Point guard Sean Macdonald joins the Darwin Salties
Exciting new players have joined the ranks of the Darwin Salties, bringing a fresh perspective to the northern NBL1 team.
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Following a huge debut in the northern NBL1 season last year, the Darwin Salties are meeting their next challenge head on with spectacular new recruits.
Former Tasmania JackJumpers NBL rising star Sean Macdonald signed with the NT’s reigning champions for the upcoming season.
The 22-year-old point guard said his first training session with team on Monday was a fun “crash course” brimming with camaraderie.
Mr Macdonald hopes to put his leadership skills to the test in the new team.
“That’s what I’ve been working on, personally,” he said.
“As point guard, you’ve got to lead the team, to make sure everyone’s doing their job, but just invest in winning and making a positive impact.”
Macdonald said a week-long NBL Blitz was a “super fun” introduction to basketball in the NT, and he was contacted “pretty early” after the event.
“(The Salties) showed really good interest in me which made me feel wanted,” he said.
Darwin Salties coach Matt Flinn said the team’s injection of new talent for the season was exciting but came with its own set of challenges.
“It’s a real tricky situation as a coach because we want to get ready and we want to play at a high pace, but at the same time, there’s a learning component,” he said.
“We’ve only had such a short time together.
“We’re going to try and find a happy medium there – at the end of the day, we want to come out and play with a lot of pace and a lot of energy.”
Returning player and 2022 MVP Makuach Maluach said the Salties were feeling the “nerves” to deliver strong results in 2023.
“A little bit anxious, obviously, but we have a new team, new guys coming in,” he said.
“We all bring a unique skill set to the game, I’m looking forward to joining my skillset and complementing their skill set.”
The Darwin Salties will play their first game of the season on March 25.
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