Crosscourt: Flopping disgrace as refs wreck block of the year, likes and dislikes from round 10 of the 2024-25 NBL season

The referee decision that had Andrew Bogut labelling it the worst call of the season and outraged fans and players, another NBL flopping disgrace, a struggling import responds and a pair of unsung kids stand up. Crosscourt likes and dislikes.

It should have been the block of the NBL season to date, but the referees decision has cost hoops fans a moment that would have dominated the highlight reels.

Tasmania rim protector Will Magnay showcased his innate defensive skill and timing to send away Adelaide big man Jarell Martin’s attempted dunk with a fearsome block during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over the 36ers.

Magnay leapt to the heavens to deny Martin – touching nothing but leather – however, the officials instead called a pushing foul, which sparked outrage in the commentary box and online.

“Oh what, hell no, no way, challenge that, it’s all ball,” NBL broadcaster Damon Lowery said.

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze declared: “You’ve got to challenge that” before adding: “That is as clean as you can get”.

This was called a pushing foul? So assuming that you would need to see daylight (or not) along with momentum upwards or forwards. How could you see that from the baseline from behind Magnays back? It's literally guessing at the call. Maybe it was pre-empted and way off? Bit rough https://t.co/VDz6w3Xtmm

— Justin Watson (@JDub3332) December 1, 2024

Will Magnay lets his feeling be known on Instagram.

The problem for Tasmania mentor Scott Roth is that he’d already blown his coach’s challenge earlier in the game.

Former NBL centre Harry Froling – a good mate of Magnay’s – took to X to call out the decision.

“That block Magnay had, which was called a foul, is embarrassing,” Froling said.

Sydney Kings part-owner and Australian basketball great Andrew Bogut also weighed in via social media, calling out the referees.

“MVP for worst call of the season goes to the ref who just called Magnay’s block a foul,” Bogut said on X.

“Refereeing 101: Don’t anticipate a call..... Oh, and it would have most likely been the NBL block of the season.”

Tasmania JackJumpers big man Will Magnay was brilliant in Saturday’s win over Adelaide. Photo: Sarah Reed/Getty Images.

FLOPPING MUST STOP

Flopping in NBL25 has reached epidemic proportions and it has prompted a call for action from a respected former Boomers and Opals coach.

Brendan Joyce – who led the Opals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and coached in the NBL with Illawarra and Gold Coast – says the flop is a “blight” on the game.

Joyce came out firing after Sydney Kings guard Izayah Le’Afa appeared to exaggerate minimal contact from Cairns import Rob Edwards.

Le’Afa initially copped an elbow to the neck from Edwards but, according to commentators, “there was nothing” in the contact he received afterwards that prompted him to launch himself onto the ground.

Time to get rid of flopping out of the game. If you went to the monitor Blind Freddy could see it’s a flop. Start handing out techs or fines as it’s a blight on the game! https://t.co/TWlG4G8Drr

— Brendan Joyce (@Brendan_Joyce12) November 29, 2024

Edwards received an unsportsmanlike foul for his elbow to Le-Afa, but the Kings’ guard went unpunished for his flop. The perceived non-call frustrated many NBL fans.

Joyce agreed and took to social media to express his concern.

“Time to get rid of flopping out of the game,” he said.

“If you went to the monitor Blind Freddy could see it’s a flop. Start handing out techs or fines as it’s a blight on the game.”

MORE DISLIKES

OWNER PUZZLED BY LEAGUE’S PODCAST CALL

South East Melbourne owner Romie Chaudhary says he’s baffled by the NBL’s decision to delete a podcast where league chief executive David Stevenson spoke about fan racism in the wake of recent ugly scenes at John Cain Arena.

Public claims from Melbourne United that Adelaide’s Kendric Davis was racially abused during the wild November 17 incident were unable to be corroborated.

However, the 36ers guard told last week’s tribunal hearing he heard racist comments.

On Wednesday’s NBL Now podcast, Stevenson confirmed “there certainly were comments around racist nature and so that was taken into account when the tribunal member made that decision” to suspend Davis for two games for making inappropriate contact with a fan.

It’s understood United was blindsided by Stevenson’s comments and the podcast was removed.

This shouldn't have been removed, not sure why it was....racism shouldn't be tolerated anywhere, and attempting to hide communications when it's been observed (by the NBL taking down posts/podcasts as in this case) is also unacceptable. https://t.co/jl0bIGB8bK

— Romie Chaudhari (@RRome44) November 28, 2024

But it was too late as some fans had already listened to the interview, noted the comments and posted on social media about the subsequent podcast removal.

Chaudhari told Crosscourt Stevenson was right for standing up to racism, but he was puzzled by the decision to take the podcast down.

