Olbrich NBA debut after G-League triple-double

• Chance’s Spurs have the most wins in the G-League (9)
• Lachlan Olbrich’s league form earns him NBA debut
• Zikarsky starts for Division leading Iowa Wolves

A title could be on the horizon for head coach Jacob Chance and his Austin Spurs as they go unbeaten in the past week of G-League.

A Central Division battle has erupted between two Aussie rookies, with Lachlan Olbrich’s Windy City Bulls sitting one game behind Rocco Zikarsky’s division leading Iowa Wolves. Luke Travers and Akoldah Gak sit in the middle of the pack, with their respective sides maintaining a .500 record and continue search for catalyst to lift side’s fortunes.

Performance of the Week - Rocco Zikarsky

• 17 points, 8 rebounds, 60% FG, 50% 3PT, 100% FT against the Motor City Cruise

Australians in the G-League:

Lachlan Olbrich: PTS: 18.6 | RPG: 9.3 | APG: 6.7 | 3P%: 40

Lachlan Olbrich has arguably been the standout Aussie in the G-League this season. His averages which continue to flirt with a triple-double, showcase the versatility and poise that earned him his first NBA minutes this week. Before his call-up for the Chicago Bulls’ clash with the Indiana Pacers, Olbrich featured in two G League outings, going 1–1 as his side slipped to third in the Central Division. Even in defeat to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, he delivered a career highlight, posting his first triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He backed it up in style against fellow Australian Luke Travers and the Cleveland Charge on Saturday, adding 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists as his team exploded for 142 points. On the back of these standout performances, Olbrich’s NBA debut for the iconic Chicago Bulls marked another major milestone in a rookie season that appears destined to chart a rapid rise from G League standout to genuine NBA contributor.

Rocco Zikarsky: PTS: 13.8 | RPG: 7.4 | BLK: 2.3 | FG%: 52

Rocco Zikarsky had a one-game week, during which he duly earned a starting role for his top-of-the-division Iowa Wolves. As an essential part of the Wolves number one ranked offence, Zikarsky’s dual threat as a physical presence and a big man who can shoot has proved monumental in the side's fluid offence whose dominance in the paint has been second to none. Zikarsky’s stat sheet in Sunday’s win over the Motor City Cruise read, 17 points eight rebounds, 60% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Zikarsky is the total package and everything you'd want in a modern day big and his form through the G-League season has placed him on the doorstep of NBA minutes. This year’s 45th pick has helped shape the physical, dominant and towering identity the Wolves have cultivated as they continue to lead the league in all major physical metrics.

Luke Travers: PTS: 22.0 | RPG: 6.6 | APG: 4.6 | SPG: 1.6

In the week where Luke Travers and the Cleveland Charge went down to the Windy City Bulls, there was no shortage of production from the dynamic Aussie. Whilst shooting poorly from the field this season, Travers' gritty and hard-nosed game powered him to a stat line of 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks. As it stands the Aussie is currently shooting 38.4% from the field yet his averages of 22 points, seven assists and five assists tell us the Aussie is finding different ways to put the ball in the net and impact the game even when his shots aren’t sinking. These gritty and hardcore elements of Travers’ game have been what's elevated him into NBA rotation with the Cavaliers, with his adaptability and versatility two crucial elements in his expanding game. With the Cleveland Charge sitting in fifth place in the Central Division, the poise and professionalism offered by Luke Travers could play a crucial part in the side's surge toward playoff qualification.

Akoldah Gak: PTS: 4.8 | RPG: 3.1 | APG: 1.0 | FG%: 52

Akoldah Gak went 1–1 over the past week as the Capital City Go-Go faced the Greensboro Swarm in a two-game mini-series. Looking to break free from a period of plateaued form, Gak lifted his production in the Go-Go’s loss, contributing six points, three rebounds, an assist and two blocks. Gak averages just three field-goal attempts per game, which limits his ability to fully maximise the minutes he’s given. Physically gifted at 6’11” and 102kg, and armed with a 7’2” wingspan, he is often relied upon to provide size and strengthen Capital City’s interior defence. With no shortage of talent, Gak will need to increase his offensive involvement to better showcase his skill set and play with the confidence that can elevate his game to the next level.

Jacob Chance

• 2nd in Defensive Rating (104.1)
• 3rd in Net Rating (11.2)
• 1st in Three Point Percentage (40.2)
• 3rd in Field Goal Percentage (49.9)
• 9-1 record

Jacob Chance has not put a foot wrong in the opening games of his tenure as head coach of the Austin Spurs. Chance went undefeated in this week’s double-header against the Oklahoma City Blue, lifting the team to a 9–1 record, the most wins of any side this season. The system Chance has implemented has the Spurs playing suffocating defence on one end and shooting the ball as efficiently as any team in the league on the other. The Aussie’s start to the season has put to rest any doubts about whether he could replicate his success from home soil in the United States. Chance is firmly on track to mount a title charge with the Austin Spurs this season, guiding a brand of basketball that opponents are still struggling to crack.

The past week of G League action has confirmed that Jacob Chance is the real deal, steering the Austin Spurs to a 9–1 record. The manner in which he has done so would have basketball purists impressed, with the team executing an efficient offence and lockdown defence. On the back of his first triple-double, Lachlan Olbrich earned his NBA debut against the Indiana Pacers, and Rocco Zikarsky could follow in his footsteps. Meanwhile, Akoldah Gak and Luke Travers could prove pivotal to their teams’ success, as both sit on .500 records and outside playoff contention.