The "clear favourite" for Most Improved honours

While the New Zealand Breakers have had a rollercoaster start to NBL26, local big man Sam Mennenga is putting up career-best numbers and looking every bit of an All-NBL Team member through nine games.

“I’ve said it before, but name another forward that’s better than him in the league?” Damon Lowery queried the NBL Overtime panel.

“He can score from everywhere… he will post you up… he’s got the mid-range game, the three ball, he’s strong and he can defend.

“He is clearly I think the front-runner for a first team NBL spot, provided they (New Zealand) win more games.”

The 23-year-old is currently averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, improving on his 12 points and 5 rebounds last season.

The star big led from the front on Friday night, scoring 21 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in his team’s 42-point demolition of the defending champions.

“I think he’s the clear favourite for the Most Improved Player,” Pete Hooley said.

“What impresses me the most is that I caught up with him when he was in Puerto Rico, he had a great season there… and he said, ‘I want the respect as one of the best big men in the league.’

“He talked the talk and now he’s walking the walk and he’s showing just that.”

After a short stint with the Los Angeles Lakers at this year’s NBA Summer League, Mennenga is quickly becoming a hot commodity around world basketball, with his unique skill set in his position, which has Hooley sending a message to his current team.

"For the New Zealand Breakers… lock him up quickly… for a long-term contract," he said.

“You talk about marquee-able guys… bigs like that are very hard to come by.”

The Breakers host Adelaide on Thursday from 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.