A Kid Named Ball, With A Ball, Having A Ball
Season 2025 of the Sal's NBL started with maybe what could end up being the best and most talked about individual performances of the year, and it came from a teenager who celebrated his 17th birthday just two days earlier. Jackson Ball led the Big Barrel Hawke's Bay Hawks to an opening win with 40 points on 15/19 shooting in 33 minutes with a +38 plus/minus against the Indian Panthers, before stepping out again three days later and leading his team to another win with 36 points against the revamped Jets. Already a capped Tall Black, Ball is a local Hawke's Bay basketball prodigy and set for big things globally. Check your team's schedule and look for a match-up against the Hawks ... buy a ticket now and go and see this kid play!
Some Things Are Bigger Than The Game
A remarkable story emerged in the opening week of the season with Australian Harry Froling stepping back on court after a 786-day absence due to a horrific coward punch attack that almost took his life. The 153-game Australian NBL star, and a former player in the Sal's NBL with the Southern Huskies in 2019, endured a long road to recovery loaded with doubts as to whether he would ever pick up a basketball again. On Sunday in Wellington he defied the odds and got back to playing the game he loves and starred with 32 points and 12 rebounds in an amazing double-overtime 115-110 win for the Airs over the Saints.
Every Win Counts
One of the biggest talking points over the first week of season 2025 was how many players were missing, mostly due to finishing a season elsewhere (Australia, Asia, Europe), or in the case of the Panthers it is national team duty in India. "Yeah, we lost, but we were missing a lot of players" was on repeat around most stadiums amongst fans. However, a win in week one is worth exactly the same as a win in the last week of the regular season. While we all know team rosters for a number of teams will change quite a bit come April and May, and the results will likely reflect those changes, but early wins are going to be vital down the track. Let's say again ... a win in week one is worth exactly the same as a win in the last week of the regular season.
Sharks Have Their Bite Back
A stirring Southern Stoush won by the Sharks over the Nuggets wasn't exactly a surprise when you looked at the two rosters on paper, however, what really stood out about the win was the connectedness of the Sharks under new coach Jonathan Yim. The influx of two new imports (Allick, Boone) to go with the returning Caleb Asberry looks to be a balanced trio, while the addition of Tukaha Cooper could prove to be a big blow for both the Jets and Tuatara given both teams were unable to hold onto him. Cooper looks like he will play a significant role off the bench all season long for the Sharks. Good to see the Sharks have their bite back, they will catch more than a few teams by surprise this season.
The Ones That Got Away
There is more player movement in the Sal's NBL these days than ever before, especially with 12 teams and also a mid-season Trade Window that is designed to reward teams and players for moving teams, and this has created interest across the competition. But what the player movement also does is highlight a few players who may have 'slipped away' from one team and been a 'great get' for another team. After just one week of season 2025 there are a number of players who already look on their way to being great additions for their new team, while also being the 'one that got away' for their former team, or teams.
Big Men Can Pass
Every coach loves a facilitator, and even better if one of your big guys can distribute the ball with precision passing. Perhaps the best example of this in week one came from Darnell Cowart during the Hawks’ opening two games (and wins) of the season. While Cowart has been recruited to be an inside presence, his slick passing was a big talking point and is likely to be a prized asset for Sam Gruggen’s team all season. Cowart finished with 12 assists across the two games in a sign of what's to come.
Hair Styles Get Tongues Wagging
No sport on the planet aligns more with fashion, music, style and culture than basketball does, and that extends to what’s happening upstairs (hair). Fans weren’t disappointed in week one with Josiah Allick (Sharks), Carlin Davison (Airs), and the traditional Perry-mullet (Bulls) all bringing the flair upstairs. Now we await to see what Dom Kelman-Poto (Airs) has in store for us when he returns from a calf injury.
Short-Term Contracts Are In Vogue
With the 2025 Sal’s NBL season starting earlier this year due to the Tall Blacks schedule (Asia Cup) in late July and early August, the door has opened to a heap of short-term player contracts to help alleviate player availability over the opening month. One of this season’s great challenges is staying competitive each week amongst arguably more player movement than ever before. As most teams await the arrival of players, others are literally filling in or playing minimal games to help out - the entire Indian Panthers squad being a prime example. However, others rumoured to be on short-term contracts include Reuben Te-Rangi (Bulls), Harry Froling (Airs) and Shaun Bruce (Saints).
A Unique Situation For New Rams Coach
It’s not often you get a rookie coach taking the whiteboard of a team coming off a dual championship run, and then have the coach you are replacing on commentary and conducting an interview with you. Such were the events at Cowles Stadium on Sunday evening when Judd Flavell debuted for Sky Sport and commentated incoming coach Quinn Clinton’s first home game. The good news for both Judd and Quinn is the Rams won!
Mixed Bag For New Coaches
It was a case of mixed results for new coaches in week one. Jonathan Yim (Sharks) and Quinn Clinton enjoyed some success with a win, but for Cam Gliddon (Tuatara), Mike Kelly (Nuggets), Tony Webster (Jets) and Miles Pearce (Panthers) that winning feeling will have to wait. Aaron Young (Saints) is in new colours and is another who will need to wait a little longer to celebrate a win with his new team, while second year coaches Sam Mackinnon (Airs), Matt Lacey (Whai) and Seb Gleim (Bulls) all came out of their respective opening games with a winning grin. Perhaps the biggest winner amongst the coaches was Kaine Hokianga (Hawks), who has coached in the league previously with the Hawks, but a 2-0 start while filling the shoes for Sam Gruggen was the coaching performance of the week.
