NBL Blitz 2023: Latest news, results from pre-season tournament
Former Golden State Warrior Ian Clark will play for Melbourne United this season, but he still has a soft spot for arch enemy Sydney – and one eye on a return to the NBA.
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He’s an NBA champion and has played all over the world, but Melbourne United import Ian Clark can’t help but reflect on his gratitude at the new basketball beginning the Sydney Kings afforded him.
Clark, who will miss United’s NBL Blitz clash with his former club due to a hamstring strain, joined Sydney in NBL22 as a late-season replacement for the injured RJ Hunter and played a vital role in guiding the Kings to their first NBL championship in 17 years.
The former Golden State Warrior arrived after a stint in China with Xinjiang Flying Tigers that was hampered by multiple injuries and the Covid pandemic, leaving some doubting the Memphis product could return to the highest level.
“Winning trumps all, so that was one of the best feelings of getting the job done but, personally, after coming from China and having a rocky experience, Sydney definitely gave me a stepping stone to come back to playing at the level I wanted to play at and proving that I could still do it,” Clark told Code Sports.
“It was the perfect place for me to restart.”
Clark had earned a reputation as a winner and consummate professional, so, when the doubt from outsiders crept in, he knew within himself that he just needed an opportunity.
“I remember every call that I had or people who spoke to me were asking, you know, ‘What happened in China?’,” he said.
“So the opportunity in Sydney allowed me to show everybody that I’m still the competitor and the winner I’ve always been.”
While he’ll watch from the sidelines and has a special affinity with the Kings, he wants to see his new team cone out on top on Wednesday night.
“The relationships I have over there, the bonds we built on the court and off it, they won’t ever change,” Clark said.
“I still see them, playing last year in Adelaide and now seeing them here on the Gold Coast and playing with United this year.
“I still want to win when we’re on the court, but it’s great to be able to catch up and share some of those memories and just, you know, be human beings.”
After mid-season starts in both Sydney, then Adelaide last year, the 32-year-old believes the benefit of a pre-season at United will allow him to showcase more of the talent that helped him win the 2017 NBA championship alongside Steph Curry.
“Not having to rush is a big thing for me this year,” he said.
“Learning on the fly, everything is sped up and I’m a hard critic on myself, so I don’t give myself a grace period.
“I feel like coming in mid-season is hard to cope with, whereas starting at the beginning where you have a pre-season, you have the Blitz, you can have the rocky games and use that to get on the same page with guys on the floor.”
Given Clark has earned more than $9 million throughout his career, United’s brains trust wasn’t initially sure if they could make the money work, but the former New Orleans Pelican said he felt the club’s values aligned with his own and “things just made sense”.
He hasn’t played in the NBA since 2019 and, while he tries not to think too far ahead, there’s a firm belief the door isn’t closed.
“I could never say no to a chance at playing back at home and in the NBA. If the opportunity comes up, it does,” he said.
“I’m here now and my focus is to win here and be the best that I can be and then after the season, I feel like if I’ve done my job, everything else will take care of itself.”
Melbourne United and Sydney square off on Wednesday night at 7.30pm AEST, watch on Kayo Freebies.
Kings’ new stars, young guns dazzle against Phoenix
Sydney Kings fans tuned in to see Next Star Alex Toohey and former NBA men Denzel Valentine and Jonah Bolden and were treated to a sizzling burst from young gun Jaylin Galloway who showed off his NBA potential despite a first up 93-86 NBL Blitz loss to South East Melbourne.
The 20-year-old’s dynamic defence during the Kings’ NBL23 championship series led to an off-season NBA Summer League opportunity with Minnesota and Galloway showed his offensive game has taken another leap with an 18-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 3-steal effort.
The performance included a dominant 11-point opening period that featured several ‘wow’ moments thanks to his NBA-level athleticism and had some labelling Galloway an early Most Improved Player candidate.
One of the chief beneficiaries of new Kings’ coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah’s turbocharged run-and-gun system, it was an eye-catching display, especially given the number of NBA scouts and executives in the stands on the Gold Coast.
Both teams missed a host of key players (Mitch Creek for the Phoenix, Jaylen Adams and DJ Hogg for the Kings), shot woefully from the free throw line — a combined 28-52 — as plucky South East Melbourne overcame a 21-point deficit on the back of a monster game from big man Tyler Cook (29 points, 9 rebounds) and a third-quarter explosion from point guard Gary Browne (26 points).
