Why Elijah Pepper is NBL1's most impactful player

• Elijah Pepper leads NBL1 in scoring by a MASSIVE 20 points per game
• Shaun Stewart is 7th in scoring but second in the Impact Score
• Rockingham Flames' Isaac White is having himself a season

Warwick Senators guard Elijah Pepper, 23, is leading the 2025 NBL1 Men in scoring but his impact has been more than his 49.7 points per game — as thoroughly ridiculous as that sounds.

Pepper is dominating across the box score, leading the Senators to a 4-0 start in the NBL1 West Conference.

He has an Impact Score of more than 4.0, almost a full point ahead of Goldfields Giants Shaun Stewart at 3.2.

How basketball.com.au calculates its Impact Score

• We consider positive contributions: Points per Game (PPG), Field Goal Percentage (FG%), 3-Point Makes per Game (3PM), Free Throws Made per Game (FTM), Assists per Game (APG), Rebounds per Game (RPG), Steals per Game (SPG), and Blocks per Game (BPG).
• We penalise negative contributions:
  Turnovers per Game (TPG) and Personal Fouls per Game (F).
• Min-Max Normalisation: Each stat was scaled between 0 and 1 so no category dominated simply due to larger numbers (like PPG being naturally bigger than SPG).
• Formula: Impact Score=(Sum of all positive stats)−(Sum of all negative stats)
• In short:
  ➕ More points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, shooting efficiency = higher score
  ➖ More turnovers and fouls = lower score

Pepper is leading because he not only scores a lot (almost 50 PPG!) but does it very efficiently (54% FG, 89% FT), hits a lot of threes, grabs rebounds, makes assists, and limits fouls versus others players despite having more turnovers.

Stewart is equal seventh in scoring at 25.8 points per game but he's stuffing the stat sheet to the tune of 7.8 rebounds per game, 6.3 assists, three steals while committing just 2.3 turnovers.

1. Elijah Pepper (Warwick Senators)‍

Pepper stands out not just as the league’s top scorer with an astronomical 49.75 points per game, but also as the most complete offensive threat. He shoots 54% from the field, makes nearly 9 threes per game, and gets to the line frequently — converting at an 89% clip. Beyond scoring, Pepper contributes across the board with 6.5 assists and 6.25 rebounds per game while keeping turnovers and fouls relatively low. His exceptional blend of volume, efficiency, and playmaking gives him the highest Impact Score by a significant margin.

2. Shaun Stewart (Goldfields Giants)‍

Stewart ranks second in overall impact, thanks to his balanced and effective offensive game. While his scoring average is lower than Pepper’s, he offers elite efficiency, makes plays for others, and contributes defensively with steals and occasional blocks. His consistent production across all box score categories makes him a reliable two-way performer and a key figure for the Giants.

3. Isaac White (Rockingham Flames)‍

White is an elite scorer in his own right, averaging 28.67 points per game on strong shooting splits (51% FG). He also chips in 6.17 assists and 7.0 rebounds, showing he's far more than just a scorer. His game is polished, and his ability to shoot from deep and the foul line makes him a constant threat. His low turnover rate boosts his efficiency and team impact.

4. Johny Narkle (Geraldton Buccaneers)‍

Narkle flies under the radar but posts one of the highest impact scores due to his well-rounded contribution. He scores, rebounds, and defends at a high level. What separates him is his consistency in effort stats—rebounding, defense, and hustle metrics like steals—making him a glue guy who affects winning in multiple ways.

5. De’Sean Parsons (Goldfields Giants)‍

Parsons is a versatile forward who fills up the stat sheet in multiple areas. He contributes solid points per game while also serving as a secondary facilitator and rebounder. His defensive impact with blocks and steals adds value, although his shooting efficiency trails some of the others in the top five. Nonetheless, his size and all-court game keep him among the most impactful performers.