NBL26’s real issue: Recruitment, not league parity

• NBL26’s gap between contenders reflects roster construction, not spending limits.
• United, Adelaide thriving through balanced recruitment and elite role players.
• Phoenix standout due to defined roles and system discipline.
• Several clubs lack glue guys essential for title contention.
• Blowouts linked to roster imbalance, inconsistency, and poor complementary pieces.

The NBL doesn't have a parity problem, it has a recruitment problem.

And the eyes should be firmly focused on people within the front offices of clubs across the league.

Coming into NBL26, many fans and pundits expected this season to be one of the closest races to a title in league history, given the moves teams made and the money spent on rosters. But that hasn't really been the case with Melbourne United and the Adelaide 36ers really the only teams playing any type of consistent basketball so far, and it shows on the ladder.

The only other exception is the South East Melbourne Phoenix who have been the surprise of NBL26.

While interest and viewership is up across the league, the one thing that's been pretty consistent is the amount of blowouts already before we hit the first FIBA break.

Yes, you could say 'but only three wins separate sixth on the ladder from last position'. And that would be true. But that's more because of how inconsistent teams have been rather than any type of quality head-to-head battles.

That's a problem, and it falls on the shoulders of the way teams have recruited.

You used to be able to attribute the difference in performance between the top and bottom teams to expenditure, now that's not the case and most of all, it's not an excuse.

Teams across the board are spending more than in what is a massive positive for the league but for me, it's the way teams spend that money that's the problem.

We want to see stars in the league, Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jo Lual-Acuil and Jack McVeigh, with the last two joining the $1 million per season club. Go all in on those types of talents, they put bums on seats and provide highlights which take the league to another level.

But what are you surrounding these marquee guys with? OK, Sydney is different. In my opinion, they've got everything they need and went on an impressive run before the Tasmania JackJumpers snapped their winning streak.

You can't just recruit shiny toys and expect them to do the dirty work that's required to win a championship. And teams have fallen over when it comes to recruiting the no-nonsense role players every elite team needs.

Think Dillon Boucher when he was at the New Zealand Breakers and also when the Brisbane Bullets recruited him as the "missing piece" for the 2007 championship, think Jesse Wagstaff and Damian Martin in those legendary Wildcats teams - every elite team has them.

Who are those players on your team?

Melbourne have them in abundance. To me, it was has been one of the under-the-radar best signings for NBL26 bringing big man Fabian Krslovic across from the JackJumpers. He does everything needed - defends, executes game plan to the highest level, sets elite screens, dives on loose balls - he's someone you have faith in to get the job done each and every night.

I also hear people make fun of the game of fellow United big man Kyle Bowen. But to me, he's another one. He's not trying to shoot 10-plus shots a night. He brings infectious energy, physicality and once again, executes the game plan and is someone Dean Vickerman has faith in. There's more at Melbourne but they're just the two that stand out each and every game.

Adelaide knew it needed to add that type of player to their star-studded roster, so who'd they go out and get early in free agency? Matthew Kenyon. He's that guy, will play defence, knows he's not an offensive weapon so will find his creators when he has the ball, brings energy and gets the job done.

The Phoenix, well, Josh King has created everyone on that roster into that type of player. But look no further than the leader of that group in John Brown III.

Sydney have that ultimate guy in Matthew Dellavedova, that's why they needed the Boomers legend despite how they've played with him out of the line-up.

JackJumpers fans, it's no coincidence your six-game losing streak happened while Anthony Drmic went down with injury.

Who fills that role for the Wildcats? I'd look at Sunday Dech but he seems to be out of the rotation.

Brisbane, you have that perfect role player in Sam McDaniel but his past 12 months unfortunately have been riddled with injury.

New Zealand don't have that player, the closest resemblance is probably Next Star Karim Lopez, who seems to spark the Breakers when they've had their big wins.

Cairns, I think got caught up in a spending spree and forgot all about those types of players, and you can see it in their games. They're inconsistent, and apart from McVeigh, there's been no one who can give them anything on a consistent basis. I thought Mawot Mag would be that guy, because he had history of playing that role in his college career, but again, he seems to be out of the rotation.

The only exception is the Illawarra Hawks. If anything, I think they've over-invested in these types of players and are now stuck without the firepower required to even have a chance of defending their title.

I love that teams are investing more in their rosters, I really do. I think it's great for the league and almost created an offseason that mirrored the NBA - where the offseason is almost just as interesting as the actual season.

But teams need to be better with how they use it and look at players who aren't all glitz and glamour and might not be the popular recruit, even though they probably are with their teammates.

I've heard a lot of different theories as to what's behind the amount of blowouts in NBL26. Three-point disparity, travel schedule, injuries, coaching adjustments and more. But for me, the make up and balance of these rosters and lack of ability to bring the necessary energy and execution every game is the biggest issue.