Here’s a look at how some of the key players in the game performed:
ALEX TOOHEY
Not that anyone needed reminding but the dynamic 203cm everyman belongs at the elite level. Everything the Canberra-born kid did on both ends had purpose and efficiency and his basketball smarts are off the chart. Looked like a 10-year veteran out there. The 19-year-old played every position on the floor and finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. He’s going to be a treat to watch in the NBL this season.
JONAH BOLDEN
The former Phoenix Sun and son of NBL legend Bruce Bolden had a clunky start to his first pro game since January 2020. The 27-year-old missed a pair of threes and clunked four three throws in the first quarter. He checked back in late in the second and immediately knocked down a confidence boosting three, finishing with 5 points. Bolden was always going to take some time to get going but just being on the floor ticks a box.
DENZEL VALENTINE
Another high level talent in his first NBL court time, the former Chicago Bull struggled with his shot (1-7 in the first half) but wound up with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Eight turnovers is evidence he was figuring it out but former Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell believes the 29-year-old possesses Scottie Pippen-type versatility and the early signs were there.
TYLER COOK
We’re only two games in but Tyler Cook looks the real deal. The Kings helped a little with constant switching but it didn’t mater who guarded him, the one-man wrecking crew looked like prime David Robinson as beasted with a game-high 29 points to go with 9 boards and 3 steals. A big, strong, skilled competitor, the American is only in town as long as Alan Williams is injured. If I’m the Adelaide 36ers’ brains trust, I’d be making a sneaky call to sound out what his plans are once Big Sauce is ready to return for the Phoenix.
GARY BROWNE
The smooth-moving Puerto Rican glides across the court and, with the Phoenix staring down the barrel of a 21-point deficit, he ignited with 17 points on a perfect 5-5 from deep in the third period alone to trim the lead to five and give his side a sniff. He finished with 26 for the game and, along with Ben Ayre’s 18, was a key reason for the Phoenix’s table-turning win.
WATCH: AUSSIE HOOPS’ NEXT BIG THING STUNS AFTER INJURY SCARE
Teen Next Star Rocco Zikarsky overcame an injury scare to produce an eye-catching debut at the NBL Blitz as Boomers Olympic bronze-medallist Matthew Dellavedova gave the first signal to Paris Olympic selectors he’s not done yet.
As Delly 2.0 lit up the Bullets to the tune of 28 points in 19 minutes, 220cm Brisbane giant Zikarsky had the crowd of 4500 at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre holding its collective breath after he landed awkwardly early in the second quarter of the rip-snorting 92-96 loss to Melbourne United on Saturday night.
The long-limbed 17-year-old galloped out on the break and soared in a vein attempt to catch an outlet pass from fellow rookie Josh Bannan, landing awkwardly and appearing to tweak his left ankle.
He hopped away with a grimace and was immediately subbed out for veteran big man Aron Baynes.
It looked a scary moment for the Centre of Excellence product, but the expert hands of the Bullets’ high performance team restrapped the ankle and he checked back in with a tick under six minutes to go in the half.
With fellow centre Tyrell Harrison a late scratch due to illness, Zikarsky served as the primary back up to Baynes.
While he hadn’t quite stuffed the stat sheet before halftime, midway through the third, Zikarsky threw down a huge two-handed dunk and followed that up by skying to catch a lob from point guard Shannon Scott and flushed it down.
The big plays energised the young gun and he had nine points for the period — including a bucket on fellow giant Next Star Ariel Hukporti and a huge rejection on United veteran Brad Newley.
Over 40 NBA scouts are gathered on the Gold Coast to see the talent on show, with physically gifted Zikarsky — who isn’t draft eligible until 2025 — among the biggest drawcards.
Outside of the teen’s thunderous efforts, there were highlights everywhere in this game. Kiwi World Cup hero Shea Ili dropped the hammer with a one-handed tomahawk on former teammate Sam McDaniel.
Hukporti nearly hit his head on the backboard early in the game when the runaway freight train hammered it down on the break and Luke Travers floated through the air for an effortless two-handed jam.
New Brisbane import Chris Smith drilled a pair of three-pointers to bring the Bullets within two with 54 seconds left in the game. But his layup to tie it with 15 seconds to go rolled across the rim and Dellavedova iced it from the free throw line in what was one of the most entertaining pre-season games in recent memory.
Smith has come as advertised, the deadeye marksman’s team-high 21 points built upon on 5-7 shooting from deep.
