THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL) is home to a number of talents both domestic and international, with players from all over the world heading down under to play in one of the strongest competitions in the world.

Each year, NBL teams are allowed three imports on their roster as they look to help nurture some of the most enticing talents across the globe. Imports often dominate headlines, given they come into the competition as established players with some playing in the world’s best competitions.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be keeping an eye on how the fresh imports for 2022/23 are faring on a weekly basis, and what they are bringing to their respective teams.

The Adelaide 36ers’ recruitment of Craig Randall continues to pay dividends, with the guard now holding the highest points per game average in the competition after four rounds. Thanks to his 24 points on the weekend, he now sits above Bryce Cotton, who was covered well on the weekend. Randall also added six rebounds and five assists, doing a bit of everything as his side proved four points too good for the Kings. It was one of his most efficient scoring performances of the season, going 9/15 from the field and 6/11 from behind the arc. Randall also scored a crucial bucket with 100 seconds left on the clock, draining the catch and shoot from behind the arc and essentially sealing the result for Adelaide.

Barry Brown Jr. made his return on the court for the New Zealand Breakers on the weekend, and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. While inaccuracy was still a bit of an issue, Brown Jr. played a pivotal role in getting the Breakers past the Taipans in a thrilling affair. He had 24 points in 29 minutes of play, chiming in for some big baskets. Brown Jr.’s biggest weapon remains his explosive pace inside and ability to get downhill and score close to the rack, going 8/13 from two-point territory, in contrast to 1/7 from three. All of New Zealand’s imports continue to shine in season 2022/23, and Brown Jr. ensured that trend did not stop.

Melbourne United’s Rayjon Tucker produced his best performance with the team in his side’s 18-point loss at the hands of the Kings on the weekend. Despite a disappointing showing from a team perspective, Tucker never stopped trying to get Melbourne’s offence going, posting his best numbers since joining the team in the past few months. He delivered a big double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, continuing to wreak havoc in the paint for opposition interior defences. Playing above his height, Tucker will play a big role in getting United’s season back on track.

Cairns Taipans big man D.J. Hogg is still chugging along nicely up North, and was massive in his side’s slim loss over the Taipans. Generating plenty of scoring opportunities, Hogg worked his way to 25 points and five rebounds in a valiant effort, considering his side only managed 64 points for the match. His three-point shot still needs some work, but the big man’s efforts inside the paint have proven too much for opponents, and he still works just as hard defensively to chime in for a block or two every match.