Basketball news 2024: Latest NBL news and happenings ahead of Round 19 | Crosscourt
As far as sport stories go, Damian Martin’s craziest day is hard to top. The NBL legend recalls the insane 24 hours that that started with a clutch three and ended in a date with Federal Police.
Sunday’s jersey retirement was a special moment in the career of Perth Wildcats great Damian Martin.
In a reflective mood when contacted by Crosscourt this week, discussion turned to the craziest 24 hours of the 39-year-old’s life.
Like something straight out of a Hollywood movie, it involves a game-tying three, death threats, hot chips, a house fire and a date with the Federal Police.
“We played Sydney and, with a couple of seconds left, Bryce (Cotton) has five guys on him. He passes to me, I hit a three, send the game to overtime, we win,” Martin recalls of the February 10, 2019 thriller the Cats won 95-86.
“I get home and there’s an abusive message on Instagram, a guy saying he was going to kill me and do the most inappropriate things to my mum and my sister.
“I sent that to (former Hawthorn AFL premiership player, turned Perth radio jock) Xavier Ellis and we were making light of it.”
Duty then called and a simple trip to the local fish and chip shop to grab a feed for the family turned into a potentially lifesaving expedition.
“I’d picked up the chips and gone to turn toward home but saw a heap of low smoke, so I did a U-turn and sure enough, there was a house on fire,” he said.
“There were no fireys there yet so I’ve gone running up, opened the front door, yelled out to see if anyone’s home and there was a guy who had just woken up from a nap.
“I was like ‘mate, your house is on fire’.
“We got his dog out, then we both went for the hoses to try to put the fire out. While we’re doing that, I thought surely he wants his computer and photos and things that can’t potentially be replaced, so I ran back in and ripped his computer out of his office.
“We couldn’t find a lead for his dog, so it was trying to get back in. I joke about it now, but I’d just spent 40 minutes guarding Jerome Randle, I’m completely knackered, and here I am, deadset in a legitimate defensive slide trying to keep his dog from running back into the fire.”
The six-time NBL Defensive Player of the Year’s heroics — and the social media abuse — were a topic of conversation on radio the next morning.
“I ended up having to make an official report about the abuse because I’d spoken about it in a public forum,” he said.
“It’s part of the integrity requirements for the NBL and Basketball Australia.
“So, for about 30 minutes, I was talking with the Federal Police about the Kings game, the fire and then, I showed him the screenshot, he told me don’t respond, they would look into it.
“Turns out it was a gambler from Indonesia who’d bet on the Sydney Kings to win and because I hit that shot and sent it to overtime, he decided to blame me for all the money he’d lost.
“I never took it seriously but I could understand that, if I was a lot younger and I was copping it for the first time, I might not have taken it as well and been more worried.”
Eat your heart out, Tom Cruise.
HEAT ON EXPANSION AS NBL’S PRIME TARGETS FOR NEW CLUBS EMERGE
Gold Coast and Darwin have emerged as favoured destinations for the NBL’s next teams, as the league’s expansion discussions heat up.
Darwin’s waterfront convention centre is a drawcard for the NBL and there is strong backing from the local community, given the territory doesn’t have its own professional sporting franchise, while Gold Coast is a prime target, following its record-breaking pre-season Blitz.
As those discussions play out, Sydney might scoop both, with moves for a second team in the Harbour City firmly in the pipeline.
Gold Coast local government will ramp up its pursuit of an NBL franchise in the coming weeks, buoyed by the seven-day pre-season tournament that attracted more than 20,000 fans, double the previous record for the annual event.
Queensland’s holiday strip is viewed as the perfect destination to continue the NBL’s growth, despite two previous failed stints in the national league as the Cougars/Rollers (1990-96) and Blaze (2007-12).
But Crosscourt understands stadium capacity is a big stumbling block, given the 5000-seat Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre would be a barrier to growth for a new club.
Darwin is a legitimate option for expansion, with the Northern Territory government showing a strong appetite to host an NBL team.
Under a current lockout agreement, a second Sydney team can’t enter the competition until the 2026-27 season, but that hasn’t stopped potential suitors and the NBL from making moves behind the scenes.
