The plight of the plethora of Australian stars returning from Europe to the resurgent NBL is a mixed bag, with no bigger contrast than Brad Newley and David Andersen.
The pair have been to a combined seven Olympic Games for Australia and have been remarkably successful throughout Europe since beginning their careers in Australia.
With the NBL on the upward trend and fresh off the Rio Olympics campaign with the Boomers, they were among the big name signings coming into the 2016-17 season.
One is now an MVP candidate and the other’s season is almost over and his career perhaps in jeopardy.
Newley is having a standout season with the league-leading Sydney Kings and it might only be his teammate Kevin Lisch that stops him leading the MVP race.
His athleticism, strength, driving ability and shooting touch have all improved since his first three NBL seasons with the Townsville Crocodiles, before heading for Europe.
Andersen, on the other hand, signed with Melbourne United and it was seen as a huge coup bringing in a four-time Olympian, former NBA big man and someone who not only played in 11 championships throughout Europe, but was a star in every one of them.
Judging by his performance in Rio, he was still near the top of his game. But he wasn’t quite able to have the impact in the NBL he, or indeed Melbourne, would have hoped up until Friday night.
He was still a key piece of the puzzle though, until a knee injury suffered in United’s three-point loss in Perth.
After clashing with Wildcat Greg Hire, Andersen went down and the worst was immediately feared. While the prognosis is a medial ligament strain, Andersen isn’t expected back until the last fortnight of the regular season, if at all.
Given he will be 37 next year, it remains to be seen if Andersen is able to firstly make it back, and what sort of level he can get back to for the second year of his contract in Melbourne.
Andersen and Newley will go down as two of Australia’s greatest basketball products. That was certain, no matter how they went on their returns to the NBL.
But their differing fortunes highlights just how tough the league has become when it’s not a guarantee that any player can come in and dominate, no matter their skill set, experience and reputation.
Newley was seen as a massive signing for Sydney and coach Andrew Gaze this season along with Lisch, Aleks Maric and then later Josh Powell.
But the all-round stud that Newley has become was perhaps underestimated by many in Australia. For his position, he has a size, strength and quickness advantage over the majority of his opponents.
With his rare ability to be an outstanding shooter, driver, finisher around the basket, defender and rebounder, he is a remarkable all-round player who the NBL can bring the best out of.
In a team full of star power, Newley is averaging 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists a game. He has been Sydney’s leading scorer in eight of the past 13 games, including a high of 34 when he was on fire from downtown in a loss in Perth.
His coach couldn’t be more impressed with just how well he is producing in all areas, but Gaze knows now that he’s set such a high bar that he needs to maintain the form if the Kings are to turn their strong first half of the season into something more substantial.
“It’s hard for Brad because that’s become the norm now for what he’s doing this season,” Newley said.
“His shooting has been exceptional. The way he can get to the basket is very, very tough to guard. The work on the glass is important for us and the way he sees the floor, he plays with a great IQ.
“Then on the defensive end with his athleticism, he is working his butt off down the other end of the floor. He has been extraordinarily good for us but we have a long way to go in the season and that’s the norm for him now. It’s fantastic to see him playing so well though.”
Andersen, meanwhile, arrived at Melbourne fresh off a strong campaign with the Boomers in Rio and after still being an All Star in France earlier this year.
He had certainly been contributing for United up until his knee injury, with 10.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, but wasn’t the dominant presence many would have hoped.
Andersen could still return and be a significant contributor for Melbourne if they make the playoffs and going into next year, but right now he has found the going tough on return to the NBL.
His teammates bounced back from a three-point loss in Perth on Friday to beat Sydney on Sunday without him. Star guard and Andersen’s Boomers teammate Chris Goulding was delighted with the effort minus the big man.
“A big win like that, especially down Dave, I don’t think the stats do him justice as to what he brings to this team,” Goulding said.
“He is double-teamed almost every time he gets the ball, he creates amazing mismatches for this team and to be without him and come up against a quality team like Sydney, everyone chipped in the right way.
“We wish we can get him back soon but who knows if it’s a turning point. We just have to string wins together and try to move up this ladder. The lucky thing is a couple of wins can take you to the top. The bad thing is a couple of losses, or one loss, and you are sliding like snakes and ladders.”
Round 9 NBL results
Thursday
Perth Wildcats 75 lost to Brisbane Bullets 90
Friday
New Zealand Breakers 91 lost to Illawarra Hawks 95
Saturday
Brisbane Bullets 84 lost to Cairns Taipans 89
Adelaide 36ers 92 beat Perth Wildcats 86
Sunday
Melbourne United 98 beat New Zealand Breakers 74
Monday
Illawarra Hawks 93 lost to Sydney Kings 99
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