Luke Travers’ game winner 'Play of the Season'

• Lachlan Olbrich leads the unbeaten Windy City Bulls averaging a near triple double
• Jacob Chance’s Spurs building a case as contenders in the league
• Alex Toohey returned from injury and looked great in display off the bench

Two unbeaten records and a showtime game-winner highlighted the past week’s G-League action for the Australian contingent.

Lachlan Olbrich continues to stuff the stat sheet, flirting with a triple-double on a nightly basis, while head coach Jacob Chance has his squad playing an impressive brand of basketball as the pair remain the only Aussies yet to drop a game.

Aussie Luke Travers’ season debut for the Cleveland Charge was must-watch TV, as he executed a play drawn up to perfection and finished it by dunking on a defender for the win. Meanwhile, Rocco Zikarsky announced himself in style, dropping 24 points in his first start for the Iowa Wolves as they surged to a 4–1 record.

Alex Toohey looked hungry and shot the ball well in his season debut for the Santa Cruz Warriors, while Akoldah Gak continues to provide crucial minutes off the bench for the Capital City Go-Go, giving them energy and impact as part of the second unit.

Performance of the Week:

Luke Travers: 26 points, 4-9 3PT, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals against the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Australians in the G-League

Rocco Zikarsky PTS: 13.2 | RPG: 6.8 | BLK: 1.8 | FG%: 51

Rocco Zikarsky and his Iowa Wolves went 2–1 over the past week, keeping them tied for the second seed in the Central Division. Off the back of an immense showing in his opening games, Zikarsky was promoted into the starting lineup for Friday’s clash with the Grand Rapids Gold. He made the most of the opportunity, showing the early makings of a modern-day big, scoring 24 points, knocking down two threes, grabbing seven rebounds and shooting 61% from the field. Zikarsky returned to an impact role off the bench in the next two games, as the Iowa Wolves toppled the Noblesville Boom on both occasions. His all-round game has been quality to start the season, the ability to shift from brute force in the paint to a floor-stretching big who can hit threes makes him an undeniable candidate for an NBA future.

Lachlan Olbrich: PTS: 15.3 | RPG: 10.7 | APG: 7.3 | FG%: 50

Lachlan Olbrich’s Windy City Bulls are one of five remaining undefeated teams in the G-League this season. Sitting in first place in the Central Division, Olbrich has been one of the side’s standouts, averaging a near triple-double for the league’s third-ranked offence. In Monday’s win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the multi-skilled big man recorded seven points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and a plus/minus of 33. A key piece in the Bulls’ efficient offensive system, Olbrich also helps anchor the formidable unit that has strengthened the league’s third-ranked defence. At this rate, Lachlan Olbrich is shaping up for a huge season, one that could put him firmly in the conversation for minutes with the Chicago Bulls down the track.

Luke Travers: PTS: 23.6 | RPG: 8.6 | APG: 4.6 | SPG: 2.6

Luke Travers made his season debut last Saturday in a win against the Wisconsin Herd, sending social media spiralling with his highlight alley-oop finish in the dying seconds to win the game. The winning play which some are labelling the play of the season so far, capped off a statement game from the Aussie big man who finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Having spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Travers came into the G-League season energised with confidence having sharpened his tools at the top level. The following game in a loss against the Wisconsin Herd, Travers stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Today, Luke lit up the Skyforce, starring in the Charge’s win with 26 points, four threes and a monster all-round stat line of seven rebounds, six assists and six steals.

Akoldah Gak PTS: 7.0 | RPG: 3.0 | BLK: 1.2 | FG%: 55

Akoldah Gak’s Capital City Go-Go went 2–1 over the past week, placing them third in the East Division. In wins against the Westchester Knicks and the College Park Skyhawks, Gak came off the bench to provide scoring punch and valuable length on the defensive end. Currently averaging six points, three rebounds and just over one block per game, Gak has established himself as an integral second-unit contributor whose impact should only grow as the season progresses. He’s shooting an efficient 55% from the field on four attempts per game, and those numbers are expected to climb in the coming weeks as the Aussie continues to build confidence.

Alex Toohey PTS: 13.0 | RPG: 4.0 | BLK: 1.0 | 3P%: 67

Alex Toohey made his G-League debut in Sunday’s matchup with Californian counterparts the Stockton Kings. Igniting an element of life into his winless Santa Cruz Warriors, Toohey added 13 points shooting 50% from the field and grabbed four rebounds. Despite the loss, Toohey looked energised after returning from an injury which kept him out for some time. This year’s 52nd pick is fit and ready to fire in the G-League, hoping to inspire his currently winless Warriors in upcoming games against the undefeated South Bay Lakers.

Jacob Chance

• 2nd in Defensive Rating (97.5)
• 5th in Net Rating (15.3)
• 4th in Steals per game (12.3)
• 4-0 record

Australian coach Jacob Chance has fired his Austin Spurs out to a 4–0 start to the G-League season, playing a brand of basketball built on defensive potency. In their two matchups with the Memphis Hustle, the Spurs outclassed their opponent in every facet of the game, scoring 120+ points on both occasions and holding them to just 98 in one outing. Coach Chance has his team operating like one of the best well-oiled machines in the league. Boasting the second-highest defensive rating and the fifth-highest net rating in the G-League, the Spurs aren’t just shutting teams down, they’re blowing them off the floor.

The start of the G-League season has been red-hot, with Aussies driving their teams to impressive early form. Luke Travers delivered the performance of the week, sinking the Skyforce with a dominant all-round display. Rocco Zikarsky and Lachlan Olbrich continue to turn heads with standout performances that are building NBA buzz. Coach Jacob Chance has taken the league by storm with an unbeaten start, Alex Toohey looked sharp in his debut, and Akoldah Gak’s impact is only set to grow as the season wears on. It’s been a massive opening stretch, one that suggests an exciting year ahead for the Australian contingent.