Role call: The underrated stars who could shape Championship race

Every contending championship puzzle has the perfect mix of superstars with those who star in their role. And if the recent champions are anything to go by, it’s those role players who can end up having the biggest say in winning it all.

As rosters continue to come together, let’s take a look at some of those possible candidates.

Flynn Cameron is destined to be so much more than what fans have seen in his first two seasons at Melbourne United. There is a big reason why five NBL teams were in the hunt to sign him ahead of this season. His size and strength at his position, combined with his ability to score at all three levels, make him the perfect impactful player that the 36ers need.

Stuck behind a star-studded veteran group of guards at United, Cameron now gets the chance to play a big role for an Adelaide team that needs that grit and toughness.

Two seasons ago, Sam McDaniel was a leading candidate for the Best Defensive Player in the league. The 29-year-old guard had made his mark by being a dynamic point-of-attack defender, while also continuing to grow his offensive output. Unfortunately for Bullets fans, they only got to see him feature briefly last year when he was ruled out for the season with shoulder surgery.

Fully recovered, McDaniel has finished his rehab and begun to play NBL1 in preparation for his comeback season.

As the Bullets roster continues to come together, he will once again be the engine room for how good this team will be defensively.

In what was a tough season for Cairns in NBL25, Alex Higgins-Titsha became a shining light as he stepped into more opportunity and flashed his exciting potential. After initially getting his opportunity through multiple injuries around him, by season’s end the 24-year-old became an impact player on both ends of the floor.

This off-season he has continued to improve, being part of the 3x3 Australian team and growing with confidence with everything he does on the court. As Cairns slowly put their team together, don’t be surprised to see Higgins-Titsha jump into a big role for next season and put his name in the Most Improved Player conversation.

The Hawks are yet to add a new face to their championship-winning team, which is only going to strengthen their chances of winning it all once again. The team proved that retention and chemistry go a long way to building a successful culture and now they will look to do that again, with nine rostered players returning.

It’s not a surprise to anyone that Will Hickey is the focus going into next season, as he continues to improve at a rapid pace. His play in the Championship Series was one of the major reasons that his team went on to hold the trophy and he will again be looking to take a step forward next season. Hickey has proven that he is capable of both starting and playing major minutes in the NBL and his next season could be one for the books.

The last time Finn Delany was in the NBL, he had turned in a mixed bag of results in terms of his personal output compared to his All-NBL Second Team season in 2021. However, now he arrives at a Melbourne team for a change of scenery and reuniting with Dean Vickerman, who he knows well from his development player days as a Breaker.

Delany is coming off an impressive season in the Japanese B2 League and will slot into a perfect role for his new team. Expect to see Delany tap back into that All-NBL form in Vickerman’s playing style, which is only going to add to United’s title hopes once they land their three imports.

Don’t look now, but Sam Mennenga is quietly putting together one of the best off-seasons of any NBL talent in recent months. Mennenga has been a standout in the Puerto Rican League for Atléticos de San Germán and looks ready to cement himself as one of the premier big men in the league next season.

In his first two seasons in the NBL, he has shown flashes of how dominant he can be in all areas. From outside shooting to his crafty interior finishing, Mennenga is a unique big man prospect. At just 23 years old, we haven’t seen the best of this young New Zealand big man yet.

It would have been a frustrating first three seasons in the NBL for Lat Mayen, who has never had the consistent opportunity to deliver to the level he is capable of. In sparing opportunities at Cairns, Mayen showed that he can fill it up quickly offensively and be a potent outside threat as well, shooting 40 per cent from three in NBL24.

Last year for Adelaide, Mayen became their point-of-attack defender on a team that was littered with offensive talent. Now the 26-year-old heads west to join a team that is going to have a new identity without Bryce Cotton.

Mayen’s versatility will give him plenty of chances to earn enough playing time to have a big impact for the Wildcats.

The Phoenix have bolstered their depth with some local talent who are looking for a change of scenery and new opportunity. When it comes to who can be most impactful among their role players, it is hard to overlook Owen Foxwell. Sometimes it is easy to forget that Foxwell is still just 21, because he’s played four seasons for the Phoenix now and steadily improved in every one of them.

Josh King described the young guard as a “Josh King type” in a press conference last season and that’s exactly why he is set to become an important piece to their championship hopes next season.

Foxwell’s confidence is sky-high and he plays with a bigger heart than most of his opponents. Now he gets to step into a backup point guard role that will be crucial for King next season.

There was one point last season where the Sydney Kings looked as if they were about to put it all together and become the team that many predicted they would be. That moment was during a game against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena when Jaylin Galloway was inserted into the starting lineup and given more responsibility. Unfortunately, it was the same game where the athletic wing injured his shoulder and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Galloway is still just 22 years old and after his short stint with the Milwaukee Bucks, he’s ready to show NBL fans that he’s a dynamic two-way player. The Kings still have put together a very talented roster, which is why Galloway could be set to thrive in a role that he will carve out for himself.

Sean Macdonald somewhat unexpectedly found himself as a barometer for the JackJumpers, as his ankle injury in the pre-season came at the worst possible time. It threw all of Scott Roth’s rotations into chaos and even the playing style of the team. When Macdonald returned, Tasmania went on to win eight straight games and look like they were making yet another title push.

Now Macdonald will begin the season as the starting point guard and as Roth begins to build the roster around him and Will Magnay, the 25-year-old will have the opportunity to become an important playmaker in the league.