Crosscourt NBL Grand Final special: A look at the big news around the winners and losers ahead of the season decider
The NBL grand final is set to double as an Olympic audition for several Melbourne United and Tasmania stars, with Boomers coach Brian Goorjian hunting a Paris bolter.
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The blockbuster NBL grand final series between Melbourne United and Tasmania JackJumpers could provide a Boomers bolter ahead of this year’s Paris Olympics.
National team coach Brian Goorjian told Crosscourt he will be keeping a close eye on the championship series, with a host of players in contention.
Goorjian confirmed United’s veteran duo Matthew Dellavedova and Chris Goulding are certainties to feature in Australia’s July pre-Olympic camp.
He also declared he is “strongly” considering Tasmania pair Will Magnay and Jack McVeigh to at least appear in Australia’s preliminary Games squad.
Goorjian is looking for a rim protector and shooting to complement star guard and facilitator Josh Giddey and believes Magnay and McVeigh perfectly fit the job description.
“Magnay and McVeigh have made strong cases through what they’ve done this season and the success of the JackJumpers,” Goorjian said.
“They’ve been impressive all season and during the playoffs, which is high level basketball that’s under pressure.
“I am going to enjoy a great grand final series.”
Magnay has been magnificent for Tasmania this season, averaging 11.5 points on a remarkable 70 per cent shooting from the field and 7.5 rebounds, to go with 1.7 blocks.
The Brisbane-born big man produced a standout display in Wednesday’s decisive semi final win over Perth, dropping 18 points and adding 9 rebounds.
McVeigh has also excelled for Tasmania throughout the season, producing the best plus-minus of any player in the league — the JackJumpers are 280 points better when he is on the floor.
He’s carried the form into the semis, scoring in double figures in all three games against Perth, including a 27-point explosion in Wednesday’s decider.
NBL GRAND FINAL
Best-of-five series for the Dr John Raschke Trophy
Game 1: Sunday, March 17, John Cain Arena, 4pm AEDT
Game 2: Friday, March 22, MyState Bank Arena, 7.30pm AEDT
Game 3: Sunday, March 24, John Cain Arena, 5.30pm AEDT
Game 4 (if required): Thursday, March 28, MyState Bank Arena, 7.30pm AEDT
Game 5 (if required): Sunday, March 31, John Cain Arena, 4pm AEDT
***All games on Kayo Sports via ESPN
TASSIE WANT TITLE AS THEY EYE TEEN QUEENSLAND PHENOM
NBL grand finalists Tasmania are wooing Australia’s most athletic teenager Roman Siulepa.
The 17-year-old, all the way from the Sunshine State, was a notable attendee at the JackJumpers’ game two semi-final win over Perth at Hobart’s MyState Bank Arena and Crosscourt has been told the club has interest in recruiting the gun forward.
Siulepa, on Monday, watched Tasmania extend the series at home, before the JackJumpers, on Wednesday night, stunned the Wildcats in Perth, 100-84, to book a date with Melbourne United in the best-of-five grand final.
Siulepa is still in Year 12 at Brisbane State High School and has previously said he won’t jump into anything until he completes his studies. But the Queensland phenom is on NBL radars, touted as a potential future Next Star.
A household name in basketball circles since he burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old, Siulepa is one of the most exciting Aussie prospects in years, recently named MVP of this year’s U20 National Championships after he led Queensland to silver with 24.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.43 steals.
Team-first from top-to-bottom, the extraordinary expansion franchise could be the perfect place for Siulepa to begin his pro career, given his NBA potential.
Under the highly respected Scott Roth, the JackJumpers have built a no-nonsense winning culture with a group of savvy leaders that has led the club to three finals appearances in their first three seasons — and now a second grand final.
Queensland U20 coach and former Boomer Peter Crawford likened Siulepa to basketball’s equivalent of dashing Brisbane Broncos NRL star Reece Walsh — at 6’7”.
The walking highlight reel has matured considerably and has been guided by NBL veteran Jason Cadee. Under Roth, he would not be gifted anything, but the young gun recently told Crosscourt he wanted to level-up his attention to detail on preparation and recovery — the little things you learn as a pro. Roth and the Jackies set high standards.