The International Convention Centre (ICC) in the heart of the city in Darling Harbour has been floated as a potential home but there’s the potential to share Qudos Bank Arena with the Kings, with the ultimate goal a new stadium closer to Sydney’s CBD.
KNIGHT: NBL NEEDS TO FOLLOW AFL’S EXAMPLE ON CONCUSSION
Championship-winning Perth Wildcat Matthew Knight has hit out at the NBL after it missed the chance to send a strong message to clubs on the growing issue of concussion.
The league took nearly four weeks to investigate the circumstances around Kristian Doolittle’s January 13 concussion, before issuing the Wildcats with a $5000 fine — suspended for two years — for failing to remove the import from the court for nine minutes after his head knock, which breached the NBL’s minimum medical standards.
Knight — who was forced to medically retire in 2017 after suffering 15 concussions throughout his 10-year career — believes the NBL’s punishment for Perth is hardly a deterrent.
The ex-Wildcats big man pointed out the AFL slapped Port Adelaide with a $100,000 fine for failing to send defender Aliir Aliir for a concussion test during a game against Adelaide last season.
Knight understands the NBL isn’t as profitable as the AFL, but believes it missed the chance to set a precedent on concussion.
“The AFL is a big-dollar business, but it shows you how far apart the AFL is compared to the NBL when it comes to protecting the head,” Knight, who still suffers from headaches and is fearful of a future involving memory loss, said.
“A suspended $5000 fine isn’t going to deter clubs too much.
“They know if they behave for two years, the fine is wiped.
“Players are getting fined $2000 for an elbow, yet they are suspending a $5000 fine for concussion when a guy was left on the court for nine minutes after a head knock.
“It’s very inconsistent. The NBL was never going to be as extreme as the AFL, but I thought they’d at least make a statement that this is a serious issue.”
A collision with a Mitch Creek screen during the third quarter of Perth’s clash with South East Melbourne left the Wildcats import rattled and grabbing at his head, but he remained in the game for nine minutes.
Doolittle returned to the court seven days after suffering concussion, passing all tests involved with the NBL’s graduated return to play policy, the club said.
Code Sports made multiple inquiries questioning why the Perth import remained on the court for so long.
“Once a player shows a suspected sign of concussion, they need to be taken out of the game for a medical assessment,” an NBL statement read.
“The NBL acknowledges Perth’s co-operation and transparency throughout the review and welcomes new protocols that will be implemented by the club moving forward.”
NBL TALENT GURU ON WHO’S GOT NEXT?
With the NBL’s No.1 Next Stars target Dash Daniels sidelined due to injury, the league’s talent guru Liam Santamaria hit the U20 Nationals with an open mind.
He left pleasantly surprised at the talent on display in Ballarat, coming away confident he’d watched several NBL — and even potential NBA — players.
The big names — Queensland’s Roman Siulepa, Victoria’s Austin Rapp, Joel Foxwell and Luke Fennell, Tasmania’s Jacob Furphy, Kye Savage and Lachy Brewer, NSW’s James O’Donnell and SA’s Alex Dodson all balled out.
“Obviously Roman, the MVP of the tournament, continues to display his elite athletic tools and he’s constantly improving his skillset,” Santamaria said.
“Aussie Rapp was really, really good. He’s 6’9”, 6’10” and can shoot it. He’s going to the University of Portland and continue to develop, so who knows what he could be in three-four years time.
“Luke Fennell had a terrific tournament, he continues to take steps forward with his game, and you can’t help but be impressed with Jacob Furphy. Every time I watch him play, I think he’s got tremendous leadership quality and he’s got a big future ahead of him.
“There were a bevy of players at the tournament who are going to be high level pros. What level that is will be fascinating to watch over the course of their individual journeys, but there’s no doubt there were potential future NBA players running around in Ballarat and definite future stars of the NBL.”
Santamaria felt some of the less-heralded bottom-age players stood out.
“The big kid from Victoria, Jack Whitbourn has a bright future. You wouldn’t want to sleep on his long-term potential. A bottom-age kid, starting centre on the championship-winning team, I thought he was really impressive,” Santamaria said.
