Crosscourt: A look at the week’s NBL news
Brisbane’s Boomer star Aron Baynes is in for the long haul promises new Bullets coach Justin Schueller. Read all the NBL news in the Crosscourt column
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New Brisbane coach Justin Schueller has guaranteed Aron Baynes is “in for the long haul” as he prepares to assemble a roster around the Olympic talents of the big Boomer and rose gold teammate Nate Sobey he calls “the beast that’s about to be unleashed”.
Schueller takes over after a tumultuous season in Brisbane that left the Bullets with just eight wins after three coaching changes, front office in fighting and a litany of injuries.
He brings with him championship pedigree, having won a pair of titles working as an assistant to master coach Dean Vickerman at highly-regarded Melbourne United, that background and his leadership potential an attractive package for the Bullets.
“Just excited, mate, it’s an awesome opportunity and I can’t wait to get into it,” Schueller told News Corp.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of a winning program for a very long time so those daily habits that I’ve been able to be part of is exactly what I want to bring to the Bullets.
“The beauty of it is we’ve got two Olympians on the roster to build around and when you’ve got that, it always puts you in good stead.
“Being able to move this club forward with a bit of a different direction and find a way to utilise their assets as best as possible is going to be an absolute key.”
He said the opportunity to coach Baynes was a key drawcard and he was looking forward to the challenge of unlocking the giant centre’s full potential.
“He’s an absolute star in our sport,” Shueller said.
“Now he’s had that season (back from injury), we can move forward and get him to where he needs to be and use all the assets that he has.
Baynes and Sobey are Brisbane’s only contracted players. DJ Mitchell has an option for next season Schueller was hopeful would be taken up and he wants to the improving Tanner Krebs to return.
“We need a point guard, there’s no hiding from that fact and that’s a high priority on where we need to go but, right now, it is a blank canvas,” he said.
Import guard Tyler Johnson and sharpshooter Andrew White are not guaranteed to return, but Schueller called both men “great people”.
“What I want to do is make sure I take time and have conversations with everyone and see where they feel they can help us become a winning program,” he said.
His theme in Brisbane for a new beginning?
“What does a bullet do? It only moves forward and that’s going to be a bit of a motto for us,” he said.
“What’s been has been, but now it’s about how we move forward and have best practice to become a sustainable, successful program in this league.”
‘I’M BACK’: CLEVELAND’S SIXERS PROMISE, CALL FOR AWARDS CHANGE
Back-to-back NBL Defensive Player of the Year Antonius Cleveland has confirmed he will see out his contract in Adelaide and wants the league to make a big addition to its award categories.
Despite a tough season for the Adelaide 36ers, the 29-year-old collected his second consecutive Damian Martin Trophy — and backed in coach CJ Bruton.
“Yeah, I’m back, I’m back in Adelaide, nowhere else but Adelaide,” Cleveland, who is under contract, told News Corp.
“I back CJ Bruton and I believe in him, we going to turn this thing around.
“I’m telling them (opponents), ‘enjoy your time, we didn’t make it but we back next year’ … and tell Damian Martin (six-time DPOY winner) I’m on his arse.”
After they missed this year’s play-in tournament, the Sixers believe a few minor tweaks — beginning with Filipino import Kai Sotto’s departure — will be enough to be a force in NBL24.
The Memphis-born lockdown wing has called on the league to provide players who impact the game with their defence to be properly recognised.
“There’s a lot of talent in the NBL and there’s no way Justin Simon (Sydney) and Tahjere McCall (Cairns) shouldn’t have been in the nominations for DPOY,” Cleveland said.
“With an all-defensive first team, you get to put Shea Ili (United) on there, you get to put me on there, McCall on there (Jarell) Brantley (Breakers) on there and (Dererk) Pardon (Breakers) and you could make an argument for DJ Hogg (Cairns) — but he made the (All-NBL) second team, so he cool.
“Defence is what gets you in the NBA we need to magnify that award. Anyone can come over here in Australia and make shots but how many people are going to defend and help their team win?”
EXPANSION TO THE WORLD’S STARS? OWNERS COOL ON NBL’S BIG IDEA
News Corp can reveal the young gun concept was recently presented to team owners to canvas interest.
The idea is for the NBL to expand its Next Stars program, which currently has one or two players representing separate teams.
Under the proposed concept, a host of rising talents would play for an expansion franchise that also included experienced campaigners.
