Chris Anstey: Can Mojave King deliver on the potential that has put him on NBA radars?

Mojave King oozes NBA talent, but he hasn’t shown it in the NBL — yet. Chris Anstey says it’s time for the young Adelaide 36ers gun to stand up.

Adelaide 36ers rising shooting guard Mojave King has NBA ability and it’s time to show it.

That’s the emphatic message from three-time champion and Boomers legend Chris Anstey, who wants to see King fulfil his potential as a first-round draft pick.

ESPN recently had the NBL Next Star ranked 79th in their 2022 NBA Draft rankings, which is a significant drop to compared to when he left the AIS in Canberra to sign with Cairns last season.

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King was placed as high as 31 in the rankings last year, but he struggled for opportunity with the Taipans, and NBA interest in him dropped.

He signed with Adelaide in a bid to play more minutes and revive his draft prospects, but his aspiration is yet to transpire to action due a range of factors, including injury.

Mojave King is among Australia’ most-feted talents. Picture: Getty Images

King has only played five games this season, averaging just 25 per cent from the field in his 12 average minutes on the floor and Anstey is keen to see more.

“It is time for NBA scouts to understand who King is,” Anstey said.

“He has been a little bit inconsistent. We’ve seen what Josh Giddey can do and what other Next Stars have been able to do, and Mojave needs to put himself in that picture.”

As history as shown through the likes of Giddey and LaMelo Ball at Adelaide and Illawarra, giving Next Stars big minutes hasn’t translated to major on-court success.

It’s why Anstey believes 36ers coach CJ Bruton faces the delicate challenge of winning games and helping his Next Star climb up the draft board.

“I know there is a little bit more pressure to play Mojave a little bit more than last year in Cairns,” he said.

“I think coach CJ has been really patient with him and given him great opportunity, but playing a Next Star a lot of minutes isn’t a formula to win games and championships.

“CJ might have choice to make whether he strips back King’s minutes or gives him all the minutes in the world to try and send him to the NBA.

“I’m really interested to see how King is managed through this season and what he is able to produce consistently.”

King locks in on defence against his former club. Picture: Getty Images

Anstey believes King will have the perfect chance to showcase his skills when Adelaide hosts the league leading Perth Wildcats next Wednesday.

He urged the 19-year to go after the game against the Wildcats when he comes on.

“Coming up against Bryce Cotton and Vic Law there will always be people watching, so why not have a big game and show the world what you can do,” he said.

“It’s the old cliche, if the coach doesn’t give you minutes, you earn your minutes.

“Whether you are a Next Star, an import, an Aussie player, a veteran, it’s all the same.

“You turn up every day, you go to work, you improve, and you impact games positively.

“King has impacted a lot of games positively in short bursts, but I don’t think anyone would argue that he hasn’t shown it consistently yet.

“He is only a baby, so the big challenge is to produce consistently, and I really hope he does because there is talent in there and he needs to do it quickly to make sure those opportunities keep coming.”

Cameron Bairstow has a new lease on basketball life in Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

Keeping the faith: How the 36ers saved Bairstow

Cam Bairstow knew the call to continue his career would eventually come — he just didn’t know when.

It’s late October and Bairstow was chilling in his Brisbane apartment, taking some time out from his busy off-season training schedule as he recovered from a hip injury that prematurely ended his 2020-21 season with the Illawarra Hawks.

He had parted ways with the Hawks only months earlier, but remained determined to find another team despite the doubters suggesting his hoops days were done.

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Bairstow understood the reality of where he stood in the pecking order due to his injury, and that he had to be patient to secure another team.

Just when he was starting to give up hope, his phone rang.

It was new Adelaide 36ers coach CJ Bruton – a man Bairstow knew well from his time with Brisbane when Bruton was a Bullets assistant coach. CJ offered him a chance to train and trial with the 36ers – an opportunity he jumped at given the circumstances.

“I was just happy to play basketball again,” said Bairstow, who played 36 NBA games for the Chicago Bulls between 2014 and 2016.

Bairstow has been a bright light in a tough season for the Sixers. Picture: Getty Images

“Unfortunately, that was just the position I was in and there were a lot of question marks after my injury, so I had to just do my bit to get healthy and in shape.

“I was always going to keep playing – I just had to bide my time and wait until I was essentially the last option available.

“That is just how it turned out. Everyone has their lists that they go through, and the reality was that I was a lot lower on that list, so I had to wait and hope that teams struck out on what they were looking for.”

Fortunately for Bairstow, Adelaide were keen on securing his services. The 36ers wanted to see how his body performed and pulled up at training before offering him a contract.

Bairstow did his part at training and a deal with Adelaide was done within a week.

“I was happy, especially because recency bias is huge,” he said.

“Everyone last impression of me was being injured, so being able to see me running around and playing at this level was definitely what they needed to see.

“After that Adelaide were happy to sign me, so it worked out well.”

Bairstow has enjoyed reconnecting with Bruton and believes he is the man to help him regain his finest form from his NBA and Boomers past.

“Knowing CJ and his style was one of the biggest things,” he said.

“He knew what I’d been through injury wise, including the entire picture and how that would look on the court and in practice. That definitely helps, and he was comfortable in taking that risk, so I was very thankful to CJ for the opportunity and believing in me.”

Thus far, Adelaide’s faith in Bairstow has been justified.

The big man has been a solid contributor off the bench.

He was particularly impressive in Thursday’s win over the JackJumpers in Tasmania, finishing with nine points and adding five rebounds and two assists.

Bairstow has high hopes for success in Adelaide this season.

“It has been a really good experience so far,” he said.

“We have a great group of guys, and it is just a matter of continuing to improve every day.

“We’ve still got plenty of opportunity to learn, grow and improve because we’ve got a very talented team with a mixture of young guys and veterans.

“I think we have the chance to be really good, just in terms of the level of talent and our ability to grow.”

Originally published as Chris Anstey: Can Mojave King deliver on the potential that has put him on NBA radars?