The 2024-25 NBL regular season has officially tipped off, and what a thrilling opening round it was! The inaugural HoopsFest in Perth set the stage for an electrifying start to the season, with teams showcasing their skills and determination.
One player who stole the spotlight was Sydney Kings’ point guard, who exploded onto the scene with a personal 8-0 run, forcing an early timeout. He went on to finish with an impressive 25 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, committing zero turnovers in his 31 minutes on the floor. His coach praised him, saying, “When he was on the floor, everyone around him was better. Clutch, he made the big plays, he got everybody involved; and, the other aspect, he defended like a winner.”
Another standout performance came from Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who led the New Zealand Breakers to victory with 20 points and 11 assists. His ability to create advantages and manufacture offense out of nothing is a valuable asset for his team.
The Perth Wildcats’ Ben Henshall also had a breakout game, finishing with 10 points and seven assists, shooting 2-of-4 from downtown. His development leap has been impressive, and he’s expected to continue making an impact for his team.
The South East Melbourne Phoenix, on the other hand, face challenges in finding secondary ball-carrying minutes and learning to work through minutes without Jordan Hunter on the floor. They’ll need to find a reliable backup in his position to ease the pressure.
Montrezl Harrell, playing his first game for the Adelaide 36ers, brought a unique flair and intensity to the court, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds in just over 20 minutes. His motor and physicality are unmatched among bigs in the NBL this season.
The Wildcats’ Windler, meanwhile, is still finding his spots in the league, but his elite role-playing skills are already making a difference. His coach hopes to see him become more aggressive and play a more versatile role, similar to his college days.
The Illawarra Hawks’ rotation of bigs was a highlight of their win over the Cairns Taipans, with Sam Froling, Darius Days, and Lachlan Olbrich all excelling against a solid Taipans frontcourt rotation.
Lastly, the Brisbane Bullets struggled in their loss, failing to contain penetration and create advantages on offense. They’ll need to find cohesion on the offensive end if they’re going to compete consistently this season.
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