NBL Buzz: Award Picks, Rising Stars, and NBA Eyes on Australia’s Fastest-Growing League
The NBL season is just around the corner, and excitement is building as Fox Sports Australia’s NBL experts Josh Higgins and Jai Shadlow have weighed in with their picks for all the major awards, championship predictions, and All-NBL selections. With the Bullets already dealing with early injuries to Sam McDaniel and Taine Murray, expect MacKinnon’s offensive production to take a significant jump. Meanwhile, the 36ers are banking on Jenkins to build on his strong finish last season. “We didn’t see the best of him last season after joining the team so late, but if Game 3 of the finals is anything to go by, where he had 22 points on 67% shooting from the field, Jenkins is going to be important for the 36ers,” said Shadlow. These insights set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling season.nnOne player generating buzz is Will Hickey of the Illawarra Hawks. At 27 years old, Hickey has started just 26 of his 122 NBL games, building a reputation as one of the league’s most impactful players off the bench. “He is the definition of a sixth man,” Shadlow noted. Hickey’s ability to change the game coming off the bench will be crucial for the Hawks as they aim for a deep playoff run. His energy and scoring punch make him a prime candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.nnThe NBL’s growing reputation was further boosted by NBA champion Richard Jefferson, who hailed the league as the “fastest-growing league” and believes Cole Anthony’s move could trigger a flood of prime-age NBA talent to the NBL. This sentiment is echoed by the recent signing of former NBL Next Star Alex Toohey to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Golden State Warriors, highlighting the league’s role as a pathway to the NBA. Additionally, the NBL’s All-time Top 50 list has sparked debate, ranking 50 players across four decades, with 12 carrying a “FLOOR” on early numbers.nnOn the court, the NBL Blitz provided a preview of what’s to come.
Shimanta Das 