Crosscourt was also impressed with Whitbourn’s performance alongside Rapp in the Vic frontcourt — the long 211cm big man displayed some traits reminiscent of a young Jock Landale.
Santamaria has long been a fan of Kiwi man-child Julius Halaifonua.
“We know He’s 7’, big, strong boy, with really good hands and good footwork in the post,” he said.
“But I really liked the improvement in his touch, his finishing around the basket. His stroke at the free throw line looks really nice and I think when he steps out even further there’s the potential for him to become a real threat from long range.
“Like all kids his age, he’s got more development to do in a couple of areas but he’s got tools that make him a really intriguing prospect moving.”
Halaifonua’s NBA Global Academy teammate Indy Cotton, just 16, was a late call up but played with a poise and ability beyond his years.
“He’s particularly young but showed his ability to be effective and productive against older players,” Santamaria said.
“Indy is certainly one of those guys who we have been tracking for a period of time and will continue to do so.”
The younger brother of New Orleans Pelican Dyson Daniels, 16-year-old Dash Daniels is still the NBL’s top Australian Next Star target.
“We’ve been very open about the fact we consider Dash a genuine first-round NBA draft prospect and he’s got a huge career ahead of him,” Santamaria said.
“The Next Stars program could be a fantastic launching pad for him over the coming years as he decides what his next step’s going to be.”
FIVE POTENTIAL FUTURE NBA PLAYERS
Austin Rapp
Luke Fennell
Roman Siulepa
Jacob Furphy
Julius Hailafonua
NBL’S JUDICIAL INCONSISTENCY QUESTIONED
The NBL’s Game Review Panel has been called out over its “utterly preposterous” inconsistencies — highlighted during last round’s Cairns versus Tasmania clash.
Taipans star Tahjere McCall was charged with unduly rough play for effectively taking out JackJumpers big man Will Magnay.
The panel deemed McCall’s actions as careless, medium impact and low contact and hit him with a $1165 fine, reduced to $775 with an early guilty plea.
NBL championship-winner Damon Lowery felt the panel needed to go harder on McCall for what he believed was a deliberate attack on Magnay.
“To call that careless – that had nothing to do with basketball,” Lowery said.
“He launched his shoulder and went straight into Will’s rib cage. He didn’t go for the ball, he didn’t do anything but literally take this guy out.”
Magnay was charged with unduly rough play during the same game after he ran into Taipans guard Pat Miller which sent him sprawling to the floor.
The panel deemed the incident as intentional, medium impact and low contact and slapped the Tasmania centre with a one-game suspension, reduced to a $1550 fine with an early guilty plea.
Lowery was shocked to see Magnay sanctioned because he believes Miller was in the wrong.
“Magnay is just running down the middle of the court and Miller decides to line him up,” he said.
“What is he supposed to do?
“He is running in a straight line, he can’t protect himself and just braces for contact and Miller falls over.
“And that’s called intentional? It makes no sense. They are pulling all these figures out for fines, but the GRP should just fine themselves.
“I don’t know what they’re doing and I don’t think they know what they’re doing.”
NBL ROUND 19: (All games live on ESPN and Kayo)
Friday, February 9:
New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Brisbane Bullets vs Adelaide 36ers at Nissan Arena from 7.30pm (AEDT)
Saturday, February 10:
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers at John Cain Arena from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Perth Wildcats vs Cairns Taipans at RAC Arena from 8pm (AEDT)
Sunday, February 11:
Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers at John Cain Arena from 2pm (AEDT)
Sydney Kings vs Illawarra Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena from 4pm (AEDT)
More Coverage
‘Distracting mess’: Legends torn over Irving joining Boomers
Melbourne-born NBA star Kyrie Irving has expressed his interest in playing for the Boomers at the 2028 Olympics and while BA is open to it, some past champions aren’t so keen on the move.
‘Phone’s been buzzing’: Phoenix’s wild 24 hours after coach cull
South East Melbourne have wasted no time in searching for a replacement for sacked coach Mike Kelly, with Phoenix powerbrokers still believing they can make a finals push despite an 0-5 start.