up heading into round 1. No Henshall, Cotton, or Oliver might have some people surprised, but what’s SuperCoach without a little bit of risk!

FORWARDS

Xavier Cooks (SYD) $365,500

The returning MVP was first picked in my team and if you’ve gone another direction, you’re doing it wrong.

Cooks is an athletic beast who racks up double-doubles for fun and enters the season with a chip on his shoulder after being snubbed by the Boomers. Throw in a second-round double for the Kings and there is every chance he will be my skipper for the first two weeks of the season.

Jack White (MEL) $232,000

Back in town and ready to fire, Jack White was in my first few picked for NBL25.

The former Denver Nugget does everything on the floor and big SuperCoach scores tend to follow. He is part of a United team that has five games in the first three rounds, which is the most of any club and should therefore be a lock.

Matt is expecting a huge season from Xavier Cooks. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Lachlan Olbrich (ILL) $121,400 FWD/CTR

We saw glimpses of it in NBL24, but Illawarra’s Lachie Olbrich looks ready to take another serious leap.

The youngster is athletic, long, aggressive, and most importantly, cheap for SuperCoaches.

The Hawks are one of four teams that have a double in the second round, which is a big reason as to why he is one of the most picked players at 42 per cent ownership.

Alex Toohey (SYD, $191,900, FWD)

I have been officially lured into the NBL Blitz hype train.

It’s pretty hard to go past Alex Toohey, he was a top-five scorer across the Blitz and the Kings have a double in the second round. Now, he isn’t going to average over 30 SuperCoach points across the season, but he starts the season in form and a 20-25 average for an under $200k player would be a big win.

For those playing along at home, it was Tom Vodanovich (along with some other chess moves) who was my original pick for this final forward spot. Worth keeping an eye on as well.

CENTRES

Will Magnay (TAS) $317,400, CTR/FWD

Fit and ready to fire after gaining some incredible experience at the Paris Olympics, Magnay is primed for a big SuperCoach season.

He can score, he can rebound, but most importantly for us he is a big-time shot blocker which pushes him to another level compared to other centres around the league.

A solid, but not overly special, game for Magnay this season would look a little bit like 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, and those stats alone translate to 31 SuperCoach points.

Pick him.

Rocco Zikarsky (BRI) $95,700

I was all over Tyrell Harrison last season, but the fact the Bullets don’t play a double until round 9 scares me, especially at his $200k-plus price tag. But Rocco Zikarsky is a different story.

The young gun is under $100k and although he might not be a 25-plus minutes per game operator in NBL25, his points per minute will be off the charts because of his size and the eagerness for the Bullets to utilise him when he is on the floor.

The only watch is the slight ankle tweak that forced him out of the Bullets’ second Blitz game.

Rocco Zikarsky is one of the most popular picks in SuperCoach NBL. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

GUARDS

Joe Wieskamp (SEM) $277,000, GRD/FWD

My big early POD pick is Phoenix import Joe Wieskamp.

He has had a mixed pre-season, which I think has scared some people off. However, he is a sniper from distance, has great size and length to crash the boards and has already shown his ability to find the open man in offence.

A judgement call might need to be made on Wieskamp after South East Melbourne’s second round double-header, but I’m backing Joe in.

Shea Ili (MEL) $250,200

To Shea or to Delly.

This was probably the most flip-flopping I’ve done in the pre-season this year.

Melbourne’s friendly early draw meant I was always going to pick a United guard, with Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova the two clear choices.

Both play a very similar game and have the skill to score the ball, dish out assists, and also pick up points with defensive stats. However, in the end Ili’s pre-season form and cheaper price tag were enough for him to get the nod.

Elijah Pepper (PER) $69,000, GRD

John Rillie has us all guessing when it comes to potential rotations for the Perth Wildcats, however Pepper still looks to be one of the top cheapie options available at guard.

He is lights out from range and has the ability to heat up quick, which means even if he only sees the court for 10 minutes, he can still secure some decent SuperCoach points. Pepper’s strong frame should also see him hit the glass a little more effectively than most other young guards in the competition.

Ben Henshall (PER, $69,000, GRD/FWD)

Fitting three possible options into two is always hard, and in this case it’s the Perth Wildcats young duo who get the nod, with Casey Prather missing out.

Ben Henshall’s cheaper starting price, mixed with his ability to flat out ball made him hard not to pick.

As is the case with Pepper, it’s difficuly to get a read on what Perth’s rotations will actually look like, but at $69k with serious upside there is minimal risk with Henshall.

Matt Hickey's starting SuperCoach NBL team.

Originally published as News Corp experts reveal their SuperCoach teams for NBL25