It’s understood Siulepa will take his time to make a decision.
“I’m still at school, I’m just having fun, playing basketball, doing my life and just keeping all my options open,” Siulepa told Crosscourt during the nationals in February.
Roth recently expressed his displeasure at the lack of spending on basketball infrastructure in Tasmania and, if Siulepa were to land in the Apple Isle, they might need a new stadium because the 4340 seats at the perennially sold out MyState Bank Arena won’t be enough.
There’s plenty to play out before anything happens, chiefly the grand final task of toppling a United team hellbent on revenge.
In 2022, United finished on top, but was punted by the JackJumpers from the semi finals — several players remain from that vanquished team.
United, earlier on Wednesday night, escaped a plucky Illawarra, 100-94, to set up the revenge series.
HAIL THE HAWKS — BUT HERE’S THE CHALLENGE
The foundation for sustained success has been laid in the Illawarra.
It’s now up to management and ownership to back inspirational coach Justin Tatum with a cash splash and savvy decision-making to ensure NBL24 was no flash in the pan and he can end the club’s 23-year title drought.
The Hawks, on the eve of the playoffs, ticked the box on a new three-year deal for the coach, who powered a transformation from a 2-7 start to a fourth-place finish and a 2-1 semi finals series loss to Melbourne United.
While decision makers were told they must stay under the salary cap last off-season, it will be interesting to see if that holds this time — and if they can do so while keeping the core group together and adding pieces that can help the club take another step.
Import Gary Clark should be priority one. He’s a free agent — and says he will test the waters — but the Hawks must move heaven and earth to get a deal done with the former NBA talent, who could well be the league’s MVP, this time next year.
Still 24, Sam Froling is an elite big man talent who truly arrived against Melbourne United, dominating Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. The Boomer is out of contract at the end of next season but a long extension should be a priority.
“I want everybody back on this team, but at the end of the day, we know this is a professional league, we’ve got to do our best to retain and get them back,” Tatum said.
“GC and Sam … everybody knows that I want the same 12 or 13 guys that were in there.
“If that doesn’t work out, we’ll find a way to make it work, but that is our first priority.”
Tyler Harvey is a long-time fan favourite and talk of naturalisation would make a return clear cut.
Will Hickey presents an interesting case. Never quite able to crack it in stints with Melbourne United and South East Melbourne, Hickey has found a new lease on life in Illawarra, unleashed by Tatum as the starter with instant impact. The Hawks hold a team option there.
Both Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Hyunjung Lee should be required pieces for their specialised skills.
In fairness to Justin Robinson, he’s done his best in a return from a serious knee injury, but his decision making has, at times, been costly — do they go in another direction?
The Hawks might consider injecting some cash into their infrastructure to match their glittering performances on the court, given their current digs remain dilapidated old temporary buildings at Beaton Park.
SARR DESTINED FOR TOP FIVE
Perth’s 7’1” Frenchman Alex Sarr is still in the mix to be selected as the NBA’s No.1 draft pick following a “consistent” maiden NBL season with the Wildcats.
That’s the view of respected draft analyst Sam Vecenie, who has closely followed Sarr’s Down Under journey and believes he is primed to star on the big stage.
Vecenie believes the towering 18-year-old could be locked in a battle with fellow Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher (JL Bourg Basket) for the No.1 spot.
“He (Sarr) is definitely in the mix at No.1 for a few teams and will have a real chance to be selected there,” Vecenie said.
“He’ll go somewhere in the top five, depending on how the lottery goes, but the players throughout the top eight or so are very tightly bunched together.
“Could go a number of different ways. But Sarr is consistently one of the prospects along with Zaccharie (Risacher) that I get told has a relatively high floor on draft night, and will be taken early.”
Despite the disappointment of being bundled out of the semi finals by Tasmania, Sarr finished the season averaging 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 27 games, displaying an NBA body and athleticism and an ability to impact games on both ends of the floor.
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Originally published as Crosscourt NBL Grand Final special: A look at the big news around the winners and losers ahead of the season decider
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