A leaner, meaner, stronger, faster Dellavedova showed he means business in NBL24, the fuel of missing the Boomers’ World Cup campaign and the carrot of a Paris Olympic berth driving his improved offensive output — the explosion coming in just 19 minutes off the bench.
Bannan, who worked out with the Indiana Pacers in the off-season and will also be under close watch from NBA scouts, took a knock to his knee in the third quarter and was ruled out as a precaution, while Zikarsky limped from the floor late in the game.
Both will be assessed in the coming days.
Roc’d the rim!
— Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) September 16, 2023
Watch on Kayo Freebies#RIVERCITYSTRONGpic.twitter.com/gIQSHAxJKe
RECORD-BREAKING GOLDIE HOOPS FANS WANT A PIECE OF THE BLITZ
The NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast is only one day old, but the event has already helped the league break a record for the most tickets sold at a pre-season event.
It’s an impressive result — a testament to the NBL’s growing popularity and the Gold Coast’s appetite for professional hoops.
The NBL has already pre-sold over 12,000 tickets to the seven-day, 15-game event involving all 10 clubs and that does not include fans who walk-up to the venue on the day.
It’s more food for thought for league HQ, given the Gold Coast is among the fancies to land the next NBL franchise.
A strong crowd packed into the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre for Saturday’s tournament-opening double-header between South East Melbourne and Tasmania and then Brisbane and Melbourne United.
JACKJUMPERS MAKE EARLY STATEMENT, IMPORT IMPRESSES
Those who tuned in to the first game of the tournament on the Gold Coast were served up an offensive treat from the tip, Tasmania and South East Melbourne combining for 54 first-quarter points as the JackJumpers’ off-season quest to add potency received an early tick in a 97-84 win.
Someone forgot to tell new South East Melbourne import Will Cummings to “chill, it’s just pre-season” as Tasmania and the Phoenix put on an early offensive clinic to open the NBL Blitz.
While most new arrivals use their first foray onto an NBL court to find their feet and get a feel for the league, Cummings was in mid-season form, showing off his diverse offensive bag with a 15-point first-quarter explosion on a perfect 6-6 shooting.
Both teams shot the lights out in the first, Phoenix at 73 per cent and the JackJumpers at 58 and they carried it into the second, finishing the half with 101 combined.
Both defences tightened after the long break and as Tassie imports Marcus Lee and Milton Doyle fouled out.
It allowed the Phoenix, missing a number of players, including Mitch Creek, to tie it up on the first play of the fourth thanks to debutant Tyler Cook.
The big man improved with every minute on the floor on his way to 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, (turnovers) — confirmation he will be a more than capable fill-in for the injured Alan Williams.
But that was as close as Phoenix got as the Jackies did it by committee with five players in double digits — led by 16 points from Fabijan Krslovic and 13 each from Sean Macdonald, arguably the best development player in the league, and Jack McVeigh.
INJURY WATCH: WHERE EVERY CLUB SITS AHEAD OF NBL BLITZ
Phoenix superstar Mitch Creek has been ruled out of Saturday night’s NBL Blitz opener adding another casualty to South East Melbourne’s injury-hit pre-season.
Creek trained strongly on Thursday but pulled up with a sore calf, Phoenix medicos opting to take a cautious approach with the 31-year-old.
Creek is only expected to miss the one game, replaced in the squad by teen big man Austin Rapp.
He joins big men Alan Williams and Gorjok Gak and defensive-minded wing Matt Kenyon (back) on the sidelines.
Gak, who has been getting around in a moon boot, will also miss the start of the season, facing up to six weeks off the court as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Kenyon won’t suit up against his former club but is expected to see some action at the Blitz, his name pencilled in for Cairns next Wednesday.
Development players Luke Rosendale and Anzac Rissetto have been elevated.
Import guard Gary Browne hurt his ankle during training last week and missed last Saturday night’s game against Melbourne United, but he was full tilt at training on Thursday and will be good to go for the Blitz.
Across town, Melbourne United remains confident Jo Lual-Acuil Jr can return from a wrist injury sooner than first projected. Big Jo arrived back at United with a lingering complaint that was picked up by medicos and required surgery.
The timeline was initially set for a return after the FIBA window from November 20-28, but coach Dean Vickerman, last week, said he was ahead of schedule, with an optimism, now, the 211cm star could see action before the break.
Matthew Dellavedova and Luke Travers have both had niggles throughout the pre-season but both are back in full training and ready for the Blitz, as is JLA’s injury-replacement Rob Loe, who landed in Melbourne late last week.