“The CEO Dave Stevenson brought this to light and good on him for doing that and then it just got pulled away, why would that happen?,” Chaudhary said.

“You’re making people aware of something that’s not right and then you want to take it down?

“I just didn’t understand it and I think a lot of people had questions about it.”

36ERS INCONSISTENT FOURTH COSTLY

Adelaide produced a brave performance against Tasmania in the absence of banned import duo Montrezl Harrell and Kendric Davis, but a late fade out proved costly. The 36ers got within one point in the closing stages and they might have got over the Jackies, were it not for a career stinker from Dejan Vasiljevic – 5-22 from the field and 1-12 from deep – and a couple of boneheaded decisions from Sunday Dech, who launched a logo three with 8 seconds on the shot clock, down 3 with 1.40 to go, then fouled Majok Deng on a three-ball, moments later.

BRISBANE HURT LOCKER

Just when it looked like Brisbane had turned the corner on the back of a brilliant 51-point outing by import guard James Batemon, the Bullets were ripped back to reality.

The Queensland club’s horror injury list made them cannon fodder against Perth.

Josh Bannan (ankle), Tohi Smith-Milner (ankle), Jared Bairstow (concussion) and Deng Adel – who broke his hand in practice and had surgery that will sideline him for six weeks – all missed the near 30-point loss to the Wildcats.

Then, on the day of the game, a bug went through the playing group, grounding star big man Tyrell Harrison and leaving guard Mitch Norton worse for wear. Even coach Justin Schueller threw up before the game. The Bullets have found ways to shoot themselves in the foot often this season but they get a pass mark for this one.

Bullets coach Justin Schueller is dealing with a shocking casualty ward. Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images.

LIKES

FOXY’S COMING OUT PARTY AND A KID TO WATCH IN ADELAIDE

When 21-year-old Owen Foxwell checked in for South East Melbourne the Phoenix were down 13-4 and looked well off it. Four minutes later, a frenetic Foxwell had picked up the pace and busted the Hawks open, checking out with 5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists and the score 21-23.

It was a microcosm of a career-night from the Phoenix’s longest-tenured player, whose effort kept star import Derrick Walton Jr attached to the pine for the second half and ended with a gaudy 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, no turnovers, a set of lost contact lenses and a thrilling three-point win for the Phoenix.

Over in Adelaide, without the suspended Kendric Davis, 36ers coach Mike Wells got funky against Tasmania, deploying development player Keanu Rasmussen for 22 minutes and, like Foxwell, he gave his team a huge spark, posting career-highs across the board with nine points, four assists and two steals.

He proved tonight he’s up to NBL standard!!!

— Jordan Robertson (@jordan_rob7) November 30, 2024

OLIVER FINDS ENERGY GOORJ HAS BEEN BEGGING FOR

Sydney Kings import Cam Oliver produced his best display of NBL25 in a win over his former club Cairns and it was his intent that had coach Brian Goorjian singing his praises.

Oliver was brilliant, dropping an efficient 26 points, adding nine rebounds and three blocks in 28 minutes. The former NBA star has struggled to bring consistent energy this season, prompting Goorjian to publicly call him out during press conferences.

“He (Cam) was instrumental in the win by running the floor, pressuring the ball, running to the post and rebounding – he was elite. A lot of talk’s been going on about him finding a way with us and we’ve been a hard hand in coaching him and demanding some things from him.”

Oliver’s improved energy was through the roof again on Sunday as he poured in another 21 points and 6 rebounds in a close loss to top-of-the-table Melbourne United.

Brian Goorjian praised Cameron Oliver. Photo: Emily Barker/Getty Images.

CASEY WINDS BACK CLOCK

They might have been slaughtered, but it’s heartening to see veteran Brisbane import Casey Prather finding some form. The two-time Perth champion torched his former club for 31 points – the second-highest single-game output of his NBL career.

Some feared his basketball career might have been over after he missed two seasons with a devastating knee injury but the 33-year-old has appeared in 10 of the Bullets’ 11 games this season and gets better with every outing, producing 14.7 points, 5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 steal.

PERFECT PERTH SETS LEAGUE SEASON-BEST

It was a distinctly un-Bryce box score for Perth in their demolition of undermanned Brisbane, with superstar Cotton leading the way in minutes but playing second fiddle to the Wildcats’ legion of gifted scorers.

The sharing and caring Cats set a new league season mark with 30 assists, which led to a remarkable eight players in double digits, led by Kristian Doolittle’s 17.

Originally published as Crosscourt: Flopping disgrace as refs wreck block of the year, likes and dislikes from round 10 of the 2024-25 NBL season