All the stars, but who takes charge?

The Adelaide 36ers have built a powerhouse squad. Now comes the real test: making it work.

“There’s no true point guard on this team,” Pete Hooley observed on NBL Marketplace. “Bryce Cotton is more than capable of running the offence. DJ Vasiljevic will handle it more, and Flynn Cameron can take some of those duties as well. But there’s no natural floor general.”

The 36ers made waves this off-season by bringing in some of the league’s most prolific players, led by the five-time MVP Cotton, Montrezl Harrell, and Zylan Cheatham.

“Where’s the connector?” ESPN’s Olgun Uluc added. “Where’s the steady hand ... the Damian Martin or Mitch Norton type? Someone who isn’t worried about stats and just wants to get others involved.”

The 36ers may be the popular pick to win it all, but Hooley says reaching that goal depends on one crucial element.

“It’s all about sacrifice,” he said. “Every Championship team has guys willing to sacrifice. You might get fewer shots, fewer rebounds, or play a different role entirely. But if the goal is to win, then you’ll buy in.”

Finding a defensive identity is the next step, and history shows it’s a critical part of any title-winning formula.

“Defensively, how does it all work?” Hooley asked. “One of Isaac Humphries or Montrezl Harrell will have to come off the bench, which is fine - to have a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. But how does it all come together?," Hooley continued.

“The positive side of it for Mike Wells is that they can start working on that now and putting systems in place in pre-season. But there are question marks about the balance.”

With everything beginning to fall into place in their roster build, the class and capability of this group is undeniable.

“Talent-wise, this is one of the best units we have ever seen," Hooley concluded.