It’s believed this team would help the NBL attract more global eyeballs to the Australian league.
It’s understood the concept has attracted mixed reactions from team owners, but the league is determined to be proactive and progressive to grow the competition beyond Australia.
The new franchise could be based locally or in an overseas market.
It comes as NBL boss Larry Kestelman revealed his desire for the Singapore Slingers to return to the league.
The Slingers, who were part of the NBL for two seasons from 2006-08, could be part of a plan to take the league global.
“We are looking very closely at Asia, how do we get an interest out of Asia, how do we get eyeballs from Asia, how do we grow?,” Kestelman recently told Crosscourt.
“I’d love to see the old Singapore Slingers revived.”
Kestelman is also keen to introduce “one to two” new licences between 2024 and 2026.
PRIDE ROUND LOCKED IN
The NBL will continue its pride round next season, despite several players refusing to wear the rainbow logo on their singlets.
The league’s inaugural celebration of the LGBTQI+ community received extra attention when the entire Cairns Taipans side decided against donning the rainbow logo on their singlets.
It emerged a number of players did not want to wear the pride logo due to religious and personal beliefs.
Sydney Kings’ Brazilian big man Tim Soares, a devout Christian, also opted against wearing the rainbow singlet.
Soares’ stance came after the NBL gave all players the option to wear the logo.
The NBL wanted to avoid dealing with a situation similar to the NRL, when Manly’s season was thrown into chaos after seven players refused play against the Sydney Roosters, based on the team’s decision to wear rainbow-themed jerseys.
The drama at the Sea Eagles prompted the NRL to announce that it won’t have a pride round like other sports.
Instead, rugby league has floated the idea of a ‘respect round’.
The NBL won’t follow that path, though, and remains committed to a pride round.
The A-Leagues (men and women) have since followed suit, announcing a pride round from February 24-26.
Meanwhile, ‘CQUniversity’ will continue its commitment as Cairns Taipans’ major sponsor despite expressing its “disappointment” in the team’s decision to shun the pride logo.
The organisation released a statement saying it wasn’t informed of the Taipans’ choice and it did not agree.
“To avoid any doubt, CQUniversity was not consulted on the Taipans’ late pre-game decision not to wear the Pride jersey in their Wednesday night clash, nor was the University made aware of the Taipan’s decision prior to their public statement being released,” CQ University vice-chancellor and president, Prof Nick Klomp said in the statement at the time.
However, while the University would not comment, Cairns confirmed the issue had been put to rest.
“Yes, CQUniversity is continuing as the Taipans major sponsor,” a Cairns spokesperson said.
FINGERS CROSSED FOR ‘BANE’ MAGETTE
Tasmania floor general Josh Magette hasn’t given up on making a return to the court if the JackJumpers, on Thursday night, can knock over Cairns and make a deep NBL Finals run.
The American suffered a broken cheekbone and fractured eye-socket on Saturday in Illawarra and was booked in for surgery Thursday.
It’s a brutal blow for the Jackies, who face a fired up Taipans team on their home deck, but there has already been discussion about the gun point guard donning a protective mask a la LeBron James during his Heat days. A Bane-esque Magette would be a sight.
He is back home in Tasmania with his family – forced to drive and take the Spirit of Tasmania after his injuries left him unable to fly.
The Floor General is home safe!
— Tasmania JackJumpers 🜠(@JackJumpers) February 7, 2023
Josh Magette arrived into Hobart this morning with the help of @SpiritofTas and Hobart Mazda after he was unable to fly due to injury. pic.twitter.com/3gy5RPNQ79
He took to social media to update fans on his condition.
“It’s been a crazy couple of days but I met with the doctors and have surgery scheduled for Thursday so hopefully be back on the mend soon,” Magette said.
“Thanks for all the calls, texts and messages. I haven’t gotten to respond to everyone but just know I appreciate them and am very grateful.”
With surgery scheduled the same day the JackJumpers will face Cairns in the Seeding Qualifier, the club said he will be assessed post-op with his long term recovery and ongoing welfare the JackJumpers highest priority.
The news is better for big man Will Magnay who will suit up despite copping a knock to the mouth against the Hawks, while captain Clint Steindl is touch and go. Steindl underwent an MRI on his hip prior to travelling to Melbourne for the NBL MVP Awards and will be assessed before the game.
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Originally published as Crosscourt: A look at the week’s NBL news
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