Shane Heal hails Sydney Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic a legitimate Boomers World Cup contender after special shooting display
Sydney Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic put on a scoring show from range - and the historic performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by an NBL legend.
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Sydney Kings royalty Shane Heal believes Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic is a legitimate contender for this year’s Boomers World Cup squad after the sharpshooter joined Heal in the record books with a masterclass from beyond the arc.
Vasiljevic is the talk of the NBL town after he dropped a career-high 42 points, including 10 triples, in a big win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday night.
The scintillating shooting performance helped the Kings guard join Jermaine Beal and Bryce Cotton as the only players to make 10 three pointers in a game in the 40-minute era.
Heal rates Vasiljevic’s scoring from range and would love to see him in the green and gold at this year’s World Cup in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10.
MAKE THAT 🔟 FOR DEJAN VASILJEVIC 🔥🔥🔥
— NBL (@NBL) January 4, 2023
4ï¸âƒ£2ï¸âƒ£ total and the win ðŸ€
Watch #NBL23 live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel 📺 pic.twitter.com/MPlWA5MLuX
He acknowledges it won’t be easy for the Kings guard to make the final Boomers squad, especially if NBA stars like Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Patty Mills all play, but the man nicknamed ‘DJ’ has put himself in the mix for selection.
“I think DJ has to be considered in any Boomers squad,” Heal said.
“Internationally it helps when you’ve got people who can hit threes and that’s why only a couple of years ago that had guys like Cam Gliddon and Chris Goulding make squads because you always want designated shooters.
“There is no doubt that he should be in the Boomers squad and then it’s obviously tough because then you are looking at what NBA guys make themselves available and how does it all fit.
“We know have so much NBA talent in that (guard) position now.”
Heal says Vasiljevic’s “incredible” shooting display against the Phoenix was made even more special given he had been in a slump.
The Kings guard has battled from range in recent games, but this changed in emphatic fashion on Wednesday.
Heal is full of admiration for Vasiljevic because he knows how hard it is to successfully emerge from shooting struggles.
“It doesn’t matter what anyone says, but when you go through a drought as a shooter, it’s difficult times,” he said.
“It becomes so mental. You are capable of hitting 10 threes, but when you’ve also got so much attention on you as well and you are practising and practising, it can be really tough to get out of.
“So, for him to get out of it at this stage of the season and do it with an explanation mark, you just sense that this will start him off on a really good stretch.”
The Kings will look to maintain their strong form when they host the Perth Wildcats at Qudos Bank Arena from 8pm (AEDT) on Saturday night.
‘Everyone was screaming’: Kings import on ‘scary’ plane crash
As the aeroplane started losing control, Derrick Walton Jr feared he was going to die.
It’s 2017 and Walton Jr and his Michigan college teammates thought the worst as their plane helplessly slid off the runway.
The team’s trip to Washington DC for the NCAA Big Ten tournament was put on hold as high winds forced the plane’s takeoff to be aborted.
A jammed right elevator, which controls the plane’s pitch, prevented it from stopping despite strong braking.
Quite a few questions for Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr about the plane accident and the aftermath pic.twitter.com/Gc5TIu7IR8
— Jamal Spencer (@JamalSpencerTV) March 16, 2017
The plane crashed and was extensively damaged, and while no one was seriously injured, Walton cut his knee when he was struck by an emergency door and required five stitches.
Five years on, the memories of the frightening ordeal remain for the Sydney Kings import guard.
“In the moment, it was traumatic,” Walton, 27, recalled.
“Everyone was scared and screaming. We had family and friends on the plane and the band and cheer teams as well.
“Being in the back of the plane I couldn’t really see what was going on, but you could tell that something wasn’t right, and I was just glad to be alive.
“As soon as we got off the plane, everyone ran as fast as possible to safety.”
The team debated skipping the tournament after the plane scare before deciding to fly out the following morning at 6am via Detroit.
Michigan received the ultimate gift in its time of need from NBA side- the Detroit Pistons, who let the college team borrow the franchise’s private jet to fly to Washington for the Big Ten tournament.
Walton will be forever grateful to the Pistons – as Michigan went on to win four games in four days to claim the tournament title after the plane crash.
The now Kings guard was crowned tournament MVP after playing the entire event with five stitches in his knee.
