Former Hawk Triplett takes on unique G League path

• Melbourne product Zac Triplett is on the training camp roster for Orlando's G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic
• Triplett was part of the NBL championship run with the Illawarra Hawks last season
• He averaged 24.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the NBL1 North with the Logan Thunder

Climbing the ranks of world basketball through the NBA G League is an unfamiliar path for Aussie hoopers but it's one NBL champion Zac Triplett is hoping he can reach and take his game to another level.

Triplett has been an NBL development player the past two seasons for Melbourne United and the Illawarra Hawks - where he was part of the club's drought-breaking title run - but has passed up opportunities to stay in the league in a similar capacity.

Returning to college was also initially an option for the shooting guard, who spent time at the University of Portland before returning home.

The 24-year-old is instead aiming to secure a roster spot with the Osceola Magic, the G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic, after making the team's training camp list.

"A coach and an agent from America reached out and asked if I wanted a potential opportunity in the G League and I said yes I would love to, Triplett told basketball.com.au.

"I basically went over to Orlando for a tryout followed by a workout with the Osceola magic and from there was selected to the training camp roster.

"I was planning on heading back to college. I had talks with three big schools but was made ineligible by a lawyer because I had already been to college and then turned professional."

Most Australians who face featured in the G League have done so after signing a deal with an NBA team with the most recent examples being the likes of Jack McVeigh, Alex Ducas, Jack White and more.

However, the path of going straight to the competition which is seen as the NBA's development league, is rarely done by Aussies but it has proven to be successful in the past. Triplett's NBL1 North teammate at the Logan Thunder and current Adelaide 36er, Matt Kenyon, plied his trade in the G League with the Capital City GoGo and South Bay Lakers in the 2019-20 season, when then helped him return to Australia a better player and become a mainstay in the NBL.

"I feel as though it’s a great step in the right direction for my future and hopefully this leads to more opportunities elsewhere whether that be in Europe or somewhere else overseas or back in Australia," he said.

"I spoke with Matt about his time in the US and he loved it he spoke about the positives and negatives of it and his whole experience.

"We actually spoke about it before I had even considered it and been told about it as an option for me to pursue."

Known as a sniper from distance, Triplett showed more to his game this past NBL1 North season, increasing his average to 24.4 points per game to go with 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

And it's the improvements he's made to his game over the past year which he believes has him ready to take on the G League.

"I feel as though I have gotten a lot stronger and become an even better shooter and using that strength to make my game a whole lot better," he said.

"Also have been able to improve my game defensively, using my wingspan and learning different techniques and ways to help myself on the defensive end of the floor.

"Playing in the open runs back in Melbourne once the NBL1 season finished up was great going up against those guys and getting used to the NBA ball. Also working out with (Josh) Giddey helped me be ready for this experience and opportunity."

With training camp for the Osceola Magic underway, Triplett said he was enjoying the process of something new.

"It’s been great so far, I arrived here about a week ago after the visa process back home in Australia. I wanted to arrive a few days earlier to get acclimatised to the time zone," he said.

"Training camp started yesterday with some learnings of plays, style of play, meeting all the coaches and players and then we get right into it with a whole lot of playing five-on-five for the rest of the week as well as media day."