The 2014/15 NBL season will be one of the most exciting and explosive on record.
Over the offseason NBL clubs have accumulated and retained some of the best imports to ever reach our shores.
The recent signings of former NBA players Josh Childress and Mickell Gladness and number 37 2014 NBA draft pick DeAndre Daniels have made headlines. The return of 2012/13 NBL MVP Cedric Jackson is also a major coup.
The Sydney Kings have picked up an elite scorer in Childress. He differs from other former NBA players that have come into the NBL in that he has played almost 400 NBA games and he consistently scored double-digit numbers in his time with Atlanta.
The Sydney Kings did not sign Childress on the new marquee player system either, which allows teams to pay a player over the salary cap. While Childress will receive a modest salary at Sydney he will still be receiving an annual salary of seven million dollars from the Phoenix Suns.
The community-owned Townsville Crocs have signed a winner in Mickell Gladness. The blocking machine had stints at Miami and Golden State before playing in the D-League. Gladness is a well-publicised shot blocker who is famous for the NCAA record he set when he logged 16 blocks against Texas Southern on February 24, 2007. Gladness will add a strong defensive presence to the Crocs who will need it after finishing last in a very competitive 2013/14 NBL season. Gladness’ six foot 11 frame will also help enhance the Crocs offence.
The Perth Wildcats’ addition of DeAndre Daniels was another well published signing in a stellar offseason. Daniels was picked at number 37 in one of the more talented draft classes in recent history. The signing of Daniels allows Perth to continue their new trend of signing NBA draft picks for a year before they head back to their NBA team.
Last year Perth signed number 50 draft pick from the Miami Heat James Ennis, who was a raging success in the NBL. Ennis finished with impressive stats that included 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and shooting 46.8 per cent from the field. Ennis was MVP material and finished third in the league MVP voting.
Daniels will hopefully be of equal or better quality than Ennis and is an early MVP favourite. He will be well received by the passionate Perth supporters, who regularly turn out in huge numbers to see their team.
New Zealand Breakers returning import Cedric Jackson is a proven star in the NBL. He has a great passing ability and can drive to the ring with ease. With the departure of star point guard Cedric Jackson at the end of 2012/13 NBL campaign the Breakers were left with a gaping hole in their offence. They were aiming to claim a fourth straight championship without their star but failed dismally in the 2013/14 NBL season, finishing seventh. The Breakers will now look to return to winning ways in this coming campaign and they now have the talent to do so.
With all the talent this year the 2014/15 NBL season looks to be a cracker and you can see the NBL season from October 10 on Channel Ten/ONE HD and also over the internet on NBL TV.
Head over to www.nbl.com.au for more information and memberships.
peer
Guest
The level of talent is exciting hopefully they all come to play with a desire to win. I think this years imports are the best league has seen but time will tell
George Edmonds
Roar Rookie
The NBL Pre-Season Blitz (Tournament) was announced today. It will be in Brisbane for the 19-21 of September. Get your tickets at www.nbl.com.au It will be awesome
George Edmonds
Roar Rookie
He is getting paid by the Pheniox Suns as he was amnestied. This means that the Suns released him when he still had time left on his contract and therefor they have to pay out his contract.
Pat Malone
Guest
Do you just like quoting lists of players names? You love a list
Peeeko
Guest
How come Childress is still getting paid bt Atlanta ?
George Edmonds
Roar Rookie
Yes I agree with many of your points but in my opinion this season has not just one or two good imports in a single year, it has multiple MVP caliber players. I just feel this year most teams have a highly marketable and exciting player. Stephen Jackson was successful in the NBA but he only did play four games for the Kings. Thanks for your comment.
Johnno
Guest
I don't think there the best wev'e ever seen, just a new wave a return to the good old days, the halcyon days when the NBL attracted top talent. The NBL is back baby. And moving on up again. 80's and 90's we had some wonderful imports. -Leroy Loggins,Robert Rose, Doug Overton, Dwayne Mclain,Bruce Bolden,Ricky Grace,Rodney Monroe, Chris Jent,Darnell Mee,Adrian Branch,Acie Earl all had NBA experience, and a few others got drafted or just missed out but were wonderful Steve Carfino,etc. Plus guys like Mark Davis,JamesCrawford,Darryl Mcdonald.Issac Burton,Ricky Jones had a good NCAA career. Plus wonderful European imports like the Lithuanian Rimas Kurtinaitis. Cecil Exum was on North Carolina's NCAA 1982 side that won a title with James worthy and Michael Jordan, he played for the Geelong Supercats. Todd Lichti(Perth Wildcats 1996-99) had a few seasons in the NBA. Chris Williams was awesome at the Sydney Kings in the early 2000's. -Adrian Branch won an NBA title with Magic Johnson's showtime LA Lakers in 1987 for cry'n out loud, he was no mug. -Stephen Jackson the Sydney Kings import, is probably the best import the NBL has seen. He went on to become a reasonably big star in the NBA after his NBL stint. Maybe a Dan Marleje type standard player, or Robert Horry type standard player. Didn't play long here got injured, but went on too quite big things in the NBA. -Don't know if the current crop of imports are better, just a resurgance from the Halcyon days. -Sam Young at the Sydney Kings last season, had an impressive NBL import resume.