THE National Basketball League (NBL) kicked off its ‘Blitz’ pre-season tournament over the weekend, with the eight competing sides taking the opportunity to get some action for players new and old. In this series, we take a look at the newcomers to the competition, with many players suiting up for their clubs for the first time. With plenty of players around the league to keep an eye on, we take a look at some of the most noteworthy and intriguing of the bunch, and see how they performed in their most recent outings in the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament.

Zhou Qi – South East Melbourne Phoenix

One of the biggest offseason signings made his debut over the weekend, and has delivered a pair of encouraging performances thus far. At 7’1, Zhou has emerged as one of the league’s most dominant presence thanks to his first two matches in the NBL Blitz, giving opposition players something to fear when they enter the paint. He has been able to not only affect the shots of opponents, but also swat their attempted lay-ups and close shots. Against the Hawks, Zhou was able to record three blocks as he thwarted more than his fair share of opposition shots, and if he can continue this presence into the regular season, there may be a case for Defensive Player of the Year looming for the former Houston Rocket.

His work on the offensive end of the court has also been eye-catching, with the big man using his size to create a good look at the basket. His work inside the paint has caused plenty of headaches for opposing players and coaches, and he has displayed an innate ability to get to the free throw line. A 15-point, 12-rebound outing against the Hawks demonstrates his likelihood of becoming one of the league’s premier big men.

Antonius Cleveland – Illawarra Hawks

A former NBA talent, Cleveland appears to have slotted in seamlessly with the Illawarra Hawks, with a promising debut match against the Phoenix on Tuesday night. He did lack some accuracy with his shooting, particularly from deep, missing all five of his shots. However, the Phoenix did a tremendous job at forcing pressure onto all of these shots, and some rust is expected in his first game.

He was able to affect the match in other ways, finishing with six points, five rebounds and four assists. He delivered a clutch slam in the crunch time, and his passing vision proved vital in guiding his side to their first win of the NBL Blitz tournament. With his NBA experience evident, Cleveland looks certain to bring plenty to the table as he gears up for his first season with the Illawarra Hawks.

Josh Adams – Tasmania JackJumpers

There are plenty of talented debutants currently suiting up for the JackJumpers, but none have been more impressive than Adams, who has gained national attention with his excellent play. With plenty of experience under his belt, including stints in the NCAA and NBA G League, Adams has been one of the strongest performing guards in the first week of the NBL Blitz. An 18-point debut was backed up by 15 points on Tuesday night, as he proved a vital cog in the team’s maiden win.

His highlight came in his first game, and despite the 10-point loss, Adams remained the talking point long after the result was decided. After receiving the ball on the fast break, Adams defied the laws of gravity to rise above a Taipans defender to throw down one of the biggest dunks the NBL has seen in recent memory. If he can continue to produce highlights of this calibre, Adams is surely on his way to becoming one of the league’s most popular players.