Logue Down: All the latest news in the world of Aussie hoops

Melbourne United won the championship last year, but its coach has a tinge of regret about not having Josh Giddey on his roster. He explains how close it came.

Former NBL MVP Jerome Randle had a torrid time in the Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

Former Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings guard Jerome Randle recently revealed his struggles playing professional basketball in war-torn Ukraine.

Randle, who holds dual US-Ukraine citizenship, said because no one was certain an invasion was imminent, professional teams in the country warned players against breaking their contracts.

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“These teams basically held us hostage,” Randle told Yahoo Sports.

“It was like ‘you either stay over here or you’re not going to be able to play anywhere’.

“That’s pretty messed up. That’s pretty backwards to me. I don’t think that was fair for them to be able to do that.”

Former NBL MVP Jerome Randle had a torrid time in the Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

Randle is safely out of Ukraine, where he played professionally for a team in war-torn Kyiv.

The 34-year-old was fortunate to be out of the country before Russia launched its invasion last week.

A member of Ukraine’s national team since 2015, Randle joined his teammates in Spain on Tuesday, prior to a World Cup qualifying game last week.

Vickerman’s Giddey regret

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman has revealed how close United came to signing Aussie NBA sensation Josh Giddey as an NBL Next Star back in 2020.

Vickerman’s United were right in the mix to secure Giddey, a Tigers junior who was born in Melbourne, but United couldn’t get the deal done.

“I spoke at a function before our game the other night and I said what an idiot I am,” Vickerman joked.

“We were feeling reasonably confident that we were providing Josh with a good opportunity to stay at home, and he knew what we were about.

“We tried to recruit him, but I couldn’t guarantee him 25 minutes a night – we couldn’t do that.

“Yeah, we won the championship that year and I’m really pleased with that, but to have Josh come through our system after being a Tigers junior, it would have been a great story.”

Josh Giddey has excelled in the NBA following a stint in the NBL with Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

Vickerman credits the Adelaide 36ers for providing Giddey with the right environment for the rising guard to excel.

“They had a vision and minutes for Josh, and it was successful for him, and I guess that is what the Next Stars program is all about,” he said.

“Giving young players the greatest opportunity to get to the next level.”

Fellow Victorian guard Dyson Daniels was also in the mix to join United before he opted to join the G League Ignite in the NBA’s second tier.

“It was the same scenario with Dyson, and we thought that if he was going to be in the NBL he would be with us,” he said.

“But he choose a different path to the G League and I’m glad he has.

“It is a path that no one has taken so far from Australia to go to Ignite and now be in the All-Star game and put himself out there to be drafted as high as possible.

“They are both great Victorian kids and they are both going to do great things on the world stage.”

More US kids set to follow LaMelo’s path through NBL

The NBL is confident of securing more American Next Stars to follow in the footsteps of LaMelo Ball, RJ Hampton, and Justinian Jessup.

That’s the good oil from league commissioner Jeremy Loeliger, who had productive and positive conversations with potential talent at the recent NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.

The re-emergence of the G League, including pay and an improved professional environment, cast doubts over the future of the NBL’s Next Stars program.

American kids now have a strong option to stay home and play in the G League, prompting the NBL to also look to Europe for Next Stars talent.

LaMelo Ball is one of the NBL Next Stars program’s success stories. Picture: Getty Images

This is on show this season with Next Stars from France in Ousmane Dieng (Breakers) and Hugo Besson (Breakers), Germany in United’s Ariel Hukporti and Russia in Tasmania’s Nikita Mikhailovskii.

However, Loeliger says the American interest in the NBL’s Next Stars program remains strong.

“We have several ongoing discussions with potential US Next Stars for next season,” Loeliger said.

“Some are new, some are continuing after more than 12 months of ongoing discussions.”

Loeliger believes the success of former NBL players on the NBA stage, including Josh Giddey, Jae’Sean Tate, and Ball has inspired other Americans to look at Australia as a genuine pathway.

