
13
Oct
Player Movement
Six down, more to come? NBL imports lack staying power
With six NBL imports already departing NBL rosters, why does this year's crop lack staying power?
The life of an NBL import has always been a ruthless existence – but never like this.
Less than a month into NBL26, six internationals have parted ways with their clubs and CODE Sports understands there could well be more to come, with several other import players under the pump in the early going, reports Mick Randall from CODE Sports.
Half the league – South East Melbourne (twice), Adelaide, Brisbane, Illawarra and Cairns – have made changes on the import front, for any number of reasons including but not limited to performance, fit and/or behaviour.
And there are a number of imports right across the country who are yet to fulfil personal, club – or external – expectations.
Read the full story at CODE Sports
Former league MVP Derek Rucker said the focus for clubs, now, was less about pure numbers and more on how an import fitted in with their team, both on and off the court.
“It’s not that this person can’t play or that person’s no good, because we clearly saw with Javon Freeman-Liberty (in Brisbane) someone who is exceptionally talented and a high level offensive scorer – but something was amiss with the fit,” Rucker, now a respected NBL media figure, said.
“With the parity in the league and, with only 10 teams, the volatility from a team’s chemistry perspective is significant.
“One player can really disrupt the locker room, whether that’s through attitude or just the way they fit on the court.”
With Freeman-Liberty out and Brisbane – in the doldrums at 1-4 as outside pressure on new coach Stu Lash mounts – hunting a replacement, Jaylen Adams form is another concern.
The star point guard hasn’t come close to the form that made him a league MVP and champion in Sydney.
Multiple sources told CODE Sports the Bullets were aware Adams had a reputation as an elite talent who did not always hit the level of professionalism expected of an import.
A source said Adams, in Sydney, would be excused for late arrivals absences from team meetings, trainings and other club functions thanks to his elite level of play.
But, in Brisbane, the 29-year-old is leading the entire NBL in turnovers at 4.4 per game, while shooting just 37 per cent from the field and a woeful 13 per cent from deep – just two makes from 15 attempts in five games. The 32 minutes per game would be a career high across his four seasons in the league, while the 14.4 points would comfortably be a career low.
South East Melbourne’s Hunter Maldonado is a tall and versatile guard who plays defence and can facilitate. But, with the Phoenix’s heavy reliance on Nathan Sobey as their only real pure scorer, they need more offensive firepower.
The American is not a noted bucket-getter and, therefore, the on-court fit could force the club’s hand – for a third time this year.
The 26-year-old played just 14 minutes in Sunday’s escape in New Zealand for 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting to take his three-game numbers to 8 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds – on just 25 per cent shooting.
Mason Jones was already on a hiding to nothing as Perth’s replacement for the legendary Bryce Cotton.
Arriving as the reigning NBA G League finals MVP off a season where he averaged 24 points and 8 assists and shot the three ball at nearly 42 per cent on a ridiculous 9 attempts per game, big things are expected of the 27-year-old.
But, in a horror start to his NBL career, through four games, the American has produced just 9.5 points and 2.8 assists, managed only 5 three-point makes on 22 attempts – 22 per cent – and he’s been benched for the coach’s son, who is a development player with a total of three professional games.
Admiral Schofield arrived in Cairns as the hulking, intimidatory-type coach Adam Forde loves but, instead of getting in the paint and making his presence felt, the former NBA man has spent his time on the perimeter.
Through five games prior to Sunday afternoon’s clash with Melbourne United, Schofield’s taken more threes (39) than twos (31), hitting at a just-passable 33 per cent.
For context, the Taipans have one of the best three-point shooters in the country in Jack McVeigh, who has only taken 15 shots from deep this season.
New Zealand’s Izaiah Brockington was the talk of the NBL, winning the Blitz MVP and prompting former Illawarra Hawk Damon Lowery to declare he would average 25 points per game in NBL26.
But, in order to do that in the Aussie league, you have to be able to shoot, and that skill appears a glaring deficiency in the ultra-athletic American’s game – he’s managed just 11.5 points on 17.6 per cent from deep and teams are sagging off in order to limit his ability to get to the basket and the free throw line.
He had just 5 points in a six-point loss to South East Melbourne Sunday.
Breakers teammate Rob Baker has been almost as underwhelming to start the season, leaving star guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright on an island for the Kiwis, who are languishing at the bottom of/in the lower reaches of the NBL table.
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