D-BO!!!! 🔥🫡 https://t.co/kAUGdaXz55
— Derrick Walton (@DerrickWalton10) December 27, 2022
The plane scare and injury left scars, but Walton credits the adversity for helping to create a ‘special’ memory for himself and his Michigan teammates.
“Getting through those emotions and looking back on it now, it’s something I cherish, and that incident bonded the team together for life,” he said about the ’17 Michigan side, which featured NBA players like Duncan Robinson (Miami) and DJ Wilson (Toronto and Oklahoma City Blue).
“That team is really connected, and we still stay in touch.
“It was a good time on that team even though that plane incident was a bit helter skelter.”
HIGHER MOTIVATION:
A day rarely goes by when Walton doesn’t think about his close mate, Dorian Dawkins.
He grew up playing basketball with Dawkins, and considered attending Saginaw High School in Texas alongside him.
Sadly, his close friend collapsed at a basketball camp in 2009 due to a heart defect.
Decide what you want out of life, work towards it until you get it! 💯🫡
— Derrick Walton (@DerrickWalton10) December 28, 2022
Dawkins used to wear the No. 10 singlet – a number that will be forever close to Walton’s heart.
“That was the reason that I ended up wearing the No. 10 in memory of him,” said Walton Jr, who has played 45 NBA games for Miami, LA Clippers and Detroit.
“Xavier (Cooks) wears 10 at the Kings, so I went with the next closest 11.
“Every day I play in honour of Dorian. I remember the conversations we had when we were younger, and it still sticks with me.”
ANKLE CONCERN:
Walton Jr revealed he is no certainty to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Wednesday night’s top four blockbuster due to an ankle injury.
He ‘jammed’ his ankle after slipping on a sponsorship decal during the Kings’ big win over the Tasmania JackJumpers last round.
“I’ll ice it and see how I go,” he said.
“If I don’t play on Wednesday, I’ll definitely be back for Saturday’s game against Perth.”
.@DerrickWalton10 dropped 45 points and dished out 10 assists last night for the @SydneyKings 👀
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) December 19, 2022
pic.twitter.com/8lJgTUajBY
Sydney would love for Walton Jr to play given he dropped a whopping 45 points against South East Melbourne in round 11.
The Kings lost in double overtime as Phoenix star Mitch Creek had a game-high 46 points.
Walton Jr wants to avenge the thrilling one-point loss.
“I’m just worried about the fact that we didn’t win that game and we need to figure out ways to find a solution,” he said.
“Individual performance is great, but I’d rather win.”
QUIET ACHIEVER:
In the words of Kings guard Shaun Bruce, Walton Jr isn’t your stereotypical American import point guard.
Normally the American marquees possess a confident brashness, but Bruce says his mate Derrick is different.
“He is someone who just comes in and goes about his business,” Bruce said.
“He is a quieter guy, who doesn’t necessarily keep to himself, but he isn’t as outspoken as everyone else, and he isn’t that big personality that you expect out of an American point guard.
“But he gets his work on and he has helped us win a lot of games.”
Bruce remembers watching Walton Jr put on a passing show during the first week of pre-season training camp.
“My first thought was that he is going to make life easier for guys,” he said about Walton Jr, who has averaged 16.5 points, 6.56 assists and 3.89 rebounds.
“And he has definitely done that.”
Ryan Broekhoff hopped on a plane for Sydney on Tuesday and is expected to return from a hip injury that has kept him out of the past three games.
But it’s only small comfort, with import guard Trey Kell ruled out with bone bruising in his knee.
Gary Browne is set to miss the next two games, leaving the Phoenix short on ball-handling.
Compounding those issues, rising development player Owen Foxwell will be charged with some of that floor general work but he could also be underdone after a stomach bug grounded him for several days.
“We’ll roll the balls out and have a crack,” coach Simon Mitchell said.
“Obviously we’ll be down ball handling, which is going to be an issue for us, without Trey and without Gary, it’s going to put a big load on Kizza (Kyle Adnam) and Foxy, but Reuben (Te Rangi) will have to step up as a ball handler and Creeky as well.
“Gary’s close, Rowdy’s back and hopefully we’ll have Trey back for Cairns (Sunday) and hopefully we’ll then start getting the band back together.”
ROUND 14 NBL:
Sydney Kings vs. South East Melbourne Phoenix at Qudos Bank Arena from 7.30pm (AEDT) and Live on ESPN and Kayo
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