Rucker: The star import Phoenix should target

The South East Melbourne Phoenix have already built one of the most star-studded line-ups in the league, but a former NBL MVP is all for another marquee man in the Heartland.

Derrick Walton Jr, Nathan Sobey and Jordan Hunter are among a raft of new signings at the Phoenix, and Derek Rucker says DJ Hogg would be the perfect player to round out the squad. 

“I’d be trying to put DJ Hogg in there,” he said on The Marketplace. 

“Unfortunately his Sydney stint was curtailed by his shoulder injury. He never really got himself going and Sydney can be a really tough place to play when you’re not well, when you don’t get flowing. There’s a lot of noise and not all players handle that well.”

Hogg was an All-NBL Second Team member in Cairns during the NBL23 season, averaging 17.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, but found the going tougher at the Kings.

Rucker says the 27-year-old can bounce back and have a huge impact.

“I think this (the Phoenix) is a perfect place where he (Hogg) can redeem himself,” Rucker added. 

“Hogg is a guy who can be your main man. We saw him do that for stretches at Cairns. 

“I’m not sure what the finances look like. I’m not sure how much they’re (the club) willing to spend ... I think they just want to get some wins and start to build some momentum again and a positive direction and show that fanbase out in the Heartland that this is a team that’s going to be in the Playoffs.”

The Phoenix have gone on an off-season recruiting spree, bringing in high-end talent to support Mitch Creek.

In all, four championship players have joined the club ahead of NBL25, with Walton Jr, Hunter, Angus Glover and Tom Vodanovich all proven winners during their careers. 

While Sobey hasn’t tasted the ultimate success, he’s proven himself as one of the league’s best players across a number of seasons, with close to career-high numbers as a 33-year old in his most recent season at Brisbane.