NBL legend Darryl ‘D-Mac’ McDonald putting polish on rising stars with big NBA ambitions

NBL legend Darryl ‘D-Mac’ McDonald was brilliant as a player - now he is helping the next generation shine as they look to excel in the world’s best league.

Darryl ‘D-Mac’ McDonald has sprinkled his brilliance on Aussie NBA rookie Josh Giddey, now he is putting the polish on projected lottery draft pick Dyson Daniels.

McDonald – a three-time NBL champion and league icon – worked closely with Giddey last year to help him prepare for the draft, where the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the sixth pick.

The Thunder star was so impressed with ‘D-Mac’s’ tutelage that he recommended fellow Aussie Daniels also worked with the NBL legend.

McDonald recently trained with the Bendigo-born guard in Melbourne as he looks to finetune before June’s NBA draft, where he is a projected top 10 pick.

‘D-Mac’ feels honoured and blessed to have worked with Daniels and Giddey – two rising talents tipped for big futures in the NBA.

“It is pretty special when you think about it,” said McDonald, who is also an assistant coach at defending NBL champions Melbourne United.

“I don’t take credit for their success because these guys were already good players and draft projections before I came into the picture.

“I’m just there to try and add to their toolbox.

“I’m big on development and I just want to see kids get better.”

McDonald’s work has certainly been appreciated by the players.

It was Giddey who reached out to the former North Melbourne Giants and Melbourne Tigers guard after hearing good things about his workouts.

“The work with Giddey came up because it was something he wanted,” he said.

“He was working with a friend of mine who called me and said that Josh wants to work with you.

“I work with a lot of juniors, but when I got the call to work with Giddey, I won’t lie I was a bit surprised.

“Then when I started working Josh out, he really loved what I did and that just continued on.”

NBL legend Darryl McDonald coaching Knox. Picture: Josie Hayden

McDonald is busy with his NBL coaching commitments with United, but he finds time to watch a lot of NBA.

He says this is where he identifies the trends he needs to teach his rising talents.

“I see a lot of pick and rolls and switching in the NBA,” he said.

“So, when I work with Josh or Dyson I focus on pick and roll reads, like shots out of pick and rolls, finishing out of pick and rolls and passing out of pick and rolls.

“I also do breakdown moves, so how can you create your own shot when things break down and there are guys picking you up.

“I also do a lot of fitness and try and get them to execute when they are tired.”

McDonald expects to see “plenty more” gifted basketballers come through the ranks in the coming years.

Australian teenager Tyrese Proctor is one tipped for a big future after committing to Duke University.

The 18-year-old becomes the second Aussie since Jack White (2016-2020) to play for the Blue Devils.

1000% COMMITTED 🖤 pic.twitter.com/D1xKcp664A

— Tyrese Proctor 🚶🏾‍♂️ (@TyreseProctor) April 7, 2022

Proctor — a 193cm guard - is a product of the NBA Global Academy in Canberra and is focused to further his career at one of America’s top basketball programs.

McDonald watched Proctor play at the Under 20s nationals last year and he was highly impressed with the Sutherland Sydney junior, tipping him to be a top draft pick in 2023.

“United sent me there to watch Dyson play, but I also noticed Tyrese,” he said.

“He is good. He has got all the tools to be an NBA player.

“I think Tyrese will do well and I think he will end up as a first-round pick.”

KINGS RETRO TRIBUTE

Respected Sydney businessman and lifelong Kings fan Mike Lazaris has launched a special range of retro singlets to celebrate a decade of his basketball store, the Throwback.

Lazaris revealed the four singlets last Friday in front of a host of Kings legends, including Shane Heal, Brad Rosen and Dwayne McClain.

The four retro singlets are Heal, Rosen, Leon Trimmingham, and Steve Carfino.

Rosen praised Lazaris for his loyal support towards the Kings and basketball in Sydney via his Throwback merchandise store in Darlinghurst.

“It was an awesome night to see everyone,” Rosen said.

“Mike did a speech, and it was terrific. He mentioned all the legends and how I used to be his neighbour and he wore No. 5 in his basketball career because of me.

“He also spoke about Shane Heal being a huge influence, Carfino being the man to McClain.

“He was quite emotional when he spoke – that is how much it meant to him.”

Rosen couldn’t be prouder of the current crop of Kings, who secured an eleventh straight win against the 36ers in Adelaide on Saturday night.

“They can definitely win the championship,” Rosen said.

NBL PLAYERS HAVE THEIR SAY

The biggest issues and questions in the NBL will be addressed by the players in News Corp’s exclusive Players’ Poll out later this week.

From the game’s most intimidating player, should player wages be made public, are the referees doing a good job and if the finals should be expanded, the poll answers all basketball’s pressing issues.

Check out News Corp papers nationally and online for all the results.

CAUSE CLOSE TO BOGUT’S HEART

Boomers great Andrew Bogut will auction his most prized possessions to raise awareness for brain cancer treatment for children.

Bogut grew up in the Victorian suburb of Endeavour Hills, attending the same primary school as a girl named Isabella, who was diagnosed with an incurable cancer at age five.

It’s why the basketball champion joined forces with the Isabella and Marcus Foundation, which proceeds go towards funding research to develop treatments for children with terminal brain cancer.

An unique opportunity to purchase a signed portrait of charity ambassador Andrew Bogut by Brett Belot. Proceeds to support a clinical trial for children with brain cancer. Andrew's olympic shoes and Kings jersey also available.
Bid at: https://t.co/1zBVX99qt7
Closes April 17th pic.twitter.com/CgafXyN8vZ

— Isabella and Marcus Foundation (@_IsabellaMarcus) April 8, 2022

Bogut has offered up a signed portrait by renowned sports artist Brett Belot, a signed Kings jersey and a pair of signed Nike shoes from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with the Boomers.

Money raised from the sales will be used to fund a clinical trial in 2022 for children in Australia and New Zealand with brain cancer. The clinical trial is supported by the Isabella and Marcus Foundation, with Bogut as its ambassador.

“I like to deal with charity’s that are involved with kids,” Bogut said.

“I usually like to offer support to charities in silence, but this one I feel like my voice can make a real difference.”

LIKE:

Boomers guard Nathan Sobey has finally found his stolen bronze medal.

Sobey took to social media on Friday to express his gratitude about having his prized possession back in his hands, although the Bullets guard was disappointed that his medal had been damaged.

“Just want to thank everyone for all their help in getting my medal back to me,” Sobey said.

“I truly do believe that with everyone’s help, it encouraged whoever took it to hand it back into someone who then got into contact with me.

Back where it belongs 🥉

Nathan Sobey's bronze medal is back in his hands after being stolen from his home earlier this year 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AGBrkD5GmT

— The NBL (@NBL) April 8, 2022

“So again, thank you.

“Unfortunately, it is not in the same state as it was when it was taken and as expected, it has been mistreated while it was in this person’s hands. But with all that being said, I am still super happy that it is back where it belongs.”

DISLIKE:

The Indiana Pacers waiving former South East Melbourne Phoenix guard Keifer Sykes was disappointing.

Sykes averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 17.7 minutes across 32 games for the Pacers.

Thankfully, the ex-NBL star has the right attitude, posting this motivational quote to his Instagram account: “What separates the elite is not their rise, but their response.

“Never crown a king, team or organisation until they have been battled tested.”

SHOOSH:

The NBL is cracking down on coaches using expletives in timeouts during the broadcast. After not issuing fines for the first three quarters of the season, a recent avalanche of bad language had forced the league’s hand. Perth coach Scott Morrison was first to feel the wrath, fined $1000 for two incidents in one game.