Lowery's shock Championship pick

Author disclaimer: To all the players, coaches and administrators, the following opinions are mine and mine alone. It’s ALWAYS business – and NEVER personal. So, if I name you, shame you, offend you or slap you on the back and put your name up in lights, just accept it for what it is and move on.

During the year I’ll be doing a weekly column titled “Hooyah & Harden Up”. For those who do not know, “Hooyah” is a Navy Seal war cry designed to celebrate an outstanding achievement, while “Harden Up” is reserved for those that have let their team or themselves down.

Before we launch into “Hooyah & Harden Up”, let’s set up the season with a little preview based on the games played recently at the Blitz on the Gold Coast.

Here are the teams ranked bottom to top, in my humble opinion.

COACH: Adam Forde. You can’t miss him, he’s the stocky dude normally in a black polo prowling up and down the sidelines like a bouncer on the footpath outside a nightclub. Intense and super proud, Forde has a knack for getting the best out of his young players and leads with a passion often unmatched.

STRENGTHS: The Taipans have one of the most talented point guards in Taran Armstrong. For young Taran, the NBA ain’t far away and if he can take his game to the next level, he’ll be on Draft boards without a doubt. Rob Edwards is a bucket but needs to share the rock more, Pedro Bradshaw is quickly adapting to the physical style of play in the NBL, and Tanner Groves is working out where he fits in the lineup. These three new imports should be jumping out of their skin to impress, but I do not expect any of them to jump in the water in Cairns due to the jelly fish, crocodiles and snakes. New recruit Kyrin Galloway will give the locals plenty to get excited about with his athleticism while Sam Wardenburg is set for a big season.

WEAKNESSES: Besides the insane humidity, jellyfish, crocodiles and snakes, Cairns’ main issue is having just four players from last season where they finished 12-16, in 8th. Swiss Army knife import, Tahjere McCall, had the keys to the Taipans’ car, and drove it straight to the wreckers. Now the keys are in the hands of a P-plater in Armstrong, and Forde will have trust him to channel his inner Oscar Piastri and drive to survive. My big concern is the player turnover and the fact this team will take a while to gel together on the court. Unfortunately, Armstrong suffered a tear in his baby cow (calf) and could miss a month or so.

PREDICTION: 10th. Somebody’s gotta finish last, but I have no doubt they’ll be highly entertaining and competitive especially when Edwards gets going.

THE BIG TICKET? I won’t be the only one buying a ticket to watch Armstrong in action, as plenty of NBA teams will be sending their scouts to see him in person. He attended the Adidas Europe pre-draft camp and made the All-Camp team. He’s already worked out for nine NBA teams, so if you have the chance to see him, take the opportunity because he won’t be here too much longer.

COACH: Petteri Koponen is only 36 and might just be the second best guard on the team. A European champion in his own right, he played in the Finland national team, and with clubs Virtus Bologna, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the Honka Playboys. He only recently retired and is now ready to make his mark on the sidelines.

STRENGTHS: All NBL 1st team player, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, is the spearhead of this new-look team and will need to replicate his 2024 season for the Breakers to have any hope of winning. Former Taipan Sam Mennenga brings his pectorals and size across the ditch, as well as Former NBA player Jonah Bolden.

WEAKNESSES: Losing your leader and head coach, Mody Maor, on the eve of the season is a massive loss. Not only did Maor coach with his heart on his sleeve but he guided the Breakers to the Championship Series in 2023 and got back into the playoffs last year. If Anthony Lamb’s achilles didn’t betray him, I believe they were on their way back to the Championship Series. With just two returning players and a new coach, it could take a while for this team to get on the same page.

PREDICTION: 9th. “Huonoa tuuria” that means “Bad Luck” in Finnish!

THE BIG TICKET? The human blur, Parker Jackson-Cartwright is faster than a rumour and VP of the “Lil’ Big Man Society”. PJC was 1st team All NBL24 and 1st team All Put Derek Rucker Back in his Box. If you go watch him play, I guarantee you will not be disappointed! I’m also keen to see Next Star, Karim Lopez ,from Mexico. He’s a lock for the NBA in a few years, and he doesn’t know it yet but I’ll be speaking to him in Spanish: “Espero conocerte, Karim.” 

COACH: Led by reigning Coach of the Year, Dean Vickerman, the seatbelt sign is on so United fans: return to your seats, sit down and buckle up! Turbulence is coming. After coming oh so close to a championship last season, eventually losing to the Tasmania JackJumpers in 5, there’s been significant change in the team.

STRENGTHS: Chris “The Gladiator” Goulding will lead the League in triples made while the return of NBA champion with Denver, Jack White, will be a welcome one. United boast the best defensive backcourt in the League with Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova regularly putting opposition guards in strait jackets.

WEAKNESSES: I just don’t see enough interior scoring, United lost 14 feet worth of humans with the departures of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Ariel Hukporti. While Marcus Lee returns with championship experience and elite defence, he’s not bringing a lot of buckets. The loss of 6’7 NBA bound Luke Travers is another big loss who leaves a huge void.