Adelaide 36ers were also dealt a blow on the eve of the Blitz when scans revealed import Trey Kell suffered bone bruising in his knee joint after a training mishap on Thursday.
The silky guard has been ruled out of the pre-season tournament but will still travel to the Gold Coast.
“MRI scans showed some bruising to the knee joint and it’s best for Trey to sit out next week,” Sixers medical boss Tristan Chai said.
“We will keep monitoring Trey and reassess him after the Blitz.”
Returning import Jacob Wiley fully fit and recovered from the calf injury that cut his campaign in Puerto Rico short.
New Zealand’s Lithuanian Next Star Mantas Rubstavicius won’t see any action at the Blitz and his NBL debut will be delayed with a groin injury to keep him sidelined for at least a month. Point guard William McDowell-White has a cast on his left arm after breaking his hand. He did not have surgery but is not a certain starter for the Breakers’ opening-round game against Cairns.
Former NBL Rookie of the Year Bul Kuol has been ruled out of the Blitz with a wrist injury suffered during the off-season.
The Cairns Taipans’ wing did not require surgery and is expected to recover in time for their September 30 season-opener against the Breakers in New Zealand.
The Taipans will also be without captain Tahjere McCall who suffered a bruised right hip during practice earlier in the week.
McCall, who is expected to be in uniform, come round one, will still have an active role on the Gold Coast, set to coach the team against the Wildcats.
Development players Kian Dennis and Alex Mudronja have been called up to cover the two stars’ absence.
Tasmania continues to monitor big man Will Magnay but he has been ruled out of the Blitz as he recovers from a foot injury he suffered in the off-season.
Magnay has battled a variety of ailments since crossing to the JackJumpers in their inaugural season but there’s a confidence he is close to a return to the court.
He has been replaced in the squad by development player Sean Macdonald and will be reassessed prior to the JackJumpers’ round one clash with Perth on September 29.
Captain Clint Steindl is full-fit and ready for the Blitz after recovering from an ankle tweak.
Brisbane is adamant Aron Baynes will play and start in Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne United after he rolled his ankle in training on Thursday and finished the session icing the injury. Coach Justin Schueller said the club would manage the 38-year-old through three games in seven days bit every Bullet will suit up together for the first time against Melbourne United — the rookie head coach’s former club.
The Bullets managed Nate Sobey early in the off-season after his NBL1 North campaign with Ipswich went the distance. He’s fully fit after battling injury throughout NBL23.
The Bullets, on Friday, named Sobey captain, with Aron Baynes and new arrival Mitch Norton part of the three-man leadership group under new coach Justin Schueller.
New sharpshooting import Chris Smith missed the Bullets’ pre-season clash Adelaide welcoming into the world his first child, a bouncing baby girl, but he is on the Gold Coast and ready to go for the Blitz.
Perth Wildcats flew straight from Las Vegas to the Gold Coast where they have a full squad — sans the third and final import they are yet to announce.
Keanu Pinder took part in his first competitive action of the pre-season during the trip to the US and he’s been cleared for the Blitz. He’ll still wear a mask to protect the fractured eye socket he suffered while playing for Cairns, late last season.
Illawarra Hawks Next Star AJ Johnson has had an interrupted pre-season after he suffered a broken nose in mid-August which required surgery.
The good news is his protective mask arrived in The Illawarra earlier this week and he’ll be a full participant at the Blitz.
A Sydney Kings spokesman said the club was not providing any injury information at this point.
CLUB BY CLUB INJURY LIST
Adelaide 36ers
Trey Kell — knee, TBC
Brisbane Bullets
Clean bill of health
Cairns Taipans
Bul Kuol — wrist, 2 weeks
Tahjere McCall — hip, 2 weeks
Illawarra Hawks
Clean bill of health
Melbourne United
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr — wrist, 8-10 weeks
New Zealand Breakers
William McDowell-White — hand, 2-3 weeks
Mantas Rubstavicius — groin, 4-6 weeks
Perth Wildcats
Clean bill of health
South East Melbourne Phoenix
Alan Williams — knee, 8 weeks
Gorjok Gak — ankle, 6 weeks
Matt Kenyon — back, 2 games
Mitch Creek — calf, 1 game
Sydney Kings
Undisclosed
Tasmania JackJumpers
Will Magnay — foot, 2-3 weeks
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Originally published as NBL Blitz 2023: Latest news, results from pre-season tournament
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