THEY say the best players stand up on the big stage, and 2024 National Basketball League (NBL)1 West Men’s MVP Joel Murray did exactly that, dragging his Mandurah Magic to the grand final with a win over the Joondalup Wolves.

Sunday afternoon’s preliminary final at HBF Arena Joondalup was shaping up as a classic, with plenty of star power on both sides. A top-four clash, the Wolves had booked home court advantage after finishing higher on the ladder and winning their qualifying clash, while Mandurah was forced to take the long route through the semi-finals, but still managed to secure a spot in the penultimate hurdle.

The Wolves came out firing in the first term, jumping to a 15-point lead by quarter time and taking control of the match. Within the first 10 minutes of the clash, the Magic were on the ropes, but steadied with an improved second term, with their offence looking much more composed to make it a six-point game at the main break. The game went down to the wire, with Mandurah storming home in the final term to force overtime.

In extra time, it was Murray who was the hero, sinking three free throws with just a few seconds on the clock to give his side the match-winning lead and keep their championship hopes alive.

Joondalup Wolves (88) def. by Mandurah Magic (91)

Joel Murray – 40 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, one block

Murray was the NBL1 West Men’s best player throughout the 2024 season, and showed exactly how he earned that mantle with a dominant performance in Mandurah’s most important match.

Totalling 40 points for a side that only scored 91 is a remarkable feat, and is a perfect demonstration of just how valuable he is to this team. From the field, he shot 12/29, and while it was not the most efficient performance, Murray had some vital makes throughout the contest.

He did the most damage at the charity stripe, making 14 of his 16 attempts from the free throw line and showed tremendous composure with the game on the line in the extra period to sink the game winning shots.

All 10 of his rebounds came on the defensive end, and ensured the opposition did not get any offensive boost from second chance scoring opportunities.

Although he was the game’s premier scorer, Murray’s passing was still exquisite throughout the match, taking full advantage of the defence’s instructions to pay extra attention to preventing him from scoring the ball. His dish-out passes often resulted in wide open looks for his teammates, and ensured he did not force any bad shots.

It was a signature performance from Murray, who stamped his authority as the best player in the competition with a match-winning performance.