The NBL has returned to free to air TV in Aus and I've resolved to actually watch some games again. For fun, I thought I would share thoughts on the NBL Next Stars I see, who may be draft possibilities this year or next. For reference, both Josh Giddey and Lamelo Ball are Next Star alumni.
Anyway, first game I watched was Sydney Kings (Alex Toohey) v Adelaide 36ers (Trenton Flowers).
Toohey. For context, Sydney rates itself as one of the better teams in the league, will be aiming for a championship, and has a few individuals gunning for an NBA opportunity. The team moves the ball well, spaces the court, and tries to get down hill off pick and rolls. Toohey is a starter and mostly plays an off ball/ 5th option role.
Physically I think he measures a little over 6'6. He definitely doesn't look/ play bigger than that and right now his position would be 2 guard. He's pretty slight and the physical difference vs other NBL players was notable. But, he doesn't shy away from contact and will get stronger with time. He's quick-ish, but not explosive. He was at the stripe at the end of the first and a bit short of breath.
On offence, Toohey moves well without the ball. He sets screens, will roll into space or slip a screen and cut to the rim. When he cut, he didn't finish super well with contact, but think that will come with strength and he did get to the line. He did attack off the dribble and did show some change of direction with a functional level handle.Toohey doesn't over dribble or stop the ball and made relatively quick decisions in the scheme of the offence. He had a couple of nice but unspectacular passes. I didn't see his jumper but he had some moments with good touch and his free throw form was solid.
On defence, the application is there but the ability is not yet there. He has some plays were he gets down into a good defensive stance but didn't do this consistently. He doesn't yet navigate screens well, some of which is because he's still pretty slight physically. He did get attacked one vs one a few times and was beat by more athletic players. He does moves with his hands up, challenged a shot or two, and got a deflection or two.
Overall I think it's a bit too soon to say what he can be. He seems like a smart player who needs a bit of time to mature physically before he can assert himself on the game more.
Trenton Flowers. Context. His team sucks. The coach was an accomplished player in the NBL around the time of Sac King's golden years but seems to be under a bit of pressure as a coach. The team had moments where they played good ball, but a lot of the game was matador defence and one pass, quick three offence. Not Flowers' fault. He started on the bench and played 10 minutes. The team was not worse with him in.
Physically he has a nice frame and good size for a guard. He looks like a good athlete, but seems more smooth than explosive. He has a bit of teenager/ Carmelo in his body language but not in a bad attitude way.
On offence he played off ball in a role that was a bit undefined. This seems like it might be bit of a learning curve for him. Right now he's not going to earn money as an off ball player.
On defence, he didn't navigate screens that well. He did challenge a few shots after rotating to help, which resulted in fouling. He did show some fight for a loose ball but it was a ball that was in his area. It looks like it's the first time he's had to play D at this level, which would be hard on that team.
It's hard to say what his strengths are based just on this game. It's a jury is out, how does he respond to this challenge, what is his learning experience, how does he assert himself situation. He doesn't have the same opportunity as Giddey, who was given the keys to a bad Adelaide team, which was made to go along with it. I'm rooting for him though and will try to catch a game or two of his later in the year for comparison.
Anyway, first game I watched was Sydney Kings (Alex Toohey) v Adelaide 36ers (Trenton Flowers).
Toohey. For context, Sydney rates itself as one of the better teams in the league, will be aiming for a championship, and has a few individuals gunning for an NBA opportunity. The team moves the ball well, spaces the court, and tries to get down hill off pick and rolls. Toohey is a starter and mostly plays an off ball/ 5th option role.
Physically I think he measures a little over 6'6. He definitely doesn't look/ play bigger than that and right now his position would be 2 guard. He's pretty slight and the physical difference vs other NBL players was notable. But, he doesn't shy away from contact and will get stronger with time. He's quick-ish, but not explosive. He was at the stripe at the end of the first and a bit short of breath.
On offence, Toohey moves well without the ball. He sets screens, will roll into space or slip a screen and cut to the rim. When he cut, he didn't finish super well with contact, but think that will come with strength and he did get to the line. He did attack off the dribble and did show some change of direction with a functional level handle.Toohey doesn't over dribble or stop the ball and made relatively quick decisions in the scheme of the offence. He had a couple of nice but unspectacular passes. I didn't see his jumper but he had some moments with good touch and his free throw form was solid.
On defence, the application is there but the ability is not yet there. He has some plays were he gets down into a good defensive stance but didn't do this consistently. He doesn't yet navigate screens well, some of which is because he's still pretty slight physically. He did get attacked one vs one a few times and was beat by more athletic players. He does moves with his hands up, challenged a shot or two, and got a deflection or two.
Overall I think it's a bit too soon to say what he can be. He seems like a smart player who needs a bit of time to mature physically before he can assert himself on the game more.
Trenton Flowers. Context. His team sucks. The coach was an accomplished player in the NBL around the time of Sac King's golden years but seems to be under a bit of pressure as a coach. The team had moments where they played good ball, but a lot of the game was matador defence and one pass, quick three offence. Not Flowers' fault. He started on the bench and played 10 minutes. The team was not worse with him in.
Physically he has a nice frame and good size for a guard. He looks like a good athlete, but seems more smooth than explosive. He has a bit of teenager/ Carmelo in his body language but not in a bad attitude way.
On offence he played off ball in a role that was a bit undefined. This seems like it might be bit of a learning curve for him. Right now he's not going to earn money as an off ball player.
On defence, he didn't navigate screens that well. He did challenge a few shots after rotating to help, which resulted in fouling. He did show some fight for a loose ball but it was a ball that was in his area. It looks like it's the first time he's had to play D at this level, which would be hard on that team.
It's hard to say what his strengths are based just on this game. It's a jury is out, how does he respond to this challenge, what is his learning experience, how does he assert himself situation. He doesn't have the same opportunity as Giddey, who was given the keys to a bad Adelaide team, which was made to go along with it. I'm rooting for him though and will try to catch a game or two of his later in the year for comparison.