Ball won the NBL’s Rookie of the Year and did the same in the NBA. Picture: NBAE/Getty Images

“We are in conversation with plenty of prospects, which is no doubt helped by the fact that numerous events during All-Star Weekend involved at least one former NBL player,” he said.

“The program has built such great recognition and reputation since I was last there a couple of years ago.

“The feedback for the Next Stars program was hugely positive from all corners. “The most frequent comment was ‘congratulations’, followed by, ‘it‘s clearly now a proven concept that has had great success’, and thirdly, ‘how can we help?’.”

Loeliger had countless positive conversations about the NBL at the NBA All-Star Weekend, which he insists will result in beneficial business outcomes for the league.

“It was like a domino effect – each conversation led to another and another,” he said.

“We‘re a hot topic and there was no shortage of people and companies from all aspects of the industry wanting to get involved somehow and get exposure to our growth.”

The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend was filled with former NBL talent 🤩#NBL22#NBApic.twitter.com/l6TvBHrdkJ

— NBL News (@NBL_News) February 21, 2022

Loeliger, meanwhile, confirmed the NBL will do whatever it takes to organise an NBL versus NBA pre-season game involving Aussie rookie Josh Giddey.

“That would be a fantastic outcome for everyone in my opinion,” he said.

“We‘ll leave no stone unturned to try and make it happen.”

Mills’ mission

Boomers veteran and NBA star Patty Mills deserves a lot of credit for the NBL’s new Indigenous Player Rule, which will allow developed Indigenous talent to be exempt from the salary cap.

Mills has been working tirelessly behind the scenes with the NBL and Basketball Australia to create a Reconciliation Action Plan.

Patty Mills is as influential off the court as he is on it. Picture: Getty Images

He wants both institutions to work closely with his Indigenous Basketball Australia league to better understand the kind of initiatives they need to put in place to increase Indigenous players at the national level.

Mills’ next mission is to see the WNBL follow in the NBL’s footsteps and introduce a similar Indigenous Player Rule for the women and girls.

Watch this space.

Cotton NBA worthy

Sydney Kings import guard Ian Clark has played alongside Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, and he believes Perth star Bryce Cotton deserves to join those stars in the NBA.

Clark first met Cotton at the Utah Jazz where the Wildcats guard played 15 NBA games in the 2014-2015 season.

Bryce is Bryce-ing ‼️ pic.twitter.com/EYVhIglFWC

— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) February 26, 2022

The NBL’s best player added three games with Phoenix and five at Memphis, but hasn’t been sighted in the NBA since.

Clark has no doubts that Cotton belongs in the world’s best league.

“Definitely,” Clark said about Cotton.

“He has the talent; the athleticism and he has the mindset. He is also such a good dude off the court.”

LIKE:

Championship-winning NBL coach Rob Beveridge has done a tremendous job instilling a strong culture in a young Boomers squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Australian’s are missing a host of stars with the NBL season not stopping due to Covid, but Beveridge has his side believing and bleeding green and gold.

It’s another example why ‘Bevo’ would be a great attention to any NBL team given his experience on the international and domestic stage.

DISLIKE:

The buggers who broke into Nathan Sobey’s house and stole his Olympic bronze medal over the weekend. Seriously, what a low act.

Sobey took to social media on Sunday morning, urging the Brisbane public to help him find his prized possession.

Unfortunately last night, our house was broken into and my bronze medal was stolen along with some other small things. If anyone out there has any information please let us know!! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/J3DlWcODp1

— Nathan Sobey (@sobes2zero) February 27, 2022

“Unfortunately, last night, our house was broken into, and my bronze medal was stolen along with some other small things,” Sobey said.

“If anyone out there has any information, please let us know.”

SHOOSH:

Which former NBL player hasn’t featured in the commentary this season due to his vaccination stance?

SHOOSH 2:

Which recently-released player was stand-offish with his coaching staff and the final straw was when he threw a basketball at a club official.

Originally published as Logue Down: All the latest news in the world of Aussie hoops