PREDICTION: 8th. Hey, 8 is still a good number. A lil’ champion from the Hawks (me) wore No.8 back in the day. I know the United fans won’t like reading it, but I feel their squad has gone backwards on paper and lacks the same scoring threats of previous years. Goulding is gonna have to have another career season and will be carrying a huge weight on his shoulders yet again.

THE BIG TICKET? Chris Goulding, AKA CG43, is the Russell Crowe of the NBL and John Cain Arena is his Colosseum. No player relishes the big stage like CG43 and he’s in range as soon as he parks his car out the back. You will be entertained! 

COACH: Justin ‘don’t call me Timberlake’ Schueller. The Bullets finished last season with a record of 13-15, that landed them seventh. Justin finally has the roster he wanted with imports Chris Smith and Shannon Scott no longer around. He also showed Nathan Sobey the door and Aaron Baynes has seemingly retired – although he’s yet to say that officially. The Bullets won the Blitz, and Big Tyrell Harrison put everyone on notice, by taking out the Ray Borner MVP medal averaging 17 & 7.

STRENGTHS: Josh Bannan is getting plenty of NBA interest. Coming off an NBA summer League run with the LA Clippers, his star will only continue to rise. Tyrell Harrison is one of the most skilled bigs in the League, and he will be ably backed up big teen sensation and skyscraper, Rocco Zikarsky. The 7’4 young giant will enjoy his last season in the NBL as his plane ticket to the NBA is all but assured.

WEAKNESSES: As with all imports, it’s a wait and see. But I don’t see enough offensive firepower on this team. The Bullets averaged 88 points last season and on paper, it looks similar. In my mind, they’re not potent enough to crack the six-pack.

PREDICTION: 7th (again).

THE BIG TICKET: Import James Batemon is well travelled and took out the MVP award in France’s second division (which is one more MVP than me). He also made the All-Second Team in the ferocious Israel league. At only 6’1, I’m considering making room for him in the “Lil Big Man Society”, but he might be a tad too tall. 

COACH: Mike ‘I finally have my roster’ Kelly. Injuries last season to damn near everybody resulted in a 10-18 record and the dreaded wooden spoon. The heart and soul of the Heartland, Mitch Creek, has been ripped out and his 21 points and 7 rebounds a game are off to China. The Phoenix have moved on from imports Alan Williams, and mi Puerto Rican Amigo, Gary Browne.

STRENGTHS: NBL champion Derrick Walton Jr,  2x NBL Champions Angus ‘Danny’ Glover & Jordan ‘The Bounty’ Hunter. Not to mention All-NBL Second Team member Nathan Sobey, who just fell into Phoenix’s lap.

WEAKNESSES: It’s a brand new team but only one basketball is allowed. My questions are: can this much talent coexist, and who’s gonna replace Mitch Creek? It’s gonna have to be a collective effort for the Phoenix to rise.

PREDICTION: 6th.

THE BIG TICKET: Derrick Walton Jr hails from the great state of Michigan and is a point guard savant! His ability to carve up defences and create for himself and others is unmatched. I’m also hanging to see Sobey unleashed in green. Sobey is a Warrnambool product and will relish being back in Victoria. After the Bullets gave him the ‘Godfather’ ride out of town, will be out for revenge and still has plenty to prove.

COACH: This might change by the time this is published, but it’s currently Mike ‘I was Assistant Coach for two days’ Wells. The 36ers finished ninth last season with a 12-16 record. CJ Bruton started the season, but was replaced by his assistant and club legend, Scott Ninnis. In a sensational turn of events, Ninnis (who just signed a two-year contract) was sacked two weeks into the preseason and was replaced by his assistant, Wells. Bad news and good news for the 36ers … Jarell Martin’s ankle injury is worse than first thought and will miss the start of the season. But … have you ever heard of Montrezl Harrell? He’s played 515 NBA games and won the NBA sixth man of the year award in 2020.

STRENGTHS: The South Australians! All 9,000 of em clearly care about what’s going on inside the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, but they’ll SHOW UP! Sharpshooter and the supremely confident DJ Vasiljevic will look to make this team his own, and dominant big man Isaac Humphries will be by his side every step of the way.

WEAKNESSES: A propensity to upset the basketball Gods with front office shenanigans. The 36ers remind me of the reality tv show “Survivor”.  If you’re the coach of Adelaide, you never know when they’re gonna say, “Bring us your torch”.

PREDICTION: Even despite the instability, I still think they have the talent to finish 5th.^,

THE BIG TICKET: Aside from wanting to see Harrell, it’s hard to go past the “Human Torch” Dejan Vasiljevic. Few players in the League can hit the ignition switch and get hotter than Townsville in the summertime. DJ is a two-time NBL champion and the chip on his shoulder is bigger than any chip you’ve ever had. DJ feels he was snubbed by the Australian Boomers in Paris, which will only add to his fury.

COACH: John ‘The Real Deal’ Rillie. After getting off to a slow start which had the Red Army out for blood, Rillie turned the season around and finished 17-11 and 2nd on the ladder. Eventual champions Tasmania put a fork in their postseason but they are set to bounce back again.

STRENGTHS: I’ll put it in capital letters: BRYCE COTTON. Done.

WEAKNESSES: While he’s the clear strength, he can also be a weakness because sometimes the Wildcats can be too reliant on Cotton. It’s a double edged sword that even the most experienced coach needs to be careful handling.

PREDICTION: 4th.

THE BIG TICKET: If you don’t wanna pay to see a three-time NBL champion, four-time League MVP, seven-time scoring champion and seven-time All-NBL First Team player, Bryce Cotton play, you’re the biggest tight arse in Australia. Aside from Charles and Yvonne Cotton’s son, I’m keen to see Next Star, Izan Almansa, in action. One of the most successful youth players in history, Almansa is here to springboard himself high onto NBA Draft boards.

 COACH: The GOAT, Brian Goorjian. A 6 x NBL champion and 4 x Australian Olympic coach. The Kings redefined “dysfunctional” last season but will benefit from Goorjian’s leadership and a star-studded roster that has to be seen to be believed. After a 13-15 season and fifth-placed finish, head office decided coach Mahmoud Abdul Fattah had to go.

STRENGTHS: The return of Xavier Cooks who realised he could get great dumplings in Sydney as well as Japan. Cam Oliver makes his NBL return, and the recruitment of Olympian and great two-way Pit Bul, Bul Kuol make this a nasty side. And don’t forget former MVP Jaylen Adams, who is devastating when he’s at his best.

WEAKNESSES: Losing Jordy Hunter and Jonah Bolden makes Cooks the tallest player on the team, which is an issue in my mind. I think the Kings might be too small when it’s gets to down to the nitty gritty.

PREDICTION: 3rd.

THE BIG TICKET: I’m keen to see a few things in Sydney this year. One being 2023 MVP & NBL Champion, Xavier Cooks! Born in Ballarat and raised in Wollongong, Cooks signed with the Washington Wizards but returns to run it back with the Kings. Xav’s 6’8 do it all package is unique to the League and he’s my tip to win MVP again. The other thing I’m interested to see is Keli Leaupepe’s arms. This guy is a man mountain and can bench 180kgs.

COACH: Reigning NBL Champion, Scott ‘The Big Stogie’ Roth. Four years ago the JackJumpers were just a concept, and in just three years, they climbed to the mountain top. Roth is a system, and he can motivate his team to grind out a win under any circumstances.

STRENGTHS: Milton Doyle, Olympian Will Magnay, and the entire state of Tasmania that packs out My State Bank Arena every single night. The JACKY WAY is the benchmark of the League and playing down there is something else!

WEAKNESSES: Jack “Two-Way” McVeigh is now an employee at the Houston Rockets and will be sorely missed. But outside of his absence, I can’t see many other downsides. Some might say they’ll suffer a dreaded Championship hangover but I can’t see Roth allowing that to happen.

PREDICTION: 2nd.

THE BIG TICKET: The President of the “Lil Big Man Society”, Jordon Crawford. He stands just 5’6 but nobody will forget when he went nuclear in the first quarter of game 5 in the championship series. With moves the League has never seen, the ankles of opposition defenders are again in serious jeopardy.

COACH: The Hawks started last season with Jacob Jackomas, but after 2-7, the bosses pulled the pin and promoted assistant coach, Justin Tatum – the father of NBA champion Jayson. Justin went 12-7 the rest of the way and reignited a fan base and player group. They finished last season 14-14 in fourth.  All NBL First-Teamer Gary Clark decided to take his talents to Japan. The Hawks have settled on 6’7 import Darius ‘Better’ Days (*that nickname is under construction). Darius made his debut at the Blitz and showed everyone he might be younger version of Clark. At only 24, he has the three-ball, inside game, and the motor to complement a very strong roster.

STRENGTHS: Familiarity with the core of the team already under contract heading into the season. Sam Froling and Tyler Harvey averaged 15 points apiece last season and will only get better together.

WEAKNESSES: Justin Tatum arrived back to Australia late and hasn’t had a lot of time on the court with his team. 

PREDICTION: Cue the eye roll but I’m calling it; The Hawks will be the champs and I predict former Hawks’ Champion Damon Lowery will make a fool of himself at the Championship afterparty.

THE BIG TICKET: Tyler Harvey all the way! The left-handed sniper is a pathological scorer and simply can’t help himself. I’ve lost track of how many game-winning shots he’s made. Tyler enters his fifth season with the Hawks and has his eyes on the prize

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THE NBL

COACH: Larry Kestelman has done what no one precited, other than himself, and that’s to reinvigorate basketball in Australia. The billionaire businessman has the midas touch and is showing no signs of slowing down in what will be his ninth season as owner of the League.

STRENGTHS: Booming participation and interest. The NBL is the fastest growing sports League in Australia and is taking all comers by storm.

WEAKNESSNESS: Losing players to Asia. While the NBL is happy to see players head to the NBA as it highlights the calibre of players we have in the League, the money being thrown around in Japan and other countries is hard to match. The NBL has to keep building its strong connection to the NBA to show players the League is their best pathway to make it to the big time.

THE BIG TICKET: Round 1 in Perth is gonna go off! For the first time, all teams will converge on Perth, Western Australia, to play their season openers all in one place.