McDaniel excited with what lies ahead in front of home fans

Sam McDaniel has never played a season in the NBL where he hasn’t been part of finals action and he isn't about to let that change at the Brisbane Bullets in NBL24 as he vows to ensure the team remains locked into their task.

There are two rounds of the NBL season remaining and it is a fascinating battle still for a top six position which will allow teams to take part in finals action.

Coming into the final home game at Nissan Arena at the regular season on Friday night against the Adelaide 36ers, the Bullets currently sit in sixth position in the NBL standings with a 12-14 record.

That has them only percentage behind the fifth-placed Sydney Kings and fourth-placed Illawarra Hawks, and one game ahead of the teams below them, the New Zealand Breakers, Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers.

That means that Brisbane's post-season hopes are within their control still starting with Friday's game at home to Adelaide and then finishing off next Friday away to the Breakers to conclude the regular season.

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Two wins for the Bullets and they are guaranteed at least of a top six finish, one win could still get them there however percentages could come into play. Things are precariously placed, but McDaniel knows all about being part of winning teams.

He has won a championship previously at Melbourne United, being with a Tasmania JackJumpers team that reached a Championship Series and even being a Grand Final MVP in the NBL1 South championship of 2022 at the Hobart Chargers.

McDaniel is also in the midst of the best season of his 143-game NBL career and can't wait for the next two weeks with a chance to lock in a finals spot, starting on Friday night in front of the home fans.

"It's a pretty exciting time to be honest and we've been building to this point from the start of the season. We've now got two games to lay it all out there and give it a crack to make finals," McDaniel said.

"Locking into scout is so important to be honest and at this point of the year every team has played each other multiple times and everyone knows the opposition, and what the other teams are running. So it's about being accountable to the little scout details that we put in throughout the week."

While McDaniel had big roles to play on Melbourne's championship winning team of 2021 and then the Tasmania team that reached the Championship Series in 2022, all his numbers are at career-highs this season with the Bullets.

McDaniel is playing career-high minutes at 26.8 a game along with averaging 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting at 44 per cent from the field and 31 per cent from three-point territory.

That sort of production combined with the championship and playoffs experience he brings make him an invaluable member of the Brisbane team, and he couldn’t be happier with where he is coming into these last two weeks.

"I've had to take extra good care of my body, but I've been good with that and obviously I've enjoyed the minutes. I've enjoyed the trust that Justin's had in me and my teammates as well," McDaniel said.

"It's been a journey to get to this point and to keep improving, and put myself in the position to be able to out there for that long and have the trust of the coaches.

"Full credit to Justin and the team, they trust me every single game to be out there, to make the decisions and take some extra shots. I've been loving it."

McDaniel isn’t the only member of the Bullets team with championship experience either with Mitch Norton having won the two titles with the Perth Wildcats while Aron Baynes is an NBA championship winner at the San Antonio Spurs.

Baynes and Nathan Sobey are also bronze medal winning Olympians, Sobey was part of an Adelaide team that went to a Championship Series and of course, new arrival Casey Prather is a three-time champion with two rings won at the Wildcats and another at United.

So while the success hasn’t been achieved together with the Bullets so far, there are plenty of winners in the group and that's why McDaniel is confident they have what it takes to reach the finals.

"Experience is always a good thing and we've got a few guys on the team who have been close before and won some championships. We'll need all that come these next two games," he said.

"This time of the year, I think it pays to have guys who have had that experience and knows what it takes to get to that next level. I'm just trying to bring my energy and talk at practice throughout the week so that we can go into the game prepared."

Another packed Nissan Arena will now be on hand on Friday night to support the Bullets in the last regular season home game against the 36ers with McDaniel confident in the team's ability to put some frustrating tight recent losses behind them.

"I'm super excited for this place to be packed again and roaring, it's been great all season. Friday is close to a sellout if I'm not mistaken and it will be an incredible atmosphere in here. I can't wait for it," McDaniel said.

"Obviously we're a talented team and we've shown glimpses of being a really good defensive team as well, which I think is important to get to that next level. I'm excited for these next two games and the future beyond that as well.

"It can be frustrating losing some of those close games and it can just go back to those little details because the league is so tight, and everyone can beat everyone.

"So when it comes down to those close games, it's who can execute in the fourth quarter and I think that's what is going to take us from good to great."