The hero Brisbane hoops fans needed is finally here

• All 165 games of the NBL27 season in one list
• Every NBL27 roster, squad list and projected depth chart
• Every injured NBL player, with expected return dates

He might be Lithuanian but Arnas Velicka already has Brisbane sports fans considering him one of their own.

The point guard, who broke the record for most assists by a player making his NBL debut in the Bullets' 88-85 season-opening win over the New Zealand Breakers, is the type of talent the franchise has been crying out for since their long-awaited return in 2016.

Velicka is someone that can put the team on his back and enjoys the responsibility and he did it under the bright lights of Brisbane's first game at Pat Rafter Arena in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 5000 fans.

It was the perfect start for the Bullets under new coach Will Weaver and justification for his unique decision to bring in a European point guard in Velicka.

Weaver summed up the 26-year-old's performance in the post-game press conference.

"He might be from a long way away, but I don’t know anybody that embodies the Queensland spirit more," Weaver said about Velicka.

Not only did Velicka dominate himself with 23 points, including five triples, but he unlocked big man Tyrell Harrison with seven of his 14 assists going to the centre. But the biggest asset may have been his leadership from the point guard position, something the Bullets haven't had for years.

Velicka stepped up when the team was down double digits and then made the big plays when needed and controlled the game to lead the Bullets to an important victory in the new era under Weaver.

He looks like he's endeared himself to his teammates as well after they all celebrated his performance with him during his post-game interview on court.

"He’s a complete player, and more importantly to me, he’s an incredible teammate, incredible competitor," Weaver said.

The standout performance seemed to be the start of an incredible relationship with Bullets fans Velicka, who couldn't have been more impressed with the support in his debut in blue and yellow.

“I felt like from the start of the game, even hours before the game, it was a packed arena," he said in the post-game press conference.

"I was really impressed and really proud for the city and the guys in the team."

Weaver was also proud of the effort his team played with, particularly the toughness they showed when things weren’t going their way and their attention to detail on the offensive glass, two areas which are key to the program the former Sydney Kings coach is building in Brisbane.

“This city loves basketball…and I am a firm believer that if we build it, they will come," Weaver said.

"And it looks like tenacity, competitiveness, mateship, camaraderie, commitment, focus. Those are the values that we’re trying to embody”.

While it is only one game, there was a noticeable difference in the positivity among the crowd, players and staff.

The focus on character and effort, and connection with the Brisbane basketball community were evident not only in the teams performance but also the excitement about the playing group and what could be for the Bullets this season.

Arnas Velicka’s 59 SuperCoach points, play by play

NBL27 Round 1 · Brisbane Bullets 88 def NZ Breakers 85 · thirty-one scoring plays · 35:02 on debut

The plays Game clock All

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When	Play	Pts	Total	Min
1Q1 08:57	Assist	+2	2	1.1
2Q1 06:47	Assist	+2	4	3.2
3Q1 05:11	3-Point Shot - Jump Shot	+3	7	4.8
4Q2 07:03	Rebound - Defensive Rebound	+1	8	12.9
5Q2 05:50	Assist	+2	10	14.2
6Q2 05:06	2-Point Shot - Driving Layup	+2	12	14.9
7Q2 03:38	Assist	+2	14	16.4
8Q2 02:56	Turnover - Bad Pass	-2	12	17.1
9Q2 01:13	Assist	+2	14	18.8
10Q2 00:34	Assist	+2	16	19.4
11Q3 09:48	Rebound - Offensive Rebound	+1	17	20.2
12Q3 09:42	3-Point Shot - Jump Shot	+3	20	20.3
13Q3 08:01	Assist	+2	22	22.0
14Q3 07:35	Free Throw - 1 of 2	+1	23	22.4
15Q3 07:35	Free Throw - 2 of 2	+1	24	22.4
16Q3 06:02	3-Point Shot - Pull-Up Jump Shot	+3	27	24.0
17Q3 05:06	Rebound - Defensive Rebound	+1	28	24.9
18Q3 04:55	2-Point Shot - Layup	+2	30	25.1
19Q3 04:25	Assist	+2	32	25.6
20Q3 03:21	3-Point Shot - Jump Shot	+3	35	26.6
21Q3 02:56	Free Throw - 2 of 2	+1	36	27.1
22Q3 01:27	Free Throw - 1 of 2	+1	37	28.6
23Q4 09:19	Assist	+2	39	30.7
24Q4 08:42	Assist	+2	41	31.3
25Q4 07:57	Assist	+2	43	32.0
26Q4 07:16	3-Point Shot - Step-Back Jump Shot	+3	46	32.7
27Q4 05:46	Assist	+2	48	34.2
28Q4 04:57	Rebound - Offensive Rebound	+1	49	35.0
29Q4 04:21	Assist	+2	51	35.6
30Q4 01:48	Rebound - Defensive Rebound	+1	52	38.2
31Q4 01:20	Assist	+2	54	38.7
Bonus	Double-double – 23 points and 14 assists	+5	59	–

Every play that moved Arnas Velicka’s SuperCoach score in his NBL27 debut, Brisbane Bullets def NZ Breakers 88-85. Thirty-one scoring plays are worth 54 points between them, and the five-point double-double bonus takes him to 59.

How a SuperCoach score is built, and what is not in this table

A SuperCoach score is built from the box score, not from the scoreboard: a point is worth one, a rebound one, an assist two, a steal or a block three, and a turnover costs two. Ten or more in two of those categories adds a five-point bonus, which is why the bonus row has no time against it – it is awarded on the final line rather than earned at a moment. He finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists and 1 turnover, on 2-from-3 inside the arc and 5-from-9 outside it, in 35:02. The thirty-one plays here are the ones that changed his score. The other 29 recorded actions did not: eleven missed shots, ten fouls drawn, two personal fouls and six substitutions. Every figure was checked three ways before publication – the plays add to the official box score, the box score gives this total under the SuperCoach formula, and SuperCoach itself reports the same number. Play-by-play from the NBL, checked on 23 September 2026.

Jon Guarna has been the voice of Brisbane basketball for more than 15 years as the lead commentator for the NBL1 North, previously the Queensland Basketball League. He has also been a sideline reporter previously in the NBL.