Off Season Update - 18 July 2024

Starting in Las Vegas, Josh Bannan has played his first three games in the NBA Summer League for the LA Clippers. In Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets, Bannan and the Clippers won 88-78, Game 2 they beat Brooklyn Nets 87-78  and in Game 3 they defeated Milwaukee Bucks 112-97.

Bannan’s hustle has been on display, averaging 4.7 points and 5.3 rebounds across the three outings. Next up the Clippers face the Utah Jazz at 12pm (AEST) Friday 19 July.

Also overseas, in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, Deng Adel had a strong outing finishing with 29 points, five rebounds, three assist and two steals while shooting 68% from the field as his Ottawa BlackJacks defeated Montreal 84-76.

Closer to home, the final round of NBL1 North played out. The Southern District Spartans dropped two tough contests on the road to Rockhampton and the ladder leading Mackay Meteors.

On Friday night against Rockhampton Mitch Norton had 28 points, five rebounds and three assists, Tyrell Harrison  had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds while newest Bullets signing Jared Bairstow also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t quite enough to get them over the line.

The following night, the Mackay Meteors solidified themselves as the team to beat defeating the Spartans 112- 85. Isaac White had 24 points, four rebounds and three assists while shooting 67% from the field. For Spartans, Harrison had another double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, on an efficient 75% from the field. Norton added nine points, three assists and three steals, while Bairstow had eight points, three rebounds and two assists.

In the Josh Kunen and the Cairns Marlins final game of the season, they defeated the Ipswich Force 95-87. Kunen had five points and three rebounds in the Marlins win.

As the top seeded team in the NBL1 North, Isaac White’s Mackay Meteors have a week off before facing the lowest seeded winner of this weekend’s quarter finals.

Both quarter final’s will be played on Saturday 20 July at 7pm, Sam McDaniel and the Brisbane Capitals host Rockhampton Cyclones, while Tyrell Harrison, Mitch Norton, Jarred Bairstow and the Southern Districts Spartans will be in action against the Logan Thunder.

In the NBL1 East, Kye Savage and Basketball Australia COE face Canberra Gunners in the Qualifying Final on Saturday 20 July at 7pm.

In the final game of the NZNBL regular season, Tohi Smith Milner and the Wellington Saints solidified their position in the top four with a win over Southland. Smith-Milner had 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Next up the Saints face Franklin Bulls on Friday 19 July in the quarter finals.