Talking points from Round 3 of the 2021/22 NBL season

One Brisbane Bullets player will want his time again after his blatant headbutt flop became the laughing stock of the NBL.

Deng Deng deserves an Oscar for this huge flop.

The NBL season is in full swing and there are plenty of talking points from Round 3, including a blatant Oscar-worthy flop, a Steph Curry-like shooting performance and a record-low performance by one team.

Round 3 will wrap up on Wednesday when the Sydney Kings take on the Tasmania JackJumpers, but here are main takeaways from the weekend’s action.

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Embarrassing Oscar-worthy performance roasted

The game between the Brisbane Bullets and Perth Wildcats erupted on Friday night when Bullets big man Deng Deng delivered an overacting performance for the ages.

Deng and Wildcats star Vic Law were engaged in a fiery war of words and he had clearly got under Law’s skin, with the Wildcats forward leaning in to bump Deng on the forehead with his head.

Deng’s reaction to the gentlest of headbutts has to be seen to be believed.

At first, he didn’t react to the light contact at all. Then a second or so later, Deng inexplicably fell backwards to the floor in one of the all-time flops and proceeded to hold his head, feigning pain.

And the Oscar goes to Deng Deng… 🤣#NBL22pic.twitter.com/f6tRe1qETh

— NBL News (@NBL_News) December 17, 2021

Former NBL MVP Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams was disgusted by Deng’s botched acting job, which belonged in a European football game instead of the basketball court.

“I am going to find a trophy store and I’m going to mimic an Oscar and that Oscar I’m going to personally deliver it to Deng Deng,” Williams said in commentary.

Deng Deng deserves an Oscar for this huge flop.

“Deng Deng, don’t ever do anything like that ever again. Be tougher than that, you’re almost seven-foot tall. That’s why it was funny, because it wasn’t true.

“You don’t go in nobody’s face and talk some kind of trash, and then fall down and flop like that when you’re almost seven foot. What kind of nonsense is that, come on man. Be better than that. This ain’t no soccer. Come on man.

“The point is don’t be in nobody’s face talking trash and then he nudges you on your head, and you fall like he knocked you out with a bag of bricks.

“Don’t talk tough and then do that. That’s not tough. If you are going to do that, don’t say nothing.”

Rubbing salt into the wound for Perth, Law was fined $1000 for his headbutt but was free to play in the Wildcats’ next game against the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Tanner Krebs of the Bullets remonstrates with Victor Law of the Wildcats as Deng Deng of the Bullets lays on the court. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Goulding channels Steph Curry with hot shooting spree

Fresh off winning bronze with the Boomers at the Tokyo Olympics, sharpshooter Chris Goulding kicked Melbourne United’s season into gear after he missed the opening two games, which were both losses for United.

He returned to the NBL in Round 3 when United hammered the Sydney Kings and he was back to his shooting best against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.

After he only scored three points in a quiet first half, Goulding went ballistic in the third and fourth quarters, draining six three-pointers to break the game open for Melbourne.

Remarkably, all of Goulding’s 21 points came from his seven three-pointers from 7/13 shooting beyond the arc.

“It’s like Steph Curry, brother,” United teammate Caleb Agada said of Goulding’s accuracy from downtown.

“I’ve never played with somebody like that before so I’m just shocked. It’s amazing.”

Chris Goulding had the hot shooting hand for Melbourne United. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Kings bounce back after worst ever score

It was a tale of two completely games for the Sydney Kings in Round 3.

The Kings were utterly embarrassed on Thursday when they slumped to a 89-47 loss to Melbourne United.

The tally of 47 points was the lowest ever Kings score in NBL history.

But Sydney quickly but the demolition behind them, bouncing back with an 11-point victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.

“We just needed to respond, it was really embarrassing the other night, it just wasn’t us,” guard Shaun Bruce told ESPN.

“We had to get back to what being a King is”.

Wildcats keep hot form rolling

The Perth Wildcats are showing no signs of their NBL dynasty slowing down, making a superb start to the season.

The Wildcats defeated the Tasmania JackJumpers 101-83 in front of a record crowd of 13,615 at Perth’s RAC Arena on Sunday.

A victory over the Brisbane Bullets on Friday ensure the defending champions are on top of the ladder with four wins from their five games so far.

The Phoenix and Hawks are second and third, respectively, while the winless New Zealand Breakers are languishing on the bottom of the table.

You can catch every game of the NBL season live on Kayo. Round 4 will be headlined by a Boxing Day triple header on Sunday.