NBL Oz Gaming Coach Reveals Draft Plan

The NBL Oz Gaming team is close to being finalised ahead of their inaugural season, with coach Mitchell ‘Mootyy’ Franklin giving an update on the type of player he is looking for in Friday’s draft.

With one key piece to join the team alongside ‘Jyden’ McBath-Spencer, Frederick ‘DjayTooCold’ Payton, Jerry ‘Sick One’ Knapp, and Australian Harry ‘RealHvzn’ Spierings, Mootyy shared his thoughts on what he is looking for in the fifth and final player to join the first ever Aussie squad.

“Skill is not as important as a factor, it’s who can be the most professional which leads in the build-up of work ethic. It really comes down to chemistry and trust,” Mootyy said.

“I’m looking for not only a skilled player, but someone who is just a good dude. A good human being, a great personality.

“Someone who has a strong work ethic, good personality, wants to be here, willing to learn and someone who my guys are comfortable going to war with.”

With the season starting in March, Mootyy admitted his confidence in the team has already flourished.

In order to find the final missing piece to their puzzle, he said the input from his players is crucial in creating an infectious team culture that will continue to grow throughout the season.

“I want to set that culture that whether winning or losing, or what our success is, we have a great group of guys,” Mootyy said.

“I’m getting input every day from all my players about who they like so we can kind of build that theme.

“I told myself I was going to pride myself on being a player coach.

“This league is still so new, so the players know best.”

Aussie young gun RealHvzn was the first member of NBL Oz Gaming, Jyden was first pick at the expansion draft in 2022, followed by DjayTooCold. Sick One was the first player to be acquired via trade by the team, and now Mootyy is searching for one more “diamond in the rough”.

“The draft could shake any way, but I have confidence,” Mootyy said.

“Finding that diamond in the rough.

“Everyone can be good at the comfort of their own home, it changes, and you see if people are really built for it when they’re on the stage in front of people. When stuff is going bad and people are yelling at them, how is their demeanour and are they composed.

“There’s a difference between skilled players, and 2K League players.

“I feel really confident, and I know the guys feel confident.”

The 2023 NBA 2K League Draft will be held this Friday and will be livestreamed from New York City on the 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.