SEASON 2024/25 of the National Basketball League (NBL) is already approaching the halfway mark, and the race for a top-six spot is as tight as ever.

10 rounds into the fixture has seen record-breaking performances, dominant team displays and thrilling finishes as the NBL produces its most exciting season yet, with the championship race wide open as it stands.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be putting each side under the microscope, with the Adelaide 36ers first up, having enjoyed a strong season to date thanks to some starring performances from their imports.

Adelaide 36ers

Record as of Round 10 – six wins, five losses

How its happened

The Sixers already had a stacked roster coming into the season, but added to the list with the massive signing of Montrezl Harrell. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year instantly launched Adelaide as the best roster in the NBL, although inconsistency against the top sides has proved detrimental in booking a top-two spot. Although the Sixers are the best home team in the competition and are yet to lose at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, they have sustained big road losses at the hands of Melbourne United and the New Zealand Breakers, and will need to perform stronger in away games if they are to make a genuine run at the title.

MVP – Montrezl Harrell

The hardest MVP to split, given the strength of both Harrell and Kendric Davis this season, but the former just edges out his fellow import. Since joining Adelaide, Harrell has been a constant presence on the court, taking over matches and providing not only output for his team, but plenty of entertainment for the fans too. He is averaging 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game on 56 per cent shooting from the field. A season-best performance came against the Cairns Taipans, where he dragged his side to victory with a marvellous two-way performance, posting 36 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks, showing that despite a knee injury ruling him out of last season, Harrell can still take over a match with dominant inside play.

Where to from here?

The Sixers remain in contention for a crack at the title, but will need to fix their performances on the road if they are to secure a top-two spot. The team will be missing Davis for two games and Harrell for three games after the pair were suspended after last Sunday’s clash against Melbourne United, so some of Adelaide’s other stars such as Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries will need to shoulder more of the load on the offensive end. The Sixers certainly have enough talent to be a championship side, and if they can start to put together more consistent winning streaks, will take some stopping